Baton Rouge Personal Injury Lawyers

Insurance companies are large and well-resourced, using teams of attorneys, adjusters, and staff members to defend themselves against claims. Insurers are all too willing to use their might to bully claimants into low settlements. An injury attorney can level the playing field and provide you with your own winning resources. They can ensure that the insurance company plays fair and doesn’t get away with offering less than you deserve.

An injury lawyer can help you get the most from your claim. They can investigate, gather evidence, and identify all the liable parties involved. They can also calculate the value of your damages — and bring in experts to help strengthen your case. These steps will help increase your chances of receiving just compensation for your injuries.

Defense teams frequently use Louisiana’s comparative negligence rules to blame injured people for an accident and reduce the amount they owe for the claim. An injury attorney can protect you from unfounded accusations that you share responsibility for your injuries. They can work to prove that the insurance company is liable and owes you full compensation.

Your health is the most important thing after your accident. That’s why your focus should be on your rest and recovery — not a personal injury claim. An injury lawyer can handle all aspects of your case while you focus on healing from your injuries.

Insurance companies, the typical defendants in injury claims, are large, well-resourced corporations with teams of attorneys, adjusters, and investigators. They’ll use every resource and tactic at their disposal to minimize their liability for your accident. You don’t want to go up against such an opponent alone. Studies show that accident victims can get up to 3x more compensation when they retain a personal injury lawyer to handle their claim.

A personal injury lawyer will handle all aspects, from filings and investigations to negotiation and litigation. They will help you track and calculate the value of your losses (so you know how much to demand from the insurance company). They will prevent you from making mistakes that could hurt your claim’s value (such as giving a recorded statement to the insurance company or signing a medical records release). 

An injury attorney will give you the best odds of recovering full compensation for your claim. Contact us to learn more about what a skilled injury lawyer can do for you.

You should call an experienced injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident, especially if you have serious injuries. They will help you determine your legal options and identify whether you have a personal injury case. The longer you wait to call a lawyer, the more time there is for evidence to be misplaced and witness memories to fade. 

Most injury attorneys offer complimentary consultations. Therefore, you have nothing to lose by calling for assistance.

Most personal injury lawyers in Baton Rouge work on contingency. That means attorney fees are contingent upon the result of your case. If your attorney is successful, they will take a percentage of your settlement or verdict (usually 33% – 40%) as payment for the representation.

If your lawyer fails to recover compensation for you, you will typically not owe any attorney fees. However, you may be on the hook for certain costs, such as filing fees, determined by the terms of your fee agreement.

Most injury attorneys also offer consultations at no expense to you. Therefore, the upfront costs of hiring a personal injury lawyer are minimal.

Injury victims are typically able to seek two forms of awards. Economic damages cover the financial consequences related to an accident or injury. Non-economic damages compensate for the personal, non-monetary consequences.

Examples include:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Loss of income and diminished earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring/disfigurement
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium

Rare cases may qualify for punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant for extreme negligence or egregious misconduct. Drunk driving accidents are one example.

No two personal injury claims are alike. The value of yours will depend on many different factors unique to you and your injuries. 

Some factors that will influence your claim’s value include:

• The cost of your medical expenses and whether you will need future treatment
• The amount of your lost wages and whether your earning capacity has been reduced
• Your pain and trauma 
• Whether you share any blame for your injuries
• Available insurance coverages
• The strength of your evidence

The best way to determine your claim’s worth is to consult a personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge. Your lawyer can help you identify and calculate the value of your losses. They can even work with experts in finance and medicine to help you strengthen your claim.

You can still get compensation if you are partially at fault for an accident. Louisiana has pure comparative negligence rules. If you share blame, a court or jury will reduce your award to account for your percentage of responsibility.

For example, suppose you incurred a $100,000 loss after a car crash but are found to be 30% liable. You would only be able to take home $70,000 (70%).

Insurance adjusters frequently use these rules to try and reduce the compensation they owe — even when the victims bear none of the blame. If an insurer claims that you share blame for your injuries, you should speak to an attorney. An attorney can protect you from unfounded allegations of comparative negligence.