Navigating the aftermath of a brain injury can be overwhelming for victims and their families. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Lafayette, LA, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced Lafayette brain injury attorney can help you.
At Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the devastating impact a brain injury can have on your life. We are committed to advocating for your rights and fighting for the compensation you deserve in Lafayette, Louisiana. To explore your legal options, call us today at 888-601-0127 to schedule a free consultation with a Lafayette brain injury lawyer.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You With a Brain Injury Claim in Lafayette, LA
When you are facing a long recovery and an injury that affects every aspect of your life, you should not have to worry about dealing with an insurance company. A Lafayette personal injury lawyer can act as your advocate to fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you. Established in 2018, we have 50 years of combined experience representing injury victims and their families in Lafayette, Louisiana. We have recovered tens of millions in settlements and jury awards for our clients.
Here is how our law office is prepared to help you:
- Provide legal advice and guidance at every step of your case
- Investigate your accident to identify potentially liable parties
- Gather evidence to prove causation, negligence, and liability
- Work with experts to strengthen your claim and prove your damages
- Handle all paperwork and communications
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Take your case before a jury if necessary
Call our legal team today to schedule a free case review with a Lafayette personal injury attorney. We will help you explore your options and give you an honest assessment of your case.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Overview
A traumatic brain injury or TBI is the result of external physical force on the brain. Brain injuries caused by internal factors like infection, disease, or stroke are called acquired brain injuries (ABIs). Traumatic brain injuries can happen when there is any sudden and external force that damages the brain, including a blow to the head, a penetrating injury, or violent and rapid movement.
The damage from a brain injury may be focal or confined to a single area or diffuse, which means multiple areas are affected.
What Are the Most Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Traumatic brain injuries come in many forms. They may be divided into several broad categories as well. For example, brain injuries may be open or closed injuries. Open brain injuries are penetrating wounds that fracture or break the skull. Closed brain injuries happen when the brain is injured inside the skull without a fracture.
Here are common types of brain injuries that may happen in an accident.
- Concussion. A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or violent shaking, resulting in temporary loss of brain function.
- Contusion. A bruise on the brain tissue is often caused by a direct impact to the head, leading to swelling and potential bleeding.
- Hematoma. A collection of blood outside of blood vessels. It may be within the brain tissue (intracerebral), between the dura mater and brain (subdural), or between the dura mater and skull (epidural).
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Damage to the brain’s connecting fibers (axons) typically results from severe shaking or rotational forces, causing widespread brain tissue injury.
- Penetrating injury. An injury where an object penetrates the brain, potentially causing significant damage.
- Coup-contrecoup injury. Occurs when the brain strikes the side of the skull at the point of impact (coup) and then bounces to strike the opposite side (contrecoup), often resulting in multiple areas of injury.
- Anoxic/hypoxic brain injury. Occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen for a significant period, leading to cellular and tissue damage.
- Second impact syndrome. Occurs when a second concussion happens before the first has properly healed, leading to rapid and severe brain swelling.
Brain injuries are diagnosed with a neurological exam as soon as possible after the injury. Imaging tests may also be useful. The Glasgow Coma Scale is one of the most widely used assessment tools to assess responsiveness. The test scores a patient based on eye, motor, and verbal responses to classify an injury as mild, moderate, or severe.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can vary depending on the severity and location of the injury.
Symptoms can be broken down into several categories:
- Cognitive problems. Common issues include memory problems, reduced attention, confusion, poor judgment, reduced sense of space or time, and trouble with problem-solving.
- Motor symptoms. Examples include balance issues, paralysis, and poor coordination.
- Sensory and perception symptoms. This can involve changes to the senses, loss of feeling in parts of the body, tinnitus, and vision problems. Sensitivity to light and sound are common.
- Language and communication problems. This may include slow speech, reduced vocabulary, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, difficulty reading, or trouble finding the right words.
- Functional impairments. This includes trouble performing daily activities.
- Personality and emotional changes. This can include depression, irritability, apathy, and reduced inhibition.
- Social issues. Such as trouble understanding social nuance and trouble with interpersonal relationships.
- Regulatory changes. This may include headaches, sleep problems, fatigue, changes to eating habits, and impaired bowel and bladder control.
Loss of consciousness is a sign of a brain injury, but it is not required. Mild brain injuries, in particular, may not result in a loss of consciousness. For some people, the loss of consciousness lasts mere seconds.
The more serious the brain injury, the more widespread and serious these symptoms tend to be. A severe brain injury may result in a coma, seizures, and unequal pupils soon after the injury.
What Are the Potential Long-Term Consequences of a Brain Injury?
A brain injury can lead to lasting effects beyond the initial trauma and may be catastrophic.
Potential long-term consequences include:
- Persistent memory, attention, and executive function deficits
- Emotional challenges like depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Physical or motor impairment
- Chronic headaches
- Long-term sensitivity to sound and light
- Inability to return to work
- Damage to relationships and friendships
- Social issues with relationships, education, and friendships
Up to 20% of mild brain injury survivors develop post-concussion syndrome (PCS). This causes long-term concussion symptoms for up to a year or longer.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries in Lafayette, Louisiana?
Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by almost any type of trauma or accident that causes a blow to the head or rapid back-and-forth head movement.
However, just four main causes account for most TBIs in Louisiana:
- Motor vehicle accidents. Car accidents and other types of crashes are responsible for one out of five brain injuries requiring hospitalization.
- Falls. This is the main cause of nonfatal brain injuries requiring hospitalization and a major cause of brain injuries among workers and seniors.
- Sports and recreational activities. Every year, nearly three million concussions are caused by sports and recreation. High-impact and contact sports such as football, soccer, and boxing pose a high risk as well as activities like diving and bicycling.
- Violence. Gun violence, domestic violence, and assault are a leading cause of serious and fatal traumatic brain injuries.
About one out of four concussions in adults involve workplace accidents. Manufacturing, construction, and transportation jobs have the highest risk of brain injuries.
What Is My Traumatic Brain Injury Case Worth?
There is no way to estimate the value of a personal injury case without a careful assessment of dozens of unique factors.
Important factors that may affect what your case is worth include:
- The severity of your injury
- Whether you can return to work
- Prognosis and long-term medical needs
- Affect on your daily life, quality of life, and independence
- Circumstances of your accident
- Whether you share fault for the accident
- Insurance policy limits
Accurately valuing the damages you suffered may require careful analysis and the help of economic and medical experts. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand the important factors in your case.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partly to Blame for My Brain Injury?
Louisiana is a pure comparative negligence state that allows accident victims to recover compensation, even if they are partially at fault for their injuries. However, the amount of compensation you can recover is reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
What Damages Are Available To Brain Injury Victims in Lafayette, LA?
A successful personal injury claim entitles you to compensation for your losses from the at-fault party.
You may seek financial damages for the economic and non-economic losses you have suffered, including:
- Current medical bills such as hospitalization, ambulance rides, and surgery
- Future medical expenses like rehabilitation, prescriptions, and appointments
- Lost wages while you are recovering
- Diminished or lost earning capacity if you cannot return to your job
- Out-of-pocket expenses that are considered reasonable
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
Your lawyer will help you gather evidence to document your damages and build the strongest claim possible.
How Long Do I Have To File a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Louisiana?
You have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. As of 7/01/2024, the Louisiana statute of limitations is two years, usually beginning on the date of your injury. However, if your brain injury occurred before 7/01/2024, you may only have one year to file your lawsuit.
If you miss the appropriate deadline, you lose your right to sue the at-fault party for damages.
Contact Our Lafayette Brain Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Have you or someone you love suffered a serious brain injury in Lafayette, LA? You may be entitled to compensation if someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing was the cause. Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you pursue your claim and hold the at-fault party accountable.
We have 50 years of combined experience handling complex personal injury cases. We have recovered tens of millions in life-changing verdicts and settlements on behalf of accident victims like you. Contact our Lafayette law firm today for a free consultation with a Lafayette brain injury lawyer to tell your story and discuss how we can help you.
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Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Lafayette, LA
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
1318 Camellia Boulevard, Suite 206, Lafayette, LA, 70508
(337) 473-2991
Lafayette Brain Injury Blogs
- How Is Louisiana Law Different from Other States?
- What is a Personal Injury Claim?
- What Is The Average Settlement For A Personal Injury In Louisiana?
Lafayette Brain Injury Resources
Hospitals in Lafayette, LA
- Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics – 1318 Camellia Blvd Suite 206, Lafayette, LA 70508
- Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center – 4801 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Lafayette, LA 70508
- Acadiana Rehabilitation Hospital – 314 Youngsville Hwy, Lafayette, LA 70508
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
