Prairieville Personal Injury Lawyer
Have you been injured by someone else’s negligence in Prairieville, LA? Whether it’s from a car accident, medical malpractice, a slip and fall, or anything else – you may be entitled to seek monetary compensation to help cover your losses. This can be a stressful time, as you have to deal with your recovery as well as the legal process of filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Fortunately, Palmintier Law Group is available to help you. With our decades of legal experience and a record of more than $1 billion recovered for clients, our Prairieville personal injury attorneys can guide you toward pursuing justice after your accident in Prairieville, Louisiana.
Contact us Palmintier Law Group today to schedule a free consultation or call (225) 344 3735 with our Prairieville personal injury lawyers.
How Palmintier Law Group Can Help if You’re in an Accident
If you’ve experienced an injury in Prairieville, LA, you may be able to seek compensation.
At Palmintier Law Group, we can provide valuable assistance in several ways:
- Listen to your story and asses your claim: We start by listening to your narrative to understand the circumstances that led to your injury. Based on this information, an initial assessment is performed on the viability of your claim.
- Investigate: We then initiate a comprehensive investigation into the accident and aim to gather all important evidence, including surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, police reports, and more.
- Negotiate: Once we have enough information, we will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. We use our extensive experience in personal injury law to get you a fair and justified settlement. Our priority is to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
If you’ve experienced any type of personal injury accident, we can guide you through the complex legal process. For help in Prairieville, Louisiana, contact Palmintier Law Group to schedule a free consultation with our Prairieville personal injury lawyers.
How Common Are Personal Injury Accidents in Prairieville, Louisiana?
In Louisiana, personal injury accidents, unfortunately aren’t a rare occurrence. This area – like every other – sees its fair share of incidents caused by others’ negligence.
In 2022, there were 852 fatal car crashes in the state. The most common contributing factors were alcohol use, distraction, aggressive driving, and failure to use a seatbelt. In 2021, Louisiana experienced 19 fatal slip and fall workplace accidents In 2022, Louisiana had 787 medical malpractice reports.
The number and type of accidents that occur in Louisiana are significant and far-reaching. It’s important to understand what types of accidents occur so we can all take better preventative measures.
What Is My Accident Case Worth?
Understanding what your accident case might be worth is an essential step in deciding whether or not to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. The value of your claim depends on several key factors.
More severe injuries naturally lead to larger medical bills and extended recovery periods, amplifying the overall value of your claim in most cases.
The amount that can be claimed heavily hinges on the at-fault party’s insurance coverage limits. No matter how high your costs may be, recoverable damages might still remain capped at those policy limits unless you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.
If you’re partially at fault for the accident, this will reduce your overall compensation.
The availability and quality of documentation, testimony, photographs, and other forms of evidence can substantiate your claim. The stronger your evidence is, the more likely you are to recover an appropriate amount of compensation.
It’s essential to speak with a personal injury lawyer to determine what you might be entitled to after an accident.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
As an accident victim, pursuing a legal claim provides you with the opportunity to collect damages. The types of damages you may be eligible for include:
Economic Damages
These compensate for your measurable and out-of-pocket financial losses arising from the accident. These damages include medical bills, property damage costs (like car repairs), lost wages during recovery, future loss of income due to disability, and other quantifiable expenses linked with the accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are awarded for intangible and more subjective losses that can’t be quantified in strict dollar amounts. Non-economic damages could include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, as well as loss of companionship or affection.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar reckless behavior in the future. However, they are only awarded in rare and specific circumstances in Louisiana.
Punitive damages may be awarded in personal injury cases if a drunk driver caused the injuries or if a domestic abuse incident was the cause.
To determine what damages you may be eligible for, speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For a Personal Injury Accident in Louisiana?
Yes, in Louisiana, you can still recover compensation even if you share some blame for the accident and resulting injury. This is due to the pure comparative negligence rule employed by the state.
Under this rule, your degree of responsibility doesn’t bar recovery; even if you’re found 99 % responsible for the accident, you can still pursue compensation. However, your recoverable damages will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
For instance, if a court determines your total losses amount to $100,000 but you were 30% responsible for the injury, your damages would be reduced by 30% or $30,000.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Accident Injuries
When you’re involved in an accident, various types of injuries can unfortunately occur.
Some common types of accident injuires include:
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Fractured and broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and bruises
- Nerve damage
- Crush injuries
The severity and type of injury will influence the extent of medical treatment you need, your recovery time, and the potential financial compensation you may seek.
What Causes Most Personal Injury Accidents in Prairieville, Louisiana?
Personal injuries occur in a multitude of ways. Here are some leading causes:
Slip and Falls
Slip and fall incidents often surface from poor property maintenance at business or residential premises. Whether caused by uneven surfaces, uncleaned spills, or clutter causing obstructed pathways in poorly lit spaces, any oversights can lead to such accidents.
Car Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions constitute a substantial portion of personal injury accidents. These generally surface from negligence like distracted driving, speeding, disobeying traffic signals or signs, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and other negligent and reckless behavior.
Medical Malpractice
When healthcare professionals fail to meet the acceptable standards of care for patients, their errors can result in injuries. Such circumstances might involve surgical errors, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or childbirth injuries, for example.
Dog Bites
Dog bites are another common cause of personal injuries. Even the most docile pets can become unpredictable under certain circumstances. This can lead to punctures and sometimes severe infections.
This is not an exhaustive list of the types and causes of accidents; if you need help with any kind of related matter, contact us today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Personal Injury Accident in Louisiana?
Proving negligence in a personal injury claim typically hinges on proving four key elements:
Duty of Care
You first need to demonstrate that the responsible party had a duty of care towards the injured party – essentially an obligation to act in a certain way or avoid acting in such a manner that could harm others.
This could be a doctor who owes a patient a certain level of care or drivers who have the duty to drive responsibly to keep others around them safe.
Breach of Duty
Once this duty is established, you must prove it was indeed breached by either actions taken or ignored by the defendant. Perhaps they were speeding, omitted important information about side effects from medication, or failed to clean up a spill on their property.
Causation
The third step involves showing clear and direct evidence between the breach and your injury. This is known as causation.
Damages
Finally, you need solid evidence indicating injuries were sustained. This usually includes medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional injuries like pain and suffering.
Successfully demonstrating each element can lead to a successful personal injury claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Personal Injury Accident in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, the law provides a brief window for filing personal injury claims; you have only one year from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. This timeline is quite short compared to other states, and it requires prompt attention.
To avoid missing this crucial deadline, reach out to an experienced lawyer as soon after the accident as possible.
Contact Our Prairieville Personal Injury Lawyers For a Free Consultation
Coping with an injury caused by another person’s negligence can be incredibly stressful. Along with physical pain, you may be struggling with intense emotional turmoil as well. Add to that the complexities of navigating legal proceedings, and it can sometimes feel like too much to handle.
Fortunately, there are professionals available to help you. Contact Palmintier Law Group today to schedule a free consultation with our Prairieville personal injury lawyers.