Shreveport Brain Injury Lawyer

Dedicated to Helping TBI Survivors Win Brain Injury Compensation & Justice

What Are Traumatic Brain Injuries?

TBIs are a form of brain damage that occurs when an object hits the head or some force violently shakes the head. In general, TBIs are classified as either closed-head injuries or open-head injuries.

• Closed-Head Injuries: These do not involve physical damage to the head or skull. Instead, they typically occur when a force, like whiplash, causes the brain to smash against the interior walls of the skull. Closed-head injuries are typically harder to diagnose than open-head injuries.
• Open-Head Injuries: Marked by physical wounds and blood, these types of TBIs occur when objects hit the head, splitting the skin and/or skull below. In the most serious cases, open-head TBIs can involve skull fractures.

Both closed- and open-head injuries can require immediate medical attention and long-term care. Both can also leave people with physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments that have significant, lasting impacts on their quality of life.

Types of TBIs

Traumatic brain injuries can result from an array of brain damage, depending on the nature of the impact to the head and the area of the brain that has been injured. Here is a closer look at some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries.

• Contusions : A brain contusion is a bruise that forms on the brain. Most are minor injuries that will typically heal on their own; however, some are more serious and may require surgical removal, along with other treatments.
• Concussions: A concussion is a closed-head brain injury caused by forceful impact to the neck or head. This can include impacts caused by direct contact with another object or by strong forces, without any direct contact with another object. Concussions are among the most common types of TBIs.
• Coup-Contrecoup: A coup-contrecoup injury is a type of closed-head brain injury that results from some force moving the brain in the skull. This can result in two points of injury: one at the initial point of contact and the other on the opposite side of the skull as the brain bounces against it.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): These TBIs occur when tiny, microscopic tears (“shearing”) form in the brain’s connective tissues and fibers. Depending on their size and location, these tears can lead to massive, irreversible brain damage or even death.
• Hematomas: Hematomas are blood clots that form on or in the brain. Depending on their size and location, hematomas can have serious complications and may require surgical removal.
• Penetrating Injuries: These TBIs occur when an outside object piercing the skull and directly damaging brain tissues. These devastating traumatic brain injuries often result from the most serious accidents, like 18-wheeler crashes and industrial machinery accidents.

What Causes TBIs?

All sorts of events can cause traumatic brain injuries. Tragically, many TBIs are the result of preventable accidents (source: CDC). These can include:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Car crashes, truck wrecks, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other traffic collisions cause nearly 50% of non-fatal traumatic brain injuries and about 25% of deadly TBIs (source: NCBI).
• Falls: Slip and falls, as well as falls from high places, cause close to 33% of all fatal TBIs. Over the past 15 years, there has been a 22% increase in fall-related traumatic brain injuries (source: CDC).
• Work accidents: Job-related TBIs can happen in industrial equipment accidents, falls, auto accidents, and workplace assaults. Workers in the trucking industry, construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas industry tend to have the highest risk of on-the-job TBIs.
• Other accidents: Faulty equipment, sports accidents, and other events can also leave people with devastating traumatic brain injuries.

At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we are proud to represent those with mild to serious brain injuries, as well as families who have lost loved ones to deadly TBIs. Our Shreveport brain injury lawyers understand that different cases can involve unique circumstances and challenges, and we are highly skilled at crafting strong brain injury cases to help victims win and recover.

Who Can I Sue for My TBI?

You may be able to sue the liable party or parties when negligence causes you or a loved one to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Who those parties are will depend on the circumstances of the accident that caused the TBI. Commonly, defendants in TBI cases include parties like (but not limited to):

• Motorists when driver impairment, failure to comply with traffic laws, or other driver negligence causes crashes and TBIs
• Manufacturers when their unsafe or faulty products, equipment, or vehicles play a role in causing traumatic brain injuries
• Employers and/or their contractors when their failures or negligence contributes to work accidents and TBIs
• Others, like property owners, landlords, or government entities, when their oversights cause accidents that result in TBIs

Here, it’s critical to understand that:

• More than one party can be liable for a single TBI. That could mean that victims have the legal rights to pursue multiple compensation claims.
• Who the liable party may impact case deadlines and/or the process for pursuing a claim. In other words, different rules and limitations can apply to different types of TBI claims.
• Liability determinations in TBI cases can be complex, requiring the trained eye of a Shreveport brain injury attorney.
• Pursuing all available legal remedies can be the key to maximizing the financial recovery for a brain injury case. Although money can never undo the damage caused by TBIs, it can help victims and families heal.

How Do I Prove Brain Injury for a TBI Case?

The evidence you need to establish injury and damages in a TBI case will depend on the circumstances of your accident, the nature of your injury, and possibly other details. A Shreveport brain injury attorney at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers can give you a clear answer to this question, after learning more about your situation.

In general, however, some evidence that can help support and strengthen TBI cases can include:

• Accident photos: Pictures of the accident scene can show points of impact, the vehicles or equipment involved in an accident, unsafe features at properties, and/or what the scene looked like immediately after the injury happened.
• Accident reports: If police, an employer, a property manager, or someone else wrote up a report for the accident, it may detail key facts about what occurred or what actions were taken following the incident.
• Witnesses: Eyewitnesses can provide essential information that may help fill in blanks or backup victims’ accounts regarding what happened when.
• Experts: Accident reconstructionists, data recovery experts, medical professionals, and/or others may be able to shed more light on certain aspects of the accident or particularly complex evidence, like data from a truck’s electronic onboard recorder or information documented in medical records.
• Medical reports and bills: These documents can highlight the severity of the traumatic brain injury, the costs of treatments to date, and the anticipated future costs of treating the TBI.

How Can Shreveport Brain Injury Lawyer Help Me?

A Shreveport brain injury attorney can help you with every aspect of a TBI claim, working to position it for success. While the best brain injury lawyers will tailor their counsel and service to fit the unique needs of a given case, in general, here is what an attorney can do for you if you have a traumatic brain injury case:

• Explain your rights and point out the legal options for compensation
• Investigate the accident to determine who is liable for it
• Identify, collect, preserve, and present key evidence to bolster a TBI claim
• Complete the administrative work necessary to start and advance a case
• Manage and meet all necessary case deadlines
• Represent you when insurance companies and others get involved
• Calculate the value of your claim and negotiate aggressively to protect your rights to fair compensation

Beyond this, a Shreveport brain injury lawyer can provide essential support, advice, and guidance at every phase of a TBI case. That can help you take the right steps, make better choices, and enjoy greater peace of mind that you have effective advocacy for your traumatic brain injury case.

Talk to a Shreveport Brain Injury Lawyer for Helpful Answers & Essential Advice

If you or a loved one suffers a TBI, what you do or don’t do can make a big difference in your ability to recover. When you want honest answers about your legal options and fierce advocacy for a TBI case, it’s time to contact a 5-star Shreveport brain injury lawyer at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.

We are backed by decades of experience, an outstanding reputation, and a record of securing the maximum available compensation. Plus, we bring exceptional knowledge, compassion, and dedication to every traumatic brain injury case we take on. Find out why we are some of the best brain injury lawyers in Shreveport, LA—and what we can do to help you—by contacting us today.