One common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in Louisiana is motor vehicle accidents. If you’re in a motor vehicle accident, it’s important that you know how to secure fair compensation. In order to do that, you must understand the full scope of your losses, including financial damages and non-economic damages. The long-term costs of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a car accident in Lafayette can be expansive and unique depending on the case.
A TBI attorney can help you understand the scope of your losses and secure fair compensation. Even so, it’s important that you understand Louisiana car accident laws for yourself.
The key to a fair settlement is knowing what the accident truly cost you. From mild TBIs to severe ones, you might be eligible for compensation after an accident.
Lafayette TBI Cases
It’s possible to sustain a TBI in a number of different situations. If your injuries are the result of another party’s misconduct or negligence, you may be able to recover damages for your losses by filing a claim directly against the at-fault party or parties.
If you sustain a brain injury from a car accident, you may be able to recover damages for your losses by filing a claim against whoever was at fault. A Lafayette TBI attorney can help you through the claims process.
Long-Term Costs of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) After a Car Accident in Lafayette
TBIs can lead to a long list of short- and long-term consequences for the victim. It’s estimated that more than 75 percent of all TBIs are classified as mild, but even these lower-level injuries can lead to long-term issues.
The exact losses you face depend on the severity of the injury. There are two main types of TBIs that a person can sustain:
- Penetrating TBIs occur when something pierces the skull and damages a part of the brain. They are also known as open TBIs.
- Closed-head TBIs happen when something hits the head hard enough to twist or bounce the brain around inside your skull. They are also known as blunt TBIs.
The costs from any type of TBI can include everything from financial losses to physical impairment to psychological damages. Common long-term costs of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a car accident in Lafayette can include:
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
- Ongoing medical costs
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Unpaid caregiving by family members
FAQs About Traumatic Brain Injury
Are Damages Capped in Lafayette TBI Claims After Car Accidents?
Damages are typically not capped in Lafayette TBI claims after car accidents. In most cases, you can recover economic damages and non-economic damages as long as you can establish fault and demonstrate the full scope of losses.
It’s important to note that damages are capped in car accident cases if you are filing a claim against a government employee or agency. Damages are capped at $500,000. You also typically must file a notice of claim before pursuing legal action.
How Are Damages Calculated in a TBI Injury Claim in Lafayette?
How damages are calculated in a TBI injury claim in Lafayette can vary depending on the type of damages. Damages are categorized into economic losses and non-economic losses. Economic damages are automatically calculable by looking at bills, receipts, and professional projections.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are more abstract. Louisiana courts use a few different methods to calculate these damages:
- The per diem method
- The multiplier method
- The jurisprudence method
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Car Accident in Lafayette?
How long you have to file a claim after a car accident in Lafayette can vary depending on the facts of the case and extent of the losses. Under Louisiana’s personal injury laws, you have two years to file a claim after an accident.
The statutes of limitations for wrongful death claims can be based on the date the victim died instead of the accident itself. Survival actions also have unique rules.
How Long Does It Typically Take to Settle Lafayette TBI Cases?
How long it typically takes to settle Lafayette TBI cases can depend on a number of different factors, starting with whether or not the case settles out of court. Settling through negotiations and other alternative dispute resolutions is typically faster than litigation.
Even so, negotiations can be time-consuming without the right strategy. A Lafayette TBI attorney can help keep things on track as you pursue fair compensation for your losses.
Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer to Help With a Lafayette TBI Case
The aftermath of a car accident can be chaotic and confusing, especially if you’re suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Whether you’re negotiating with an insurance adjuster directly or taking matters to court to resolve, it’s wise to hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer to represent you and help you recover compensation.
The Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy has been helping Louisianans through complex personal injury cases for over five decades. The Kennedy family comprises five generations of Louisiana personal injury lawyers that are committed to serving those that need us.
When you choose us to represent you in a Lafayette TBI case, you’re choosing a local law firm that is:
- On the American Board of Trial Advocates with the American College of Trial Lawyers
- Peer-rated as AV-Preeminent® with Martindale-Hubbell®
- Rated by Super Lawyers®
- Top 100 with the National Trial Lawyers Association**
If you’re ready to learn more about how we can help with your case, reach out to talk to a Lafayette TBI attorney from the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy. You can contact the office to schedule a consultation and discuss your case in more detail with a member of our team today.
Our office is located here in Lafayette on Polk Street. We’re a quick trip off U.S. 90 and the I-10/I-49 interchange, so we’re an easy stop for our clients in need throughout south-central Louisiana.
**Awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization.
