Houma Louisiana Personal Injury Blog

Watch for long-term injuries after your car accident

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes on Monday, December 10, 2018.

Whether you are driving around downtown Houma or cruising up highway 90 to New Orleans, you expect to stay safe behind the wheel. Even with your best efforts, though, you may find yourself in the middle of an automobile accident. If you have vehicle damage or a bodily injury, you may need to exercise your legal right to demand payment from an insurance company.

Following a car crash, you must immediately inspect both your body and your vehicle for signs of harm. While spotting vehicle damage is usually a straightforward process, not all bodily injuries are easy to identify. In fact, you may experience long-term health consequences even after a seemingly minor vehicle collision.

Even a mild brain injury can cause serious issues

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Brain Injuries on Friday, December 7, 2018.

Doctors classify traumatic brain injuries as mild, moderate and severe, depending on the extent and scope of the person's injury.

However, a Houma, Louisiana, resident should not get confused by these labels in to thinking that someone who has suffered a mild brain injury is thereby going to be okay or has just had the equivalent of a bruise or a cut.

Pedestrian accidents plaguing major state university

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Brain Injuries on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Although some dispute that it is a particular problem, there are many students and others on the campus at Louisiana State University who feel that the area is simply not safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. Over the past 5 years, over 40 pedestrians have been hit by cars in just about as many accidents. Most of these victims, about two-thirds, were students.

Some of these injuries have been quite serious. In one case from earlier this year, a young woman suffered serious brain injuries after getting hit, including a tear to her brain. She struggled with significant memory loss, to the point where should was not able to remember the names of her own relatives. She had to miss a semester of school because of her injuries.

Louisiana struggles with hit-and-run fatalities

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, November 23, 2018.

According to relatively recent statistics, Louisiana unfortunately ranks among the top 10 states in terms of the number of fatal hit-and-run accidents. Per 100,000 residents, Louisiana has close to 2 fatal hit-and-runs. By contrast, the state with the least number of fatal hit-and-runs experiences a rate of .19 per 100,000 residents.

Overall, fatal hit-and-run accidents are a growing problem across the country The last year statistics were available, 2016, there were 2,046 hit-and-run fatalities across the country. This is the highest the number has been since a government agency started tracking it back in 1975. Moreover, it represents a 35 percent increase over the 2012 number and a 60 percent increase over the figure from 2009.

Upcoming travel season looks like a busy one

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

Every Thanksgiving, residents of Houma will often take a road trip. Sometimes, it can be just a matter of traveling 50 or so miles to see relatives or even to do some shopping up in New Orleans, while at other times, residents instead opt for a longer vacation.

With a strong economy offsetting, even the higher gas prices motorists will face this year, the upcoming travel season is looking like a busy one. One organization estimates that the most people will travel this year for Thanksgiving in more than a decade.

Fire pits and bonfires can cause burn injuries

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Burn Injuries on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

Fire pits and bonfires are common sights in autumn. They can be cozy, and they can provide property owners in Louisiana with the opportunity to have guests over to enjoy the fire with them. However, it is essential for property owners who have fire pits or a bonfire to ensure that these fires are kept safe. If not, it could lead to burn injuries.

Why are delayed brain injury symptoms so dangerous?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes on Monday, November 5, 2018.

The actual impact and moments after your car accident are a blur, but other than feeling shaken up, you do not seem to have any obvious injuries, so you go home. Over the next two or three days, you feel stiff and sore, but with over-the-counter medicine and a couple days off work, you begin to feel better. However, a week or so after the accident, you start having headaches, dizziness, nausea and trouble sleeping. These symptoms may indicate a traumatic brain injury. At this point, you need to get to the doctor right away.

The damage does not stop with a blow to the head

A two-second distraction is all it takes to cause a car accident

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, November 1, 2018.

Distracted driving is a serious issue in Louisiana and nationwide. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), the chance of a motor vehicle accident doubles if a motorist takes stops paying attention to the road for more than two seconds. The agency reports that in 2016, distracted driving played a role in over 9 percent of traffic fatalities in the nation.

Some states are trying to prevent distracted driving by making it illegal to use hand-held devices behind the wheel, unless the device is connected to a screen built into the vehicle or the motorist is using voice commands. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that these measures may not be enough to prevent auto accidents due to distracted driving.

Fatal accidents involving semi-trucks are on the rise

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, October 25, 2018.

Most semi-truck drivers in Louisiana take care to handle their vehicles safely. Unfortunately, there will always be truckers who, in an effort to make as many deliveries as quickly as possible, will drive recklessly. This is a danger to everyone on the road, and it could have fatal consequences.

The federal government reports that in 2016, over 4,300 individuals lost their lives in crashes with semi-trucks and other large vehicles. This is a sobering 28 percent uptick from the number of individuals who lost their lives in truck accidents in 2009.

Louisiana motorists must practice motorcycle awareness

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, October 18, 2018.

When the sun is shining, and the autumn temperatures are pleasant, that is enough of a reason for motorcyclists to take a ride. However, riding a motorcycle is not without its risks. Of course, motorcyclists can wear helmets and carefully follow the rules of the road to keep themselves safe. Unfortunately, what they are not safe from -- no matter what precautions they take -- are motorists who are not practicing motorcycle awareness and are not looking out for motorcycles in their vicinity. When a motorist does not pay attention to motorcycles on the road, they could strike one, causing serious injuries or even death.

For example, motorcycles have a smaller profile than a standard automobile, and thus are not as visible. Motorists must take the time to check for motorcycles, especially when they are changing lanes or at intersections, to avoid causing a motorcycle accident. In addition, due to their small size, motorcycles seem to be farther away than they really are, and it can be difficult for motorists to determine how fast a motorcycle is going. Motorists must take care to check for motorcyclists when they are at intersections or entering or exiting driveways and parking lots, keeping in mind that a motorcycle may be closer to them than they think.