If you have sustained head damage or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the actions of someone else, you may be eligible for financial compensation. It all starts with speaking to a personal injury attorney and exploring your brain injury claim options.
A Lake Charles catastrophic injury lawyer can help you pursue maximum compensation—on a contingency fee basis—as a severe injury victim. With a history of recovering over $1 billion in damages, we can serve as legal representation for your brain injury claims.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain damage arises from impaired brain functioning. Not all head damage causes a TBI, and your experience will depend on the type of brain damage you sustained and the type of accident that occurred. For example, a closed head injury yields different symptoms than a penetrating TBI.
There is a wide range of potential side effects that can manifest due to different kinds of brain damage. Here are some examples of TBI-related symptoms:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Mood swings
- Tachycardia or increased heart rate
- Loss of consciousness
- Changes in mental health
- Slurred speech
- Memory loss or difficulty recalling
- Loss of companionship
- Limited range of mobility
- Emotional hardship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Cognitive damage is stressful for the average person, but a Lake Charles personal injury lawyer can help build a TBI case for you. With years of legal experience, our personal injury lawyers can take on the responsibility of pursuing fair compensation. In contrast, you and your loved ones focus on returning to your daily lives.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientCauses of TBIs
A blow to the head—no matter how severe—can cause a TBI. Other common types of injuries that may lead to TBIs include oxygen deprivation caused by drowning, choking, or suffocating, as well as the following:
- Workplace accidents
- A skull fracture
- Gunshot wounds
- Traffic accidents
- A birth injury
- Explosive blasts
- Faulty equipment
- An axonal brain injury
- Truck accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Accidental falls
- Blood clots
- Boating accidents
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhat Type of Damages Can You Expect After a TBI in Lake Charles?
While the brain is elastic and often adapts well to damage, there is no guarantee that an accident victim who sustains a TBI will return to the same quality of life that they once had. Not only can medical bills be expensive, but the emotional distress and physical pain are hard, too.
Additional damages may include the following:
- Permanent disability
- Medical attention
- Financial burden
- Emotional pain
- Catastrophic injuries
- Hospital stays
- Lifelong disability
- Loss of future earnings
- Long-term care
- Non-economic losses
When you retain legal counsel, your legal team can seek various kinds of compensation based on the outcome of your types of accidents. However, before filing any traumatic brain injury claims, an experienced attorney will focus on determining the at-fault party of the incident.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientEstablishing Liability in a Severe Brain Damage Case
No matter if the head damage you sustained was caused intentionally or accidentally, it is still important for lawyers to determine who should be held liable. An experienced brain injury lawyer can look at the details of your situation and pinpoint the responsible parties.
In general, people are responsible for upholding a duty of care, which is a legal obligation to prevent one’s actions from harming others. When someone fails to uphold their duty of care, they could end up causing situations that hurt other people, making them the at-fault party.
As the person who sustained the TBI, your head injury lawyer might look into the potential of comparative fault before determining who is responsible. The at-fault party may not only be held liable for compensating you as a direct result of their actions, but they might be held accountable for additional damages, including punitive damage.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientHow We Build a Case For Clients with TBIs
The personal injury lawyers at our law firm strive to help TBI clients resolve cases as quickly as possible. We do everything we can to explain the legal process and assist brain injury victims who want to file a personal injury claim. Here’s what you can anticipate from an experienced lawyer.
Update You on Legal Proceedings
During your initial consultation, we will review the details of your case and clarify any legal terms that might sound confusing. We can also respond to any questions you may have.
We want to ensure that you understand each step of the legal process, but we also strive to take some weight off your shoulders. That way, you can direct your attention to recovering from the accident, receiving necessary medical attention, and healing from the traumatic event.
Collect and Manage Paperwork
Lawsuits can be overwhelming, especially because they often involve multiple different types of documentation. However, you won’t have to worry about any of that information. We have the means to gather all necessary documents and hold them for safekeeping.
For example, let’s say you sustained head damage following a motor vehicle accident. As your legal representation, we can ask for access to local camera footage, collect testimonies from witnesses at the scene, request proof of medical care from hospitals, and gather police reports.
Handle All Forms of Communication
With us on your side, you will not need to have a direct line of communication with the at-fault party. Instead of speaking to or meeting the liable party and their representatives, we can be their point of contact on your behalf. If they wish to communicate with you, they can talk to us first, and we can relay messages to you.
Fight For a Fair Settlement
Our team can carefully review your situation, determine how much compensation you should request, and negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company. We can help you understand how to determine a reasonable compensation amount by considering various details—like your medical costs or long-term care expenses.
As we seek to settle with insurance providers, we ensure that the proposed settlement is fair. We can also inform you of your legal options along the way.
Advocate For You in Court
It is not common for TBI cases to go to trial before a judge or a jury, but it is possible. In the rare instance when we cannot reach a satisfactory settlement agreement with the at-fault party’s insurance company, we have the means to take your case to trial and represent you in court.
Over the years, we have helped brain damage victims recover over $1 billion via both verdicts and settlements. We would be happy to help you calculate an appropriate settlement and strive to obtain that amount for you, no matter how long it takes.
Statute of Limitations Regarding Representation For TBI Claims
It is wise to start the process of seeking compensation as soon as possible. That way, you can take measures to protect your rights and ensure that you file any traumatic brain injury claims before the statute of limitations expires.
The statute of limitations for TBI cases in Lake Charles depends on when the accident occurred. If you sustained a TBI on or after July 1, 2024, then the statute of limitations is two years. Any TBIs that occurred prior to this date are subject to a one-year statute of limitations instead. It’s important to check with your attorney to understand the time period that applies to your case.
If your loved one sustained fatal brain injuries that resulted in their death, you can hire a traumatic brain injury attorney serving Lake Charles, LA. Your attorney can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your deceased family member (CC Art. 2315.2).
It might sound like you have a long time to file a claim, but the deadline may come faster than you realize, so it’s wise to act immediately. The sooner you contact a head injury attorney in your area, the more time your TBI lawyer will have to build your case and negotiate with insurance companies.
Schedule a Consultation With a Lake Charles Traumatic Brain Injury Law Firm Today
If you have endured brain damage or a loved one has sustained a brain injury caused by someone else’s behavior, it’s important to speak with a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Lake Charles, LA, at your earliest convenience. You have rights, and your legal team can help you explore them.
At Laborde Earles, we have years of experience building a personal injury accident claim and filing a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of countless clients. We know how devastating a traumatic brain injury can be, and our lawyers want to help you.
Your initial legal consultation is free, and it places you under no obligation. Plus, we work on a contingency basis, meaning you do not pay us until we win. Contact the law office of Laborde Earles today, and please note that we can take your call 24 hours per day.
