Experiencing damages from an incident that could have been avoided is a frightening experience – and taking action against the responsible parties can be intimidating. With all of the demands to do, remember, document, and submit paperwork, it's easy for one to feel completely overwhelmed. Louisiana injury lawyers provide more services than just negotiating with insurance companies or engaging with opposing counsel. Our law firm provides the support clients need to get back on the road to recovery by setting appointments, handling filings, organizing paperwork, and investigating claims. A personal injury law firm also makes sure that you are treated fairly with compassion and care.
After an accident, don't waste time and energy as an injured person on handling these complex tasks while trying to recover. You do not have to deal with insurance companies alone. Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers will handle it all for you. We bring top-tier legal expertise and a client-centered process to our personal injury law practice. Our Louisiana personal injury lawyers have the resources, knowledge, and experience to cut through the confusion and ensure you recover the compensation you deserve.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Louisiana
At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we help injured victims throughout Louisiana, from the bayous of Acadiana to the pine forests on the Texas border, to the Mississippi River delta. We help Louisiana citizens with many types of personal injury cases, including but not limited to:
- Car accidents
- Product liability
- Truck Accidents
- 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Premises liability
- Catastrophic injuries
- Truck accidents
- Construction accidents
- Burn Injuries
- Bus accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Industrial injuries
- Offshore accidents
- Train derailment accidents
- Workers' Compensation - Third-Party Injury
- Pedestrian accidents
- Wrongful death
The Personal Injury Claims Process in Louisiana
The specific factors surrounding your case will determine your claims process, but generally, here's how a personal injury claim will play out:
1. Initial Consultation
You schedule a meeting with a Louisiana personal injury attorney. During the consultation, you will answer questions regarding the accident, your injuries, expenses related to the injuries, and more.
If you and the attorney agree to proceed with the claim, you will sign a retainer agreement. Since Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, you never pay us anything upfront. The agreement you sign will specify the terms of the contingency fee, but we will only get paid after we win.
2. Filing the Claim
Your lawyer will contact insurance companies and other relevant parties to report the accident and let them know they represent you and officially file your claim.
3. Evidence Collection
Your Louisiana injury lawyer may enlist the help of experts to collect evidence, such as police reports, photos, medical records, witness testimonies, and more, to strengthen your case.
4. Writing a Demand Letter
Once your attorney has gathered crucial evidence and has a better understanding of your injuries and other losses, they will send a settlement demand letter to the offending party's insurance company.
5. Offers and Settlement Negotiations
The at-fault party's insurance company will send a counteroffer, and we will begin negotiating your settlement, keeping you in the loop from start to finish. If you agree on a settlement amount, you sign a release of all claims agreements, which prohibits you from pursuing further compensation, regardless of the complications you may encounter in the future.
6. Filing a Lawsuit
You can file a lawsuit if the other side does not offer a fair settlement. Your attorney will file a complaint identifying the plaintiff and all defendants and summarize your claim. The defendant is then served with a copy of the complaint and must respond with an answer denying or admitting fault.
7. Discovery and Mediation
This is a pre-trial phase in which both sides investigate the facts of your personal injury case. During mediation, a mediator may step in before the case proceeds to trial and attempt to help both sides reach a satisfactory settlement.
8. The Trial
Your Louisiana personal injury lawyer will advocate for you before a judge or jury. The case will conclude with a verdict addressing who was liable and the damages you are entitled to.
If it all sounds overwhelming, don't fret! For years, we've helped injured victims in Louisiana recover compensation. We handle all legal matters so you can focus on your recovery.
Proving Negligence in a Louisiana Personal Injury Lawsuit
In personal injury cases, negligence is a legal theory that assumes we owe it to one another to act carefully and reasonably. You have to prove a person was negligent before you can hold them responsible for your injuries. The four elements of negligence that must be present for you to have a case are:
- Duty of care: You must be able to prove that the defendant was responsible for acting in a way that caused you harm.
- Breach of duty: You must prove that the defendant conducted themselves in a way that breached their duty of care.
- Causation: You must have evidence supporting your claim that the defendant's actions caused your injuries.
- Damages: You must prove you suffered harm or losses because of the breach of their duty of care.
Comparative Fault Laws in Louisiana
In a personal injury case, many factors, and sometimes multiple people, may contribute to an accident. Under Louisiana's comparative fault rules, liability will be spread to everyone, including you, when multiple parties share blame for an accident. The damages you can recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if another person is found to be 70% responsible and you are found to be 30% at fault, you will only receive 70% of your possible award.
Crucial Evidence Needed To Prove Negligence in a Personal Injury Case
The success of your personal injury case rests on your attorney's ability to prove the at-fault party's negligence and the losses you suffered from it. To achieve this goal, our legal team will investigate and collect evidence, including but not limited to the following:
- Police accident reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Medical bills and records
- Surveillance videos and photos
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
Recoverable Damages in a Louisiana Personal Injury Lawsuit
Each personal injury case will yield different damages. The specific damages you'll pursue with your personal injury attorney from Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers will depend on the situation surrounding your case and the severity of your damages. There are three main categories of damages we can help you seek.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses you suffer from the accident. They include:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses, including current and future prescriptions, medical devices, hospital stays, and in-home nursing care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to medical care and treatment
Non-Economic Damages
These losses affect your quality of life and have no particular monetary value. They include compensation for things such as:
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain
- Disability
- Loss of consortium and protection
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are often reserved for cases linked to intentional conduct or gross negligence. You may receive these damages if someone hurts you due to their negligent behavior. These damages are meant to:
- Deter the offender and the public from similar conduct
- Punish the defendant for their outrageously harmful behavior
Louisiana Deadlines for Personal Injury Lawsuits
Louisiana has strict time limits called statutes of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits. You risk losing your right to recover compensation after an accident if you file your lawsuit after the time limit. Typically, the deadline for most personal injury cases, such as motorcycle accidents, slip and fall cases, and truck accidents, is one year from the date of the injury.
A year can seem like a long time, but the days go by in a blink of an eye. Your Louisiana personal injury lawyer will need ample time to investigate the accident, compile evidence, take care of the paperwork, and set you up for success.
Workers' Compensation
After a job-related injury, you may qualify for worker's comp benefits. However, you must report the injury to your employer within 30 days of the injury, and you have one year from the injury date to file a formal claim. Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers specialize in third-party injury cases, where an individual or entity other than the plaintiff's employer is at fault for a personal injury. Our experienced attorneys are committed to providing comprehensive legal services and pursuing maximum compensation for those harmed by the negligence of another party. We carefully analyze every detail of your case, from medical bills to property damage, to build a strong claim that will maximize your recoverable damages.
Government Claims
Suing a person or business is one thing. Suing a government agency after an accident is another. Fortunately, you can sue a city, county, or other government entity in Louisiana under certain circumstances. However, you must act quickly.
If you're considering bringing an injury claim against a government agency in Louisiana, you must give notice to the agency within 60 days — sometimes 180 days. The notice of claim lays the foundation of your claim and must include the following:
- Your name and address
- Your attorney's name and address
- Information about your accident, such as the location
- A statement specifying your type of claim, such as a premises liability claim
- Information about your injuries, supported by medical records and bills
- Detailed information about the government agency's negligence and how it caused your injuries
- The amount of compensation you're seeking
How the Personal Injury Attorneys From Morris & Dewett Can Help
Our offices in Louisiana are staffed with experienced and compassionate personal injury attorneys who go the extra mile for injured victims who depend on them. We've seen your situation before and can take the stress out of it by leveraging our vast resources and years of experience. We want you to win, and working with the right personal injury lawyer near you is your best chance to recover the fair compensation you deserve.
Our skilled attorneys will assist with a range of tasks, such as:
- Thoroughly analyzing the facts and pinpointing accountability
- Collecting and scrutinizing pivotal evidence
- Examining the extent of your monetary damages and injuries to calculate damages and ensure all your losses are covered
- Examining witnesses
- Contacting expert witnesses to review the evidence and support your claim
- Handling all interactions with the responsible party or insurer to guarantee a reasonable settlement that is satisfactory for both parties.
- If necessary, actively champion your cause in the courtroom.
If you're dealing with the aftermath of an accident and need assistance to put your life back together, Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers can help.
Louisiana Personal Injury FAQs
How Do I Know If I Have an Injury Case?
Unfortunately, just because you've suffered an injury in an accident doesn't necessarily mean you have a personal injury case. There are instances in which your injury may have been caused by a person or an entity that didn't owe you a duty of care.
For example, Person A's property has a lot of broken glass on its premises, and the property is fenced. If Person B trespasses on Person A's property, Person A does not owe Person B a duty of care. If Person B is hurt by the broken glass on Person A's property, they cannot recover damages from Person A.
If you've been injured and believe it happened because of someone else's carelessness, speak with Louisiana injury lawyers. Each accident is different. Should you file an injury lawsuit? You won't know until you consult an experienced lawyer.
How Much Does a Louisiana Injury Firm Cost?
After being injured in an accident, you'll probably have a ton of expenses and concerns about the cost of hiring good representation. Your skilled and compassionate attorney at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers relies on a contingency fee system that benefits anyone who unexpectedly becomes a victim of negligence.
Our contingency fee system eliminates the financial barrier, allowing all injured persons to afford top-tier representation. You never pay any upfront consultation fees, legal fees, or expenses. Our team only gets paid after your case is won.
When Should I Get in Touch With an Injury Attorney?
ASAP! After an accident, it's best to hire a lawyer right away. When you know you'll need money to cover weeks, months, and years of medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, emotional pain, or permanent disability, don't risk your chances of recovering the compensation you need by delaying. Contacting a personal injury lawyer immediately after suffering an injury is an investment in your future. Call 888-492-5532 now.
Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Yes! Here are four compelling reasons why you need to hire Louisiana personal injury lawyers after an accident:
Level the Playing Field
When you file your injury lawsuit, a ruthless attorney will likely represent the other party. These attorneys are aggressive and will develop robust strategies to attain favorable results. You have to level the playing field by hiring a more skilled attorney if you intend to win the case.
Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers have fought against big insurers and aggressive attorneys in Louisiana and won. Let us represent you.
You Will Be Blamed
Insurance companies will claim you shared responsibility for causing the accident, so they can deny your claim or make you a lowball offer. We will fight for your rights and stand up to insurers on your behalf to ensure you recover the maximum compensation possible.
You Deserve Time to Focus on What Matters Most — Getting Better
Sustaining injuries in an accident can be traumatizing. On top of this devastating experience, you will have to deal with physical pain and suffering, medical bills, insurance companies, paperwork, and maybe pursue your case in court. All these can be overwhelming, and you need to focus on getting better. Let our lawyers handle everything on your behalf while you recuperate.
File a Personal Injury Claim That Meets All of Louisiana's Procedural Requirements
Navigating Louisiana's personal injury claims process can be confusing, and simple mistakes can be costly. Our knowledgeable lawyers have experience working on these cases. They will file your claim within the statute of limitations and expedite the claim process while adhering to all the procedural Louisiana requirements.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
Because each case is different, many factors will go into determining the value of your injury claim for damages, including the following:
- The severity of your injuries
- The type and length of medical treatment
- The certainty of the defendant's fault
- Whether injuries resulted in disability
- Your ability to work following the accident
- The extent of pain and suffering
A free consultation with a Louisiana personal injury attorney can help you understand the different factors that can influence your financial recovery and assist in going after the maximum compensation.
How Long Will My Louisiana Personal Injury Lawsuit Take To Settle?
The length of time for settling your personal injury case depends on many factors, and no attorney can guarantee the timeline for your desired outcome. Some of the factors that influence how long your case takes to settle include:
- The type and severity of the accident
- Severity of injuries
- Whether a crime was committed
- Number of at-fault parties
- Availability of evidence
- Length of recovery time
It can be a long process, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers can only leave you with this advice: Be patient. A diligent investigation takes time, and our team will fight for you every step of the way. We will hire experts, unearth crucial evidence, and participate in court appearances to help maximize your compensation.
Call Morris & Dewett to Begin Your Personal Injury Claim
The legal team at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers has a long-standing reputation for excellence in fighting for injured victims. That reputation is built on a deep understanding of personal injury law and a solid foundation of professionalism, coupled with a remarkable track record of winning cases for injured victims.
Our personal injury lawyers in Louisiana make it their mission to ease your burden and fight for the maximum compensation you need to move forward. Contact us for a free and confidential consultation, or call 888-492-5532.
