Gonzales Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Attorney in Gonzales, LA

A personal injury claim can be filed when one party causes another party harm through intentional or unintentional acts. It can recover compensation to cover damages. A skilled Gonzales personal injury lawyer can help you secure this compensation.

The purpose of a civil personal injury claim is to enable the injured party to become whole. While monetary compensation does not make up for all the damage caused by a serious incident, it allows the injured party some financial stability and enables them to get the care and treatment they need.

At Murphy Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of work as a firm and over 150 years of collective experience across our attorneys. Our firm has secured millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We focus on helping you through the difficult time brought on by a sudden injury as we fight for the compensation you deserve.

Determining Liability in a Personal Injury Claim

To successfully hold another party liable for the damages you have suffered as the injured party, the following must be true:

1. Duty of care: You must prove that the other party owed you a duty of care to behave with reasonable consideration for your safety. For example, drivers have a duty of care to others on the road, and healthcare providers have a duty of care to patients they have agreed to treat.
2. Breach of duty: You then must prove that the party breached their duty of care. Typically, this breach is under the theory of negligence, meaning that the party unintentionally acted or failed to act in a way that was careless. A breach of duty can also occur through recklessness, intentional misconduct, or malice.
3. Causation: The breach of duty of care must have led directly to the injury or incident. Another party can behave negligently but not cause the injury due to that negligence, so they would not be liable.
4. Actual damages: You must then prove the actual damages that you suffered due to the injury and accident. These may include economic damages, like medical bills, and non-economic damages, like physical pain and emotional suffering.

You have to prove each of these elements for a successful claim.

Types of Personal Injury Claims We Handle at Murphy Law Firm

Personal injury claims can arise from many unique circumstances, including different hazards and types of accidents. Each type of personal injury claim may need to be handled differently, including the investigation of its cause and the parties that can be held liable. Each accident type can also result in unique injuries and damages.

Due to all these intricacies, it is important that your personal injury attorney knows how to navigate the specific type of accident, claim, or injury that is involved in your case.

Common types of personal injury cases include car accidents, slips and falls, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, and product liability. When your attorney has relevant experience, they can then rely on their knowledge while still tailoring their legal care to your needs.

Their experience may help with investigating and gathering evidence, calculating the long-term damages of an injury, and negotiating with high-resource insurance providers. This can result in a more efficient and highly valued claim.

At Murphy Law Firm, we have significant experience in some of the following types of personal injury claims:

Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of personal injuries. In Gonzales, vehicle crashes resulted in two fatalities and 315 suspected injuries in 2024.

A vast number of these collisions result from the negligence of a driver. This individual may cause an accident by being distracted, fatigued, or under the influence. They might also be ignoring road signs or failing to yield the right-of-way. When a driver’s error or negligence results in an accident, they can be held liable for the damages of any injured parties.

Car accidents are generally handled through car insurance claims. These claims can still benefit significantly from an attorney. An attorney’s investigation of the accident can determine the cause and the negligent party. This investigation can also gather important evidence. An attorney can negotiate for you with the insurance provider.

If the provider will not allow for a fair settlement, then your attorney can advise you on the next steps to secure compensation. This may include taking the claim to court.

More complex car accident claims are much easier with an attorney. A rideshare accident lawyer can be especially helpful in navigating the complexities of rideshare collisions, ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Truck Accidents

Collisions between commercial trucks and smaller passenger cars can have devastating results. In Ascension Parish in 2024, more than 61% of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles resulted in suspected injury, compared to nearly 24% of all motor vehicle crashes resulting in injury. Almost 2% of commercial motor vehicle crashes were fatal, compared to 0.48% of all vehicle crashes.

These accidents cause more severe injuries, are more likely to result in fatalities, and may involve multiple vehicles. The magnitude of the damages makes an insurance claim more complicated. Truck accidents are also more likely to require wrongful death claims. Because Gonzales is near I-10, there is a lot more commercial traffic.

Truck accidents can be more complex because of the number of people and entities involved in putting a commercial truck on the road. Negligence by any of these parties could have contributed to the accident.

A failed component of the truck could be the fault of a dangerous product, improper maintenance, or an overloaded truck trailer. A truck driver’s error may be due to their own negligence, their employer’s training or hiring methods, or an unrealistic shipping schedule.

Your attorney needs to understand these incredibly complicated claims, along with the state and federal laws that regulate trucks. Investigating truck accident claims to determine the at-fault party is a significant undertaking that requires resources and experience. At Murphy Law Firm, we have all that is required to properly navigate truck accident claims.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle collisions often occur because other drivers either fail to see motorcycles or do not take appropriate care while driving near them. Motorcyclists do not have the same physical safety precautions on their vehicles as those in passenger cars have, so they are more likely to sustain catastrophic injuries as a result.

When the other driver is at fault for this collision, they are responsible for the damages that a motorcyclist sustains. However, even if the motorcyclist was partially responsible for the accident, they may still be able to recover some amount of compensation. Because the costs of a motorcyclist’s damages are often much more severe, this can still be a significant amount of money.

Premises Liability

Property owners have a level of responsibility to ensure that their premises are not hazardous for those who are allowed or invited onto the property. Failing to do so can result in potential hazards from:

• Uneven floors
• Electricity
• Cords and wires
• Potholes
• Broken safety equipment

These dangers can cause serious harm to individuals. Slip-and-fall claims are the most common type of premises liability.

Dog Bites

Dog attacks and bites can cause serious injuries and even permanent physical and psychological damage. If the dog’s owner knew or should have known that the animal was dangerous, they could be held liable for these damages. A dog bite lawyer can help you understand your legal rights, determine liability, and assist you in recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Workplace Injuries

There were 173 workplace severe injury reports made in Louisiana in 2024, one of which was in a Gonzales workplace. Workers’ compensation is a separate area of law from personal injury law, although a personal injury attorney can be very helpful when filing for this type of compensation. Additionally, there are unique cases where an injured worker can file for a personal injury claim in Louisiana, such as when a third party is at fault for their injuries.

Maritime Accidents

Accidents at sea are much more likely to impact maritime employees due to the amount of time they spend in dangerous work environments, such as ships or offshore oil rigs. These workplace accidents are subject to unique laws, like the Jones Act. It’s important to have an attorney who can help you get the most from these claims.

At Murphy Law Firm, we can also help with claims related to defective products, injuries due to medical negligence and malpractice, and wrongful death claims in Gonzales.

How Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Help With a Personal Injury Claim?

There are many ways a personal injury lawyer can help with a personal injury claim, improving your chances of success and often securing much larger settlements.

Your attorney can review your accident and its circumstances to determine if you likely have the grounds for a case. They can investigate the incident to determine who was to blame. If a dog attacked you, an attorney can assess whether the owner acted negligently or if you were on someone’s property and they had insufficient measures to prevent an animal attack. If you were injured in your workplace, an attorney can determine if third parties are liable.

An attorney knows how to assess the total of your damages, including economic and non-economic losses. Having a calculated amount ahead of time makes your case in negotiations stronger. This can enable them to secure the most compensation possible for your claim.

An attorney also handles negotiations or litigation for you. They know how to handle these proceedings and how to advocate for your interests. If a fair settlement isn’t possible, they take the case to court to get the compensation you need.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Gonzales, Louisiana?

The time you have to file a personal injury claim in Gonzales, Louisiana, depends on the statute of limitations for a civil claim and the insurance company’s requirements for an insurance claim. It’s important to always act quickly after an accident. Waiting too long can mean essential evidence is lost, harming your case, and could even prevent you from filing a claim altogether.

FAQs

How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take in Louisiana?

How long a personal injury claim takes in Louisiana depends on the specifics of your case. It includes steps such as:

• Filing a claim for an injury
• Gathering evidence of damages and liability
• Negotiating with the other party
• Filing a claim in court if negotiations do not work

The process is more likely to resolve faster when you work with an experienced attorney. They can also provide you with an individualized estimate of how long your claim will likely take.

What Is the Bodily Injury Statute of Limitations in Louisiana?

The statute of limitations for bodily injury in Louisiana is a set amount of time after an injury that you are allowed to file a civil claim. If you don’t file the claim before that deadline, the court will bar the claim, and you will be unable to recover compensation. This deadline is important for negotiations, as the other party negotiates with an injured party to avoid litigation. It’s important to be aware of the deadline while you are negotiating.

What Are Personal Injury Damages in Louisiana?

Personal injury damages in Louisiana are the losses you suffered from being injured, including financial, emotional, and psychological losses. If another party is at fault for your injury, then they are liable for the entirety of your damages. These may include:

• Medical bills, both past and future
• Lost income
• Lost earning capacity and disability
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment of life

An attorney is beneficial for determining the value of your unique losses after a personal injury.

Can You Sue for Emotional Distress in Louisiana?

Yes, you can sue for emotional distress in Louisiana. This loss is a type of non-economic damage in a personal injury claim. Non-economic damages compensate for a loss that does not have a clear financial value but is still recognized as a loss. If another party was at fault and caused you emotional distress, you can recover those damages. However, the value of those damages will be influenced by the significance of the economic damages and injuries you suffered.

What Should I Bring to My Free Consultation With a Gonzales Personal Injury Attorney?

What you should bring to your free consultation with a Gonzales personal injury attorney can vary depending on the type of injury claim you are filing, but you should generally document the accident and your injuries. Medical documentation, a vehicle accident report, a workplace incident report, photos and videos of the incident, names of eyewitnesses, and similar information.

Be prepared to answer questions about the accident, and bring questions of your own for your potential attorney.

Qualified Legal Representation After a Personal Injury

You don’t have to deal with your injury by yourself. If someone else is to blame for your personal injury, contact Murphy Law Firm today. Our legal support can help you recover and assure you that your case is in good hands.

Gonzales, Louisiana Personal Injury Resources

• Louisiana Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
• Louisiana Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples
• How Long After A Car Accident Can You File A Personal Injury Claim In Louisiana?

Your Path to Legal Resolution Starts with Murphy Law Firm.

When you choose Murphy Law Firm, you gain access to a team of experienced attorneys with a proven track record of success. We understand the importance of trust, and we strive to build lasting relationships with our clients by delivering exceptional results.

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