Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury occurs when one person injures another through their intentional or unintentional actions. The person who injured another must have had the responsibility to protect the injured person. Otherwise known as a duty of care, this can include things like sharing the road, performing an exam as a medical professional, or owning a business that’s open to the public.

Many personal injury claims might seem black-and-white, but insurance companies are financially motivated to compensate victims as little as possible for their injuries. The initial settlement offers for a personal injury claim are often shockingly low in the hopes that the plaintiff will accept them. Without an experienced attorney, it can be difficult to know how much you might be able to negotiate for.

Unfortunately, many car accidents in Louisiana occur due to another driver’s negligence. This includes things like distracted driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and speeding. Car accidents can be expensive when considering property damage, medical expenses, and lost wages.

If you are involved in a car accident, it’s important to gather as much evidence as possible to support your personal injury claim. If possible, take photo and/or video evidence of the scene of the accident, as well as road signs and the general environment. Make sure to stay at the scene until a police report is created so that your perspective is accurately documented.

Accidents involving large trucks can seem similar to traditional car accidents, but they are often more complicated. Primarily, the injuries in a truck accident are normally more severe and are more likely to result in fatalities, potentially causing the need to file a wrongful death claim. Injuries that occur as a result of a trucking accident are more likely to impact someone’s quality of life, making it more important to file a personal injury claim.

Obtaining damages in a trucking case can be more difficult because there are often more parties involved that operate on a larger scale. Instead of negotiating with an insurance company that works with personal vehicles, trucking accident cases could involve negotiating with large employers that operate on a national scale. There might be more than two parties involved as well, complicating damage and fault amounts.

Medical procedures are often risky and sometimes come with additional complications. While many of these issues are unavoidable, some are caused by negligence from a healthcare provider. Medical malpractice cases can be filed against doctors, surgeons, and medical providers, depending on the circumstances.

One of the most common forms of medical malpractice is the failure to diagnose someone with a critical illness. If someone is ignored by their medical provider, they might not detect a serious issue until several months or years later. This can result in a worse diagnosis and outlook for the patient, increased medical costs, and a reduction in their quality of life. This form of malpractice can be difficult to prove, but an attorney can help gather evidence to support your claims.

Slip and Fall and Premises Liability

People who own property have a responsibility to maintain it so that others are not hurt while on the premises. If they are unable to repair unsafe parts of the building, they must alert visitors to the unsafe conditions. One of the most common types of injuries on another person’s property is a slip and fall. In some cases, this injury might be harmless, but other times, it causes serious injuries like broken limbs, head injuries, and more.

Workers’ compensation claims technically aren’t classified as personal injury law, but in some cases, a personal injury attorney can be helpful when filing for workers’ compensation. An attorney can help ensure you receive a diagnosis that is accurate to your condition to maximize the benefits you might be entitled to. They can also encourage faster and more accurate payments.

Individuals who work with ships or on the water are subject to laws that differ from those for traditional employees. Under the Jones Act, ship workers are able to file personal injury claims against their employer for injuries sustained while working due to employer negligence. Negligence can include things like lack of proper training, poor maintenance of equipment and vessels, and allowing employees to be exposed to hazardous materials or chemicals on the job.

Not every dog bite is eligible for a personal injury claim in Louisiana. In order for an individual to recover damages, they must prove that the owner of the dog had cause to know that the dog would cause damages and chose not to intervene or take preventative measures by not exercising reasonable care. The person that was bitten is ineligible for compensation if they did something to aggravate the dog.