Houma Louisiana Personal Injury Blog

Don't perpetuate drowning stigmas

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, June 26, 2020.

Some people, upon hearing of a drowning death, have the tendency to stigmatize the victim, or in the case of a child drowning, to blame the parents of the drowned child. It's beyond cruel to read the comments accompanying some news stories shared on social media.

Unthinking commentators and internet trolls alike can make hateful and tone-deaf remarks that the person who lost their life did so because they were foolish or otherwise to blame for their own fate. But not only is this abhorrent, it also is often untrue.

What happens after a boating accident on Louisiana waterways?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Now that it's summer, one popular pastime is to go boating. South Louisiana is full of lakes, rivers and bayous for recreational boaters and fishers to while away a summer afternoon with family and friends along for the ride.

But, a lot can go wrong when people go boating. A skier can hit a submerged log or wind up harmed by the boat's propeller. People not wearing life jackets can fall overboard and drown. Two vessels can collide and cause catastrophic injuries for those aboard each boat. A storm can suddenly arise out on the lake and kick up waves big enough to swamp most recreational vessels.

Exercise caution while traveling this summer

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Louisiana residents have been cooped up for months. Many are just now venturing back out into the wider world. Vacation plans figure prominently on many people's agendas right now while gas prices are still so low.

That translates to more traffic on the roads. So, it is very important that if you and your family are planning to travel this summer, you make safety your number one priority.

The deadly dangers of drain entrapment

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, June 5, 2020.

As spring gives way to summer here in South Louisiana and social distancing rules are relaxing, it's a given that residents will be flocking to backyard and public pools and spas to get some relief from the unrelenting heat and humidity.

There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a refreshing dip on a hot summer day. But there is a real danger present of which many people are unaware — drain entrapment.

Louisiana is home to many dangerous roads

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Whether you do most of your driving right here in Terrebonne Parish or take to many of the other highways and byways in South Louisiana, it's a given that at some point you have encountered some auto accidents on the road. In fact, you may have even been involved in one or more yourself.

As it turns out, Louisiana is home to some dangerous highways and secondary roads. Read on to learn of some of the deadliest roads in our state as of 2019.

Who's vulnerable to getting diagnosed with brain hypoxia?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Brain Injuries on Friday, May 29, 2020.

Our brains must receive a constant flow of oxygen or they will shut down. Individuals who suffer from brain hypoxia, a type of oxygen deficiency, may experience short- and long-term cognitive declines as a result of such deprivation.

There are many different ways that an individual may get diagnosed with brain hypoxia.

Turn to your hometown legal advocate after a motorcycle wreck

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, May 22, 2020.

With more businesses being cleared to open back up, we will soon see more traffic on the roads. For motorcycle enthusiasts here in South Louisiana, that can be a harbinger of danger.

It's quite understandable why a motorcyclist suffers far more damage after a dust-up with a motorist. While riding a big two-wheeled cycle is lots of fun and may make you look like a "tough biker," the reality is that you are incredibly vulnerable to serious injuries and even death.

The psychological challenges burn victims face

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Burn Injuries on Friday, May 15, 2020.

In the not-so-distant past, victims of serious burns had very poor chances of survival. Even if they survived the initial conflagration, the overwhelming infections that resulted from the horrific burns often claimed their lives.

But medicine has advanced to the point where even patients with deep, disfiguring burns may survive. The challenge has somewhat shifted then to the psychological stresses they face as they go forward with their recoveries.

Wrongful death claims subject to time limits

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, May 8, 2020.

After a loved one's untimely death in an accident, their surviving family members may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. But they need to take action quickly, as here in Louisiana, the claims will proscribe after one year.

If survivors wait too long to take civil action, they will no longer be able to seek financial compensation for the loss of their loved one.

Deaths by car accident are largely preventable, yet still occur

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Saturday, May 2, 2020.

One of the major causes of largely preventable deaths is auto accidents. A third of the fatal accidents in the United States involve drunk driving on the part of one or more motorists. Excessive speed is involved in another third of the crash deaths. Neither statistic factors in the over 2 million individuals who get hurt in collisions each year.

Louisiana's auto accident fatality rates have traditionally been higher than the national average. At the end of the last century, for example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that with both men and women, the death rates from car accidents was higher here in our state than it was nationally.