Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen more frequently than many people realize. A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury. More severe traumatic brain injuries can be catastrophic, changing the life of the victim and their family forever.
Anyone coping with a TBI resulting from an incident that could be attributed to another party’s negligence should contact a local personal injury attorney immediately. A Lafayette traumatic brain injury lawyer could help you obtain appropriate financial compensation from the at-fault parties.
All TBIs are Significant Injuries
Many people sustain a traumatic brain injury at some point in their lives. What most people know as a concussion is a mild form of TBI. A forceful blow to the head or vigorous shaking causes the brain to collide with the hard bones of the skull, which can cause tearing, shredding, or other damage to the structures of the brain.
Many of these structures either repair themselves over time or the brain devises a different way to accomplish the functions the damaged part once handled. However, when brain damage is severe enough, a person might permanently lose brain functions.
Mild TBIs
Common concussion symptoms include headache, nausea, blurred vision, changes in appetite, confusion, memory problems, and dizziness. Although most people recover fully from an initial concussion, recovery is slower, symptoms might be more pronounced, and some effects could be permanent when someone suffers multiple concussions.
The National Institutes of Health reports that some people develop post-concussion syndrome, in which concussion symptoms do not resolve for weeks or months. Post-concussion syndrome could develop after an initial concussion but is more common in people who have had previous concussions. A Lafayette traumatic brain injury attorney could help TBI victims work post-concussion syndrome and other losses into their claim for compensation.
Severe TBIs
Severe TBIs do not resolve completely. Although some symptoms might improve over time and with therapeutic intervention, people who suffer severe traumatic brain injuries rarely resume their lives as it was before the incident.
At the less critical end of the scale, a severe TBI can affect speech, memory, mood regulation, and fine motor control. The most severe TBIs are often fatal, and survivors might not regain the ability to speak or perform activities of daily living.
Negligent Conduct Could Lead to a TBI
Traumatic brain injuries usually result from mishaps and accidents. Among children and the elderly, falls are a primary cause of TBI. Accidents involving motor vehicles lead to many TBIs among people of all ages. Other causes include being struck by a falling or flying object, sports injuries, and explosions.
Any of these events could result from someone failing to use reasonable caution. For example, car accidents are often the fault of at least one of the drivers although sometimes other party’s, like a vehicle manufacturer, also bear responsibility. A fall could be the fault of a negligent property owner who did not warn of a tripping hazard or a nursing home that did not offer proper assistance to a resident with mobility issues. Employers, public schools, sports leagues, equipment manufacturers, and others might have liability for a TBI, depending on the circumstances. A Lafayette attorney could review the situation that led to the TBI and identify parties whose conduct might have contributed to it.
Immediate Action is Necessary After a TBI
When someone sustains a TBI, seeking legal advice immediately is critical. Louisiana Civil Code §3492 allows an injured person only one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit against the negligent parties who caused the injury. Failing to observe the legal time limits could leave an injured party unable to recover any compensation at all.
A legal professional could handle communication with insurance companies and others while the accident victim recovers from the TBI. Insurance companies often exploit a family’s fear and uncertainty by approaching them soon after an accident with a cash offer. These offers are usually far less than the injury merits, but people without legal counsel sometimes accept these lowball offers and sign away their rights to further compensation.
Collecting evidence and testimony while the incident is fresh in the minds of the parties and witnesses can help a Lafayette TBI lawyer develop a robust case. Waiting to engage an attorney until the legal time for action is about to expire could mean that some witnesses or evidence is not available.
Rely on a Lafayette Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
If you or your loved one suffered a TBI because someone else was negligent, you could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future losses, and more. Our Lafayette traumatic brain injury lawyers know how devastating these injuries can be, and we are prepared to offer compassionate and capable assistance throughout the process. Call today to set up your free consultation.
