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.

Causes 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

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What 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.

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Stephanie Brooks was wonderful to work with! She was very professional during our interaction and extremely pleasant throughout the entire process. He...

Stephanie Brooks was wonderful to work with! She was very professional during our interaction and extremely pleasant throughout the entire process. Her kindness and clear communication made everything smooth and easy. Highly recommend working with her and the Laborde Earles Law Firm!

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Lafayette

Courtney Marsh has a positive attitude and great attention to detail in her work!

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Elizabeth Lachney was super helpful in explaining a lot of things i didnt understand about my case. Very respectful and seemed so welling to help me! She is the best, I 1000% recommend her if you have any questions!

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New Iberia

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs...

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs. Courtney. I spoke with her multiple times, and each time she was patient and answered every question I had. She made me feel like I was the only client. Grateful for her and Laborde Earls!

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Toni is an absolute professional. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision. Her communication is clear, and she truly cares about delivering results. I couldn’t recommend her more highly!

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Toni is the absolute BEST!!!! Not only is she the best paralegal but she’s also the best person I know. She is so intelligent, knowledgeable, caring, and goes above and beyond for everyone in her life. She is a true gem! To know her is to love her!! Anybody would be lucky to have someone like Toni in their corner.

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Establishing 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.

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How 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.

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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 two-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 attorney 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.

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