TRAUMATIC BRAIN & SPINAL INJURIES

A traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury can cause a wide range of functional short- or long-term changes, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which may affect:

• Thinking (i.e., memory and reasoning);
• Sensation (i.e., sight and balance);
• Language (i.e., communication, expression, and understanding); and
• Emotion (i.e., depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out, and social inappropriateness).

Our lawyers are experienced in seeking monetary reward from insurance companies for your brain or spinal cord injury in order to pay for the costly medical expenses for the rest of the patient’s lifetime. Only one opportunity is afforded to seek a claim against the negligent party and receive the compensation that is needed for the lifetime of the patient – allow Josh Clayton Law Firm to consult financial analysts and lifestyle planners to calculate these costs and represent you fairly in court.

In 2013 alone, the CDC reported approximately 2.8 million emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths resulting from a traumatic brain injury. More than 50,000 people died after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in the United States during the year 2013. Josh Clayton Law Firm has the experience and legal knowledge to help guide clients through the difficult and emotional time following a brain or spinal cord injury. Our attorneys are proud to serve clients who have recently experienced personal injury due to automobile accidents or other types of accidents in Shreveport and Bossier City, LA.

The most common causes of brain injury are from falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, sports accidents, and accidents at work. According to the CDC, young children and the elderly are at elevated risks of sustaining injuries due to slipping or falling, while car crashes are the leading cause of TBI-related deaths for children and young adults, ages 5-24. People who are age 75 or older have the highest risk of brain injury due to slip and fall type accidents.

Types of spinal injuries include:

• Bulging discs
• Herniated discs
• Back strains
• Neck strains
• Whiplash
• Vertebrae injuries
• Spinal fractures

In 2016, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCIS) estimated approximately 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) each year. The NSCIS also reported that about 30% of individuals who suffered a SCI were re-hospitalized one or more times following their injury. The average length of these recurring hospitalizations was a total of 22 days, which extends the overall cost of medical treatment from an otherwise avoidable accident. Brain and spinal injuries can often lead to partial or complete paralysis of any or all extremities, causing great suffering to those who are personally injured, as well as creating complexities for the victim’s family and loved ones’ lifestyle and accommodations.

Families will no doubt be greatly affected as the result of a brain or spinal cord injury. The lifetime costs of a patient’s treatment for a traumatic brain injury are estimated to run from $85,000 to $3 million. For the average adult suffering from a traumatic brain injury, the unemployment rate two years after diagnosis is a staggering 60 percent; when compared to the national unemployment average of 5.1 percent, it becomes clear that financial compensation is tantamount to success in life after a traumatic brain injury. Don’t allow an error in judgment compound the problems that will inevitably result from personal injury.

Individuals who are affected by head and central nervous system injuries and their families face numerous expenses related to treatment and rehabilitation of the injured victim. The burden of constant hospital bills, in addition to the loss of income due to not being able to work, is distressing and emotionally taxing. Accidents do happen; however, such severe trauma is typically the result of the negligence of another party involved in the accident. Establishing negligence requires a specific set of criteria to be met with regard to evidence presented in a court case. Seek the guidance of legal professionals to better understand these criteria when handling your case.

If you or a loved one have recently suffered a spinal or brain injury due to the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the following:

• Lost wages
• Hospitalization
• Rehabilitation
• Counseling
• At-home medical care
• Funeral expenses

Brain and spinal cord injuries are a devastating type of personal injury, and these types of injuries can often result in secondary effects such as severe paralyses or even death. Anyone who has the unfortunate circumstance of suffering a brain or spinal cord injury is likely to experience debilitating side effects for the rest of their lives. The severity of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may range from “mild” (such as a brief change in mental state or consciousness) to “severe” (like an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia which is sustained after the injury).

Let us help you after suffering a brain or spinal injury due to an accident — call our offices today at (318) 220-4095 for a free consultation.

BRAIN & SPINAL INJURY FAQ

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON CAUSES OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD INJURIES?

Common causes include car accidents, falls, sports injuries, and acts of violence.

CAN I FILE A LAWSUIT FOR A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD INJURY?

Yes, if your injury was caused by someone else's negligence or intentional actions, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit.

WHAT DAMAGES CAN I RECOVER IN A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD INJURY LAWSUIT?

You may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to your injury.