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PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IN NATCHITOCHES, LA

a full service legal team DEDICATED to personal injury

we earned the trust of thousands by doing everything we can to get what they deserve

a full service injury law firm ready to serve natchitoches

Personal injuries can change your life instantly, leaving you reeling from the physical, emotional, and financial consequences. From car accidents to offshore accidents to workplace incidents, the types of personal injury cases are as varied as the consequences that follow. An experienced Natchitoches personal injury lawyer can be your best ally when seeking justice and fair compensation for your injuries.

Dealing with a personal injury case can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. With mounting medical bills, potential loss of income, and emotional turmoil, you need a legal advocate who understands the nuances of Louisiana’s personal injury laws and can effectively represent your best interests. At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we provide quality counsel and legal representation to personal injury victims to help them recover their deserved compensation.

Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to begin our case evaluation process. Call (318) 221-1508. We want to hear from you.

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What Is a Personal Injury Case?

Personal injury cases refer to legal disputes that arise when an individual — the plaintiff — suffers harm or injuries due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of another party — the defendant. Typically, a personal injury case involves two issues: liability and damages. A personal injury lawsuit aims to hold the at-fault party legally accountable, or liable, for their actions and seek compensation, or damages, for the losses the injured party has incurred. Personal injury cases can be resolved through informal negotiations and settlements or through formal civil litigation in a court of law.

An experienced lawyer can gather evidence, consult with experts, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if necessary, go to trial to prove liability and damages. Seek the guidance of our skilled personal injury lawyers in Natchitoches to help you navigate Louisiana’s complex legal process and advocate on your behalf to obtain the maximum possible compensation.

What Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?

At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we’re well-equipped to handle a wide range of cases involving injuries due to the negligence or wrongdoing of other parties. Some of the cases our law firm can help with include:
  • Car accidents:

    These are collisions or crashes involving cars, which often result from reckless driving, distracted driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Bicycle accidents:

    Collisions between bicyclists and pedestrians or cars may occur due to driver negligence, resulting in injuries to the cyclist.
  • Boat accidents:

    These can be commercial or recreational boating accidents, and may be caused by operator inexperience, poor weather conditions, equipment failure, or intoxication.
  • Bus accidents:

    Passengers, pedestrians, or other road users may suffer severe injuries in accidents involving buses, which may happen due to driver error or equipment failure.
  • Motorcycle accidents:

    Collisions between motorcycles and other vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries to the motorcyclist due to the limited protection and inherent vulnerability of riding a motorcycle.
  • Catastrophic injuries:

    These cases involve severe, life-changing injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, amputations, spinal injuries, or disfigurement.
  • Construction accidents:

    We handle cases involving injuries that workers and other third parties sustain on construction sites due to unsafe working conditions, contractor or subcontractor negligence, or equipment failure.
  • Industrial injuries:

    These cases involve accidents in various industries, including the oil and gas, chemical, or manufacturing sectors, due to non-compliance with safety regulations or employer negligence.
  • Offshore accidents:

    We represent individuals who have suffered injuries while working offshore in oil rigs, ships, or other maritime vessels, due to hazardous materials, inclement weather, or flammable products.
  • Pedestrian accidents:

    These claims occur when other drivers injure or kill pedestrians, frequently as a result of driver distraction, negligence, or failure to yield the right-of-way.
  • Premises liability:

    These claims encompass injuries sustained on another person’s property due to negligent maintenance, and can include slip and fall or swimming pool accidents.
  • Product liability:

    These are cases involving injuries caused by defective or harmful products, including faulty medical devices, unsafe children’s toys, or contaminated food. These are usually a result of manufacturing defects, design flaws, or inadequate warnings.
  • Property contamination:

    Our lawyers also handle claims involving injuries or illnesses from harmful metals, asbestos, benzene, hydrocarbons, lead, and toxic waste on contaminated land, usually due to corporate negligence or non-compliance with environmental regulations.
  • Train accidents:

    We handle claims involving injuries sustained in train derailments, collisions, and other rail-related accidents.
  • Truck accidents:

    These cases involve collisions or crashes between large commercial trucks and other vehicles, which often result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the sheer size and weight of 18-wheelers.
  • Workers' compensation:

    Morris & Dewett lawyers represent employees injured on the job, helping them navigate the workers’ compensation system to obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and disability.
  • Wrongful death:

    We help families who have lost a loved one(s) due to another person’s or company’s negligence or intentional act get the compensation, justice, and closure they deserve.

Is Your Personal Injury Claim Valid?

Proving that you have a valid personal injury case is rarely straightforward. You’ll need an experienced personal injury lawyer to evaluate your case. Nonetheless, there are certain key factors that courts consider when determining if you have a case:

Liability

Your claim can only be considered valid if you prove that another party was at fault for causing your injury. This involves showing that the party failed to exercise a reasonable duty of care, resulting in the incident in question.

Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help prove that the defendant was negligent. This means they acted unreasonably and caused your injury. We investigate the facts surrounding your case to determine the at-fault party.

Damages and Injuries

Your personal injury case is valid if you’ve sustained injuries and damages following the incident. Imagine you’re working on a construction site and fall from a height, suffering a bone fracture. In cases where your injury is apparent, you don’t have to do much to prove it.

However, some injuries or illnesses, such as asbestosis, may manifest years after initial exposure to the hazard. Such cases require the expertise of a personal injury lawyer and medical professionals, who can help prove that you have indeed suffered an illness or injury.

Injuries and illnesses in personal injury cases often result in medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages. Generally, you may have a valid personal injury case if you have been involved in an accident, sustained an injury, or suffered damages due to someone else’s negligence. 

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Causation

Under personal injury law, there must be a direct connection between the negligent party’s actions and your injuries. It is crucial to establish that your injuries would not have occurred if not for the other party’s negligence. To illustrate causation in a personal injury case, let’s consider a hypothetical scenario involving a car accident:

Imagine driving through an intersection when another driver runs a red light and crashes into your car. As a result of the collision, you suffer a broken arm and whiplash. In this case, a clear cause-and-effect relationship exists between the other driver’s negligence — running the red light — and your injuries — the broken arm and whiplash.

In this scenario, establishing causation and pursuing a personal injury claim requires you to prove that:

What Are the Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases?

Personal injury cases can encompass a wide variety of both physical and psychological injuries resulting from multiple types of accidents. Some common physical injuries in personal injury cases include:
Although psychological injuries are not visible, they can be as damaging as physical injuries and adversely affect your life. Common psychological injuries associated with personal injury cases include the following:
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What Are the Deadlines for Filing a Natchitoches Personal Injury Claim?

Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. In Louisiana, you must file a personal injury claim no later than one year from the date of the injury. Otherwise, you may lose your right to pursue damages.

Picture this scenario: On January 1, 2022, you visited a grocery store in Natchitoches, Louisiana. While walking down one of the aisles, you slipped on a puddle of spilled liquid that had not been cleaned up or marked with a warning sign. Due to the fall, you suffered a herniated disc in your lower back, which required medical treatment and time off work. Going by Louisiana’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you would have until January 1, 2023, to file a lawsuit against the grocery store for its negligence in maintaining a safe environment.

Regrettably,

you failed to consult with a personal injury lawyer immediately after the incident and instead attempted to negotiate with the grocery store’s insurance company. The negotiation process dragged on, and you eventually realized that the insurance company was not offering fair compensation for your injuries and damages. You decide to contact a personal injury lawyer on February 1, 2023 — more than a year after the incident.

In this case,

the statute of limitations for your case has expired, and you’ve likely lost the right to file a personal injury lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries, regardless of whether or not you have a valid case. This goes to show why consulting with a personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later is ideal. You need to act quickly. Speaking with our Natchitoches personal injury lawyers immediately after an accident can help preserve your right to pursue legal action.

Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

The importance of hiring a Natchitoches personal injury lawyer cannot be emphasized enough. Having our lawyers on your side can impact the outcome of your personal injury case and the compensation you receive. Some of the reasons you should hire a personal injury lawyer include the following:
1. Expertise and Experience in Personal Injury Law

Personal injury lawyers have specialized knowledge and experience handling various injury cases. They understand the nuances of this branch of law and the tactics insurance companies employ to devalue or deny compensation.

2. Proper Evaluation of Your Case

Your personal injury attorney can help determine the cause of the accident and identify all potentially liable parties. They can also accurately assess your claim’s value by considering medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and future needs to ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve.

 

3. Assistance With Claims Paperwork Submission

The personal injury claim process involves a lot of paperwork, which can be overwhelming. Your lawyer can help complete forms, review and organize documents, draft demand letters to the relevant insurance companies or responsible parties, and submit paperwork on time.

4. Adherence to Legal Requirements

Personal injury lawyers understand Louisiana’s procedural rules and requirements for filing and handling personal injury claims. They also understand the appropriate motions for your case, including motions to compel the defendant to produce documents, motions to exclude evidence, or motions for summary judgment.

5. Collection, Preservation, and Presentation of Evidence

Personal injury attorneys can conduct a thorough, independent investigation by collecting vital evidence such as reliable eyewitness testimonies, surveillance footage, photographs, police reports, medical reports, expert opinions, payroll records, and toxicology reports. They can also guide you in obtaining necessary documents, presenting the facts of your accident, securing expert testimony, and remaining credible throughout your case.

6. Negotiation With Insurance Companies

Insurers strive to settle personal injury claims for the lowest amount possible. Personal injury lawyers are skilled negotiators who can advocate on your behalf to maximize your compensation and protect you from undue pressure from the at-fault party and their insurance company.

 

7. Legal Representation During Litigation

If your case goes to trial, your personal injury lawyer will represent your interests and present your case before a judge or jury. They can develop a legal strategy, navigate the trial process, and argue persuasively to achieve the best possible outcome.

The personal injury lawyers at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers are experienced at handling personal injury claims and understand how to shape and present your case to attain maximum compensation. We also understand the rules and procedures for presenting personal injury cases in local courtrooms. Working with our Natchitoches legal team could significantly improve your chances of receiving the justice and fair compensation you deserve.

What Damages Can You Receive in Your Personal Injury Claim?

The damages you receive in a personal injury claim can vary depending on your case and the extent of your injuries and losses. Generally, the settlement award will be in the form of economic or non-economic damages:

Economic Damages

These damages aim to compensate you for the quantifiable financial losses you have suffered due to your injury. Economic damages may include:

Non-Economic Damages

In a personal injury case, you may also be compensated for the non-financial losses that are harder to quantify. They can be included in your personal injury settlement or awarded by a judge or jury in court. Non-economic damages in personal injury cases include the following:
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In rare instances,

a judge may also order the defendant to pay punitive damages if they find their actions egregious or malicious. Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from engaging in similar conduct.

At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we have a long history of success in personal injury cases and have secured million-dollar settlements for our clients, including the largest personal injury verdict in Louisiana history. We know what it takes to build a strong personal injury case and can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

How Much Is Your Personal Injury Claim Worth?

The value of a personal injury claim differs based on the details of each specific case. Your personal injury lawyer cannot guarantee a specific amount of compensation, but they can evaluate your case and consider various factors to estimate your claim’s worth.

Some of those factors include the following:

Call Our Natchitoches Personal Injury Lawyers Today To Discuss Your Case

Personal injury cases can be complex, and dealing with the claims process alone can be overwhelming. Our attorneys in Natchitoches, LA, understand the nuances of personal injury law. We can help you build a strong case against the defendant to increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

If you suffered a personal injury in Natchitoches, LA, you need quality legal representation at every stage of your case. Fill out our online form today to schedule a free case evaluation, or call (318) 221-1508 to speak to one of our representatives.

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