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Louisiana · head & brain

Head & brain settlements
in Louisiana.

By 6 min read

Louisiana applies pure comparative negligence and substantially extended its personal-injury limitation period from one year to two by Act 423 of 2024. For head & brain claims specifically, the band is built from the state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps framework and then adjusted for Louisiana's pure comparative negligence and any applicable statutory cap.

Louisiana applies pure comparative negligence, which means a head & brain claimant who is partly responsible for their own injury still recovers — the award is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to them, but never barred. This is materially more claimant-friendly than the modified or contributory rules in neighbouring jurisdictions, and it shows up in head & brain settlements where comparative fault is contested (the claimant who failed to mitigate, the unbelted occupant, the worker who departed from a safety protocol).

Head injury and traumatic brain injury claims sit at the upper end of the US band and are most affected by statutory caps. Louisiana's caps (medical malpractice cap) can compress catastrophic head & brain verdicts even where the underlying damages — future care, lost earning capacity, life-care plan costs — clearly justify the higher figure.

band · US federal frame
$500,000 – multi-million
Severe traumatic brain injury
Catastrophic-case reported decisions

The US band is the starting point. Louisiana's fault rule and any applicable cap then adjust the figure.

LA · statute of limitations
1 year (la prescription) — extended to 2 years by Act 423 (2024) for tort claims accruing on or after July 1, 2024

La. Civ. Code art. 3492 (legacy) / Act 423 (2024)

LA · fault rule
Pure comparative negligence

Pure comparative negligence under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323. Recovery available at any percentage of fault.

LA · caps

What caps recovery.

Statutory caps that may bear on a head & brain settlement in Louisiana.

head & brain severity tiers · US frame

How the band stratifies.

The state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps stratifies head & brain into the tiers below. Louisiana courts apply the same tier structure, adjusted for state-specific factors.

Severity tierBandBasis
Concussion / mild TBI$25,000 – $100,000Reported decisions
Severe traumatic brain injury$500,000 – multi-millionCatastrophic-case reported decisions
head & brain · same region & fault regime

Compare to like jurisdictions.

How Louisiana's fault rule and limitation period compare to jurisdictions in the same US region and to those running the same fault rule for head & brain claims.

JurisdictionFault ruleLimitationHead & brain page
Louisiana · you are herePure comparative negligence1 year (la prescription) — extended to 2 years by Act 423 (2024) for tort claims accruing on or after July 1, 2024
MississippiPure comparative negligence3 years from date of injuryMS · head & brain
North CarolinaPure contributory negligence3 years from date of injuryNC · head & brain
South CarolinaModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injurySC · head & brain
TennesseeModified comparative — 50% bar1 year from date of injury — among the shortest in the USTN · head & brain
TexasModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryTX · head & brain
VirginiaPure contributory negligence2 years from date of injuryVA · head & brain
MissouriPure comparative negligence5 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeMO · head & brain
New MexicoPure comparative negligence3 years from date of injuryNM · head & brain
New YorkPure comparative negligence3 years for personal injury; 2 years 6 months for medical malpracticeNY · head & brain
Rhode IslandPure comparative negligence3 years from date of injuryRI · head & brain
MaineModified comparative — 50% bar6 years for personal injury — longest in the USME · head & brain
MarylandPure contributory negligence3 years from date of injuryMD · head & brain
LA · head & brain · frequently asked

Common questions.

Each answer is independently coherent and references the relevant statute or authority document.

editorial note

Figures on this page are starting points: the US band adjusted for Louisiana's statutory framework. They are not quotes for any specific case. For representation, consult an attorney admitted in Louisiana. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.