Experienced Brain Injury Attorneys Who Are On Your Side

Possible causes of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are everywhere. One cannot predict or plan for a life-changing event such as a traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, many individuals do not have the resources that it would take to make normal life possible after a brain injury. The emotional distress, physical challenges and financial burdens that these victims and their families face are beyond what they ever could have predicted.

If you believe that you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence or misconduct of another, you should seek the aid of knowledgeable personal injury counsel. The Downs Law Firm can represent you as you seek compensation for your damages.

Alarming Statistics About TBI

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States:

• There are currently 5.3 million individuals suffering from a traumatic brain injury that will have lifelong effects
• Over 1.4 million Americans suffer a TBI every year
• Of these, 50,000 will die
• More than 200,000 need hospitalization or brain injury treatment

To learn more about traumatic brain injuries, including the effects of these injuries and treatment, speak to a brain injury attorney at the Downs Law Firm.

Signs Of Traumatic Brain Injuries

An injured person may experience a variety of different symptoms in the days and weeks after an accident, depending on the part of the brain impacted by the injury. Some of the physical symptoms that can indicate a TBI include:

• Frequent or worsening headaches
• Disorientation, confusion and difficulty thinking
• Memory loss
• Dizziness and loss of coordination
• Sleep changes like sleeping more than usual, insomnia or fatigue
• Sensory changes like increased sensitivity to light or sound, dampened or lost sense of smell, blurred vision or lost vision
• Slurred speech
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures

In addition to these physical challenges, trauma at the time of the injury and physical pressure caused by swelling, bleeding or bruising can impact an injured person’s personality and mood. Some of these symptoms can include:

• Lack of concentration
• Mood changes like anxiety and depression
• Irritability or combative behavior
• Mood swings
• Becoming withdrawn

While changes to a person’s personality or mood may seem minor, they can have a profound impact on your life. These symptoms can affect a person’s relationships with friends and family as well as their performance at work or school.

Questions About TBI? Here Are Some Answers.

Confronting the reality that you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury can be overwhelming. We understand and will take the time to answer your questions. To get you started, here are answers to a few common questions we receive from clients about traumatic brain injuries.

What Is The Most Common Cause Of Brain Injuries?

While a wide variety of accidents can lead to head trauma, car crashes cause around one in five brain injuries. In some age groups, motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of fatal TBIs or brain injuries that require hospitalization.

Because car accidents are sudden and cars are a small, confined space, a variety of different situations could lead to a TBI during a crash. For example, drivers and passengers may suddenly jolt forward, causing the brain to forcefully collide with the inside of the skull. A person’s head may also strike the car itself or be struck by an object set into motion by the crash.

What Are Different Types Of Head Injuries?

Any injury that impacts the head can lead to serious damage to the brain and nervous system. Some types of brain injuries include:

• Penetrating injuries – Objects that pierce the skull can cause direct damage to any tissue in the path of the object.
• Skull fractures – Because the skull is meant to protect the brain, fractures in the bone can put the brain at risk. Damaged bones can also lead directly to brain damage.
• Diffuse axonal injury – These injuries result from damage to the fibers that transmit signals throughout the brain, which can lead to widespread disruptions in the brain’s ability to function.
• Intracranial hematoma – Damage to the blood vessels within the skull can lead to bleeding. Over time, that blood can build up and clot, putting pressure on the brain.
• Hypoxic or anoxic brain injuries – Injuries that limit or cut off the flow of oxygen to the brain can lead to serious and potentially fatal damage.

Many severe brain injuries can require surgical intervention.

How Long Will It Take To Recover From A TBI?

Brain injuries can impact every aspect of a person’s life. Injured people often have a long path to recovery ahead of them, and, in some cases, the impact of a TBI can last a lifetime.

However, it is also important to remember that each person’s injury and situation are unique. Some of the factors that can influence your healing journey and how easily you adapt to life after a TBI include:

• The type of injury you experienced
• Your access to different treatment options
• The support you receive from medical professionals and mental health professionals
• Your medical history, including any current health challenges or other injuries sustained in the accident you experienced
• The support you receive from loved ones and your community
• Your drive to succeed and your ability to remain positive

One additional source of support to consider after a brain injury is legal representation. A brain injury attorney can negotiate with insurance companies and offer insight into your legal options, helping you focus on recovery.

How Long Does A Brain Injury Claim Take?

There is no set timeline for resolving a lawsuit related to traumatic brain injury. If the injuries are clear, the fault is obvious and the defendant is willing to take responsibility, the case could be settled within a matter of months. Conversely, if the extent of injuries is undetermined and you have a particularly stubborn defendant, the case could potentially take a couple of years to go to trial and reach a jury verdict.

We understand that our clients want a resolution quickly. And while we try to be as efficient as we can, our head injury attorneys will never counsel you to take a quick settlement that doesn’t meet your needs. Getting the right result often takes significantly longer than getting a quick result.

How Do You Prove A Traumatic Brain Injury?

Correctly and accurately diagnosing a traumatic brain injury requires help from a highly trained medical professional and sophisticated imaging devices. Three machines commonly used in TBI diagnosis include:

• Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring devices
• Computerized tomography (CT) scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans

Based on the test results and your symptoms, a medical professional will both confirm the existence of a traumatic brain injury and rate it as mild, moderate or severe. They may also be able to predict whether the injury will result in permanent damage.

Once the physician/tests prove that a TBI occurred, it is up to your lawyer to demonstrate that your injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence.

How Do You Choose The Best Attorney For A Brain Injury In Louisiana?

There may not be an objective “best” attorney for your brain injury case, but who you choose nonetheless matters a great deal. You should look for an attorney/firm with considerable experience in personal injury litigation, detailed knowledge of current research into traumatic brain injuries and a track record of success on behalf of their clients.

Our firm has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 30 years. In that time, we have helped clients recover more than $21 million in compensation from at-fault parties and insurers. When it comes to representing TBI victims, our brain injury attorneys stay up to date on treatment options and medical research to ensure that our clients have as many options as possible. In short, working with our firm is the smart choice if you’ve suffered a brain injury due to another’s negligence.

How Much Is A Brain Injury Case Worth?

Each case is unique, and the specific amount of compensation sought will depend on numerous factors, including:

• How severe the injuries are and the expected recovery time
• Whether the injuries are likely to result in permanent disability
• Medical bills and estimated future medical bills
• Wages lost from time spent unable to work
• Future lost wages or reduced earning capacity if the brain injury will make it impossible to return to your current job or occupation
• Costs of necessary modifications to your home/vehicle/workspace to accommodate a disability
• Compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and other damages that don’t have a direct economic cost

When you hire our brain injury law firm, we take the time to carefully calculate and estimate the total costs of your injury and how it has affected your life. Then, we seek maximum compensation on your behalf.

Brain Injury Victims Deserve Support

Traumatic brain injury victims in Monroe, Bastrop, and the surrounding areas may not know where to turn to get the support they need. An experienced brain injury lawyer will be their best ally in obtaining compensation, yet other kinds of help may be vital as well.

Victims may benefit from joining a support group to help with the emotional challenges a TBI can cause. Several such groups exist in Louisiana. While most meet in person, some offer virtual events, too.

Here is a list of brain injury support groups in Northern Louisiana:

NW Louisiana Brain Injury Support Group

This group for brain injury survivors and their loved ones meets twice monthly at two locations:

Cornerstone Hospital

4900 Medical Drive

Bossier City, LA 71112

(318) 934-0533

The group meets at this location at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

6012 Youree Drive

Shreveport, LA 71105

(318) 934-0533

The group meets at this location at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month.

Stroke Survivors & Caregivers Support Group

This group for stroke survivors, their loved ones and their caregivers meets regularly in the Lagniappe Hotel’s second-floor conference room. Contact the group for meeting dates and times.

1800 Irving Place, #100

Shreveport, LA 71101

(318) 934-0533

For more information on in-person support groups, click here.

Brain Injury Association of Louisiana Support Group

This virtual support group meets at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Contact [email protected] for further information or to join the group’s list.

Whether virtual or in-person, a brain injury support group can offer you with a community who cares about you, understands your challenges and is committed to your recovery.

You can find more information on this virtual support group here.

Free Consultations About TBI

If you or your loved one suffered a head injury that resulted in TBI, get a free consultation with the Downs Law Firm. We can evaluate your case, connect you to resources and discuss recovering compensation. To schedule, call 318-284-8551 or reach us online.

We serve all of northeast Louisiana from our offices in Monroe and Bastrop. We also practice in Arkansas and Mississippi.