A traumatic brain injury can change every aspect of a survivor’s life. It takes only a few seconds for a violent blow to the head to permanently impair a person’s ability to think, move and communicate. Even their personality may change.
Brain injuries can be overwhelming and stressful for families – not to mention expensive. The average cost to care for someone with a brain injury is estimated to be anywhere from $600,000 to $1.8 million, according to the New Orleans Guide to Brain Injury Recovery. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Louisiana accident and someone else is responsible, you need a personal injury lawyer to make sure that you don’t face those financial burdens alone.
Call the New Orleans law firm of Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a free consultation.
The skilled legal team at Braud & Gallagher is committed to protecting the rights of victims who have sustained traumatic brain injuries in Louisiana accidents. Our attorneys combine years of legal expertise with innovative technology and aggressive trial techniques so that clients receive the maximum amount of compensation in the shortest amount of time possible.
We have a philosophy at Braud & Gallagher: Our job is not done until you have won.
Braud & Gallagher represents motorcycle accident victims in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish and throughout Louisiana.
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Braud & Gallagher has a proven track record of success in obtaining top-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.
About Louisiana Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a leading cause of death and disability in Louisiana, according to the state Office of Public Health. An analysis of Louisiana mortality data found that over 5,500 Louisianans died from TBIs between 2000 and 2005, the most recent period for which data is available. Estimates suggest that every year thousands of other Louisiana residents suffer non-fatal traumatic brain injuries without knowing it.
Nationwide numbers also present a staggering picture of the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 5.3 million people are currently living with a TBI, and an average of 1.7 million more join their ranks every year. Of those new cases, 52,000 people die and 275,000 are hospitalized due to traumatic brain injuries.
Causes of Louisiana Head Injuries
In basic terms, brain injuries are caused by a sudden jolt to the head. Not all blows to the skull result in brain injuries, and many head injuries are classified as mild. Traumatic brain injuries, however, are severe and often life-threatening, marked by massive brain bleeding and swelling. Many times, TBIs occur in conjunction with other catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injuries and crushed or broken bones.
Nearly half of all traumatic brain injuries in Louisiana are caused by:
The sudden force of impact in Louisiana car crashes and truck accidents can force a motorist’s head into the dashboard, windshield or steering wheel at high speeds, and brain damage can begin within seconds. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists often suffer from traumatic brain injuries due to their lack of physical protection from a violent collision.
Falls are another leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. These types of injuries are particularly noted in older people, whose mobility and stability is often limited. However, many pedestrians also sustain TBIs on Louisiana sidewalks, the Office of Public Health notes. Inadequate lighting, poor signage, unsafe paths and uneven pavement have all been cited as causes of TBIs within the state. Alcohol impairment also plays a role in TBI cases.
Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries do not heal the same way that other injuries do. The brain is the body’s command center, with various regions that control different aspects of our mental and physical functioning. However, even similar injuries can result in very different outcomes. Unfortunately, neurologists cannot always explain why.
Some injuries are obvious. In other cases, symptoms of a TBI won’t be apparent for hours, weeks or even months following the accident. Defense lawyers will often try to manipulate that point to reduce their client’s liability in a brain injury claim. However, the medical community recognizes that late-onset TBI is a common phenomenon. Plenty of expert neurologists can testify to that fact in your TBI claim.
Here are some common symptoms of traumatic brain injuries:
- Loss of consciousness;
- Coma;
- Headaches;
- Difficulty concentrating;
- Memory problems;
- Attention deficits;
- Mood swings;
- Limited limb function;
- Speech and language problems (aphasia);
- Loss of thinking ability;
- Inability to problem-solve;
- Emotional problems;
- Sleep disturbances;
- Permanent unresponsive state.
Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries often require extensive rehabilitation, which will aim at restoring as much functional capacity as possible to the brain-injured person. In some of the most severe cases, survivors with TBI must relearn basic functions such as how to walk, go to the bathroom and eat again. Therapists will work with the TBI patient to develop life skills in accordance with their post-injury capabilities and prepare families for the transition to home. While significant recovery may be possible, people with the most severe TBIs never recover fully.
TBI survivors and their loved ones experience tremendous physical and emotional suffering following an accident, on top of monstrous medical bills and an uncertain future. Responsible parties can and must be held accountable for the damage they have caused due to their negligence, and Louisiana personal injury law provides for that.
Contact Our New Orleans Brain Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a family member suffered a traumatic brain injury following a Louisiana accident, call Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a no-cost consultation. Our Louisiana accident attorneys represent injury clients in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish and throughout Louisiana.
Remember, our job is not done until you have won.
