Personal injury accidents happen every day and range from vehicle collisions, slip and falls, sports injuries, and more. If these accidents were unavoidable, there may be little more you can do but focus on your recovery.
However, if your injuries result from the negligence of another person in LaPlace, Louisiana, you may be entitled to compensation through legal recourse. The process of pursuing a personal injury claim can be challenging without legal counsel at your side, so consider hiring a LaPlace personal injury lawyer. Call (504) 613-4771 to schedule a free consultation with the team from the Morris Bart law firm if you would like to learn more about what legal options may be available to you and how a lawyer could help.
Common Types of Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury claims come in many forms. While they range in form or scale, the one common denominator in cases of this type is that negligence on behalf of the at-fault party was involved. That said, there are certain types of accidents that are more likely to result in a personal injury claim than others. Examples include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Acts of violence
- Sports injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Premise liability injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Any of these situations and more could result in a viable injury claim through which you may be entitled to compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving LaPlace, call 800-537-8185
Possible Compensation for Your Injuries
If you are successful in acquiring a settlement through your personal injury claim, there are multiple types of damages you may be entitled to recover compensation for. Some common examples include:
- Medical bills: severe injuries typically result in extensive medical bills. If the injuries occur as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical expenses. This recovery goes beyond the emergency medical care administered immediately after an injury, it could also include follow-up visits, surgeries, medical devices, and physical therapy among other costs. The costs associated with these factors may be difficult to pay if you are still recovering and unable to return to work.
- Lost wages: lost wages are another important factor in many personal injury cases. Many accident victims find themselves physically unable to return to work. If this is the case, any paycheck a victim misses out on due to their injury could lead to compensation.
- Pain and suffering: the physical pain of an injury may be overwhelming. Although subjective, you may be entitled to seek compensation based on the degree of pain you experienced after the accident and during your recovery.
- Property damage: although property damage claims are not always part of a personal injury case, you may be entitled to compensation if something you own was damaged or destroyed in the accident. This could include phones, computers, motor vehicles, and more.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: some injuries may cause you to miss out on the things you love in the future, such as participating in the hobbies you enjoy or taking care of day-to-day tasks around the house. A personal injury claim may result in compensation for this loss of your enjoyment of life.
Every injury claim is different. A wide range of factors can determine the amount of compensation you may be entitled to, such as the severity of your injuries, your time away from work, and the condition of your personal property. A LaPlace personal injury lawyer can review your case and advise you about your chances for financial recovery. Contact the team from the Morris Bart law firm at (504) 613-4771 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Shared Fault
Some personal injury accidents are clearly the fault of a single individual. However, when issues of liability are not as clear, Louisiana relies on a legal doctrine known as pure comparative negligence.
Comparative negligence is governed by Louisiana Civil Code (CC) § 2323, which holds that a plaintiff can seek compensation for an injury or wrongful death even if they played some part in causing the accident. This is the case even if you were primarily at fault. As long as the other party has some degree of liability for your injuries, you can seek compensation you may be entitled to.
That being said, your potential financial recovery is limited by your degree of fault. This means the damages you could be awarded may be reduced depending on how much of the accident was considered to be your fault. For example, if you were 90 percent at fault for a motor vehicle accident, you could recover at most 10 percent of your damages. However, the other party could seek 90 percent of their damages from you if they can establish your negligence at trial.
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Time Limit to File a Lawsuit
There is a legal deadline you must comply with if you are pursuing a personal injury claim. This deadline, known as the statute of limitations, varies from one state to another. If you bring your legal claim after the deadline expires, the court is likely to dismiss your case.
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations is governed by Louisiana CC § 3492. Under this law, you have one year from the date the injury occurs to bring your personal injury lawsuit. This may seem like a long time, but it could turn out to be a fairly short window of time if you are focused on recovering from any injuries.
Given the limited window of time, consider hiring a lawyer to prevent any delays moving forward with your claim. The sooner you engage with legal counsel, the sooner they could start to work on a claim for recovering the compensation you may be entitled to.
You May Be Entitled to Compensation if Another Person Injured You
The days and weeks following a serious injury may be challenging. The process of addressing your medical needs can be stressful, and missing work due to your injuries can only make matters worse if you are unable to pay for your medical bills. A LaPlace personal injury lawyer can help ease that stress by handling your injury claim on your behalf.
The team from the Morris Bart law firm can assist you with your personal injury claim. To learn how we may be able to help, call (504) 613-4771 to schedule a free consultation.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.