Baton Rouge Brain Injury Lawyer
Our team aggressively pursues full compensation for people struck in the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1.7 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, and 500,000 such injuries require hospital care. A severe TBI can change your entire life. One moment you are enjoying yourself, and the next you are struggling with everyday tasks. When someone else’s negligence causes your injury, you deserve justice for everything your accident took from you. At the Lindsey Scott Law Firm, we will fight for you every step of the way. We always put our clients first and will keep you informed as we work toward a favorable personal injury settlement or verdict.
Oftentimes, TBI goes undiagnosed or missed diagnosed as common headaches. It’s important to recognize the signs of this very serious injury.
Types and degrees of brain injury
There are two basic types of brain injuries:
- Acquired brain injury — As opposed to an injury caused by a blow to the head, an acquired brain injury has an organic cause, such as stroke, tumors, or lack of oxygen, known as hypoxia or anoxia. Anesthesia errors are often linked to a loss of oxygen.
- Traumatic brain injury — A traumatic brain injury occurs when a concussive force or a foreign object impacts, penetrates, or shakes the skull, causing damage to brain tissue.
The extent of a brain injury is quantified in degrees:
- Mild — The victim may lose consciousness for a few seconds to several minutes. Headaches and nausea will last for a few hours to a couple of days.
- Moderate — Unconsciousness lasts slightly longer, as do symptoms. Confusion, fatigue, and vision problems may linger for a couple of weeks.
- Severe — following a severe TBI, the victim may be in and out of consciousness for days. Lasting effects could include cognitive impairment, loss of motor function, speech issues, personality changes, mood swings, severe headaches and dizziness, loss of balance, depression, and PTSD.
Brain injury can be cumulative, so repeated mild injuries can develop into a serious problem. If you’ve had a head injury, don’t ignore changes in emotions. Such symptoms can linger after you appear to have recovered physically. A doctor can advise you on a range of treatments.
Common causes of traumatic brain injuries
Every 23 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers brain trauma. These injuries frequently occur due to:
- Traffic accidents — Some studies estimate that between 50 and 70 percent of all traumatic brain injuries result from motor vehicle crashes. Airbags offer some protection, but these are not completely effective in many cases. Motorcycle accidents are notorious for producing head injuries even when riders reduce their risk by wearing a helmet approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles can sustain a TBI upon secondary impact with the street or a curb.
- Sports accidents — Football and boxing are two of the sports most associated with TBI, but players can sustain brain injuries from contact in soccer or by striking the hard floor of a basketball court. Even cheerleaders are at risk from falls onto a hard surface.
- Assault — Criminal assault is a leading cause of brain injury, especially when weapons such as blunt instruments are involved.
- Falls — A slip and fall accident can lead to a TBI when the victim strikes his or her head. Falls on stairs and off ladders from a height is especially dangerous.
- Explosions — When the victim is in close proximity to an explosion, the concussive force can cause a reaction where the brain literally bounces from one side of the skull to the other.
More than 50,000 Americans die each year from a traumatic brain Injury. Our injury lawyers are ready to investigate the circumstances of your injury or wrongful death claim to determine if you have the right to compensation.
Recovery for victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries
In addition to compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income, victims of a TBI can pursue the following types of damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Cost of personal care
- Costs of modifying a home to accommodate disabilities
If you are the loved one of someone who has been incapacitated due to traumatic brain injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit on their behalf. Our attorneys can explain the process of gaining power of attorney or guardianship so that you can make decisions about legal representation. Give us a call at 225-387-2688, for your free traumatic brain injury consultation.
