Catastrophic injuries can leave individuals permanently disabled or impaired. These injured victims may require ongoing medical treatment and assistance with daily living activities. They also may be unable to work and support themselves.
When a debilitating accident occurs, you can look to one of our Alexandria catastrophic injury lawyers for help. An attorney from our legal team can help you pursue financial compensation from the liable party or their insurance company.
We could help you or an injured loved one recoup money for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and intangible losses. Contact us now for a free consultation.
We Pursue Compensation for Catastrophic Injury Victims in Alexandria, LA
Our personal injury law firm is committed to getting justice for injured victims in Alexandria. Depending on the case’s circumstances, we may act on behalf of the following:
- The victim, which could be you or your loved one
- The family members of an injured person who cannot make decisions on their own behalf
- The family members of someone who died from a catastrophic injury
Our team is ready to assist you if you believe another party may be responsible for what happened.
Why do Alexandria Residents Choose Our Law Firm?
Each client we represent has unique motivations for hiring our team. Based on feedback received from former clients, people choose us because of the following:
- Our physical presence in Alexandria: We maintain a fully staffed office in Alexandria. This physical location ensures that you can reach our team whenever you need us, whether in person or through other means. It also indicates how well we know, and care about, the community of Alexandria.
- Our reputation for client care: Stellar client service is a common theme in our testimonials. From responding promptly to calls and emails to showing compassion during every interaction, we take the extra steps to make you feel valued.
- Our track record of success: Results are a key factor when choosing a lawyer. Our verdicts and settlements are a testament to our firm’s strong work ethic. We strive to win every case we handle, and that’s the approach we’ll take in your case.
Our firm has recovered more than $600 million for our clients. Losses in severe injury cases can be profound, and you may be entitled to a sizable recovery for yourself or your loved one.
Our Alexandria catastrophic injury attorneys will collect evidence and estimate your damages. We will then fight for a fair settlement from the at-fault party or their insurer and not accept a dollar less than you deserve.
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Defining Catastrophic Injuries in Louisiana
In Louisiana, injuries are considered catastrophic when they cause severe, long-term, or permanent disabilities.
Catastrophic events often leave victims unable to work or care for themselves, leading to emotional and financial stress. Some examples of these injuries include:
Accidental Amputation
Workplace accidents and collisions involving motor vehicles, boats, pedestrians, or bicyclists may result in the amputation of an arm or a leg. While prosthetics may be available, they are expensive.
Depending on the situation, an individual may lose part of a limb or the entire limb. In some cases, individuals lose multiple limbs in a single accident.
Organ Damage and Internal Bleeding
Serious internal damage may jeopardize an accident victim’s health and life. Blunt force trauma, whether sustained in an automobile crash or a slip and fall, can damage essential organs, including the intestines, spleen, stomach, liver, heart, and lungs.
Blood loss can lead to shock and organ failure, and infections can be deadly.
Head Trauma and Brain Damage
A healthy brain is crucial for performing basic life functions. The brain plays a role in breathing, voluntary movement, organ function, memory, communication, thoughts, and sensory perception. A traumatic brain injury can impede any of these essential processes.
Spinal Cord Injury
Serious spinal damage can leave a victim with paralysis and chronic pain for the rest of their lives. If you’ve suffered such an injury, an Alexandria spinal cord injury lawyer can help you seek financial remedies.
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Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries have many possible causes. While they usually occur during accidents, some may result from intentional actions. Possible causes of catastrophic damage include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents cause catastrophic injuries that our firm sees all too often. Some drivers suffer severe harm in a single-vehicle accident, while other collisions involve multiple drivers and passengers.
Anyone involved in a motor vehicle crash could face serious injuries and a lengthy recovery period.
On-the-Job Accidents
Workplace accidents can also lead to catastrophic injuries; some fields expose workers to more hazards than others.
For example, construction workers face risky situations regularly, while office workers may avoid many hazards. That said, workplace accidents can occur in any setting.
Mishaps on a job site can lead to electrocutions, burns, crush accidents, and other disasters. A catastrophic injury attorney from our legal team can assist with your workplace accident case.
Medical Malpractice Incidents
Healthcare professionals are responsible for each patient they care for. We expect doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other medical workers to make the right decisions on our behalf.
Unfortunately, some medical professionals behave dangerously or negligently and may:
- Provide the wrong diagnosis.
- Take too long to provide medical attention or issue a diagnosis.
- Administer or prescribe the wrong medication or dosage.
- Make a mistake when using anesthesia.
- Make an error during a surgical procedure.
Any of these failures could leave you with a devastating injury. In these situations, you may have the option to file a medical malpractice claim against the healthcare worker who caused you harm. Other parties, including the hospital, may also be liable.
Pool or Drowning Accidents
Swimming is a time-tested way to stay cool during Louisiana’s hot summers. However, water also exposes you to the risk of drowning. You face this risk if you swim in a pool, go to a river, or visit another body of water.
People sometimes survive drowning accidents. However, they may suffer brain damage due to reduced oxygen in their blood during the accident.
After a catastrophic injury of any kind, one of our experienced attorneys in Alexandria, LA, can review your case and explain your options for pursuing compensation.
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The Financial and Emotional Impacts of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are expensive. Victims typically face bills from hospitals, medical device providers, home care nurses, rehabilitation providers, and those who complete home modifications. Meanwhile, the injured person may be unable to work.
A catastrophic injury’s physical and financial stress can affect a victim’s mental health, possibly adding therapy costs to their mounting bills. The impact of these challenges can be overwhelming.
Economic, Non-Economic, and Punitive Damages
Fortunately, a Rapides Parish personal injury attorney from our firm can help. Louisiana law generally allows victims to seek compensation for the full extent of their losses. This compensation falls into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic damages are a victim’s monetary expenses and losses, including lifelong medical care, lost earnings, prescription drugs, therapy, and property damage.
- Non-economic damages compensate a plaintiff for pain and suffering, mental distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
In limited situations, a Rapides County court may also authorize punitive damages to punish a defendant and deter similar future conduct. For example, CC Art. 2315.4 permits some plaintiffs to recover punitive damages from defendants who caused a motor vehicle accident while intoxicated.
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Recoverable Damages
Victims of personal injury may seek damages to cover numerous losses. These damages may include compensation for:
- Hospital, surgical, and medical costs.
- Home healthcare services.
- Current and future loss of income (and loss of other professional benefits).
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
- Loss of companionship.
- Wrongful death damages (if a loved one died).
These are just a few potential losses you could seek compensation for. An Alexandria personal injury lawyer can help you value your losses and pursue damages.
Establishing Negligence After a Catastrophic Event
Even when accidents are unintentional, someone may have acted in a manner that does not meet a reasonable standard of care, given the circumstances.
For instance, if a driver disregards a stop sign, proceeds through an intersection, and hits another vehicle, that driver may have failed to uphold their duty to obey traffic laws. This could qualify as negligence.
Comparative Negligence
Victims whose negligence contributed to their damages may still have recourse under the principle of comparative negligence. According to CC Art. 2323, partially at-fault individuals may seek compensation from other responsible parties.
The law limits your ability to recover the total damages; the amount you receive decreases according to the percentage of fault assigned to you.
Working With an Alexandria Catastrophic Injury Attorney From Our Firm
Sustaining catastrophic damage in an accident is life-altering. When you suffer harm due to the negligence of another, you may be eligible for substantial compensation from those whose actions caused your losses.
A personal injury lawyer in Alexandria who specializes in these cases could help you get the compensation you are owed.
Holding others accountable for their carelessness can be just as important as covering your medical expenses. Doing so may discourage the defendant from acting recklessly in the future.
How Our Alexandria Catastrophic Lawyers Can Help You With Your Case
Our extensive experience in personal injury law positions us to handle your case as efficiently as possible. We’ll address any challenges during your case with composure and confidence.
Our team will handle the entire legal process for you. Our services include:
- Listening to and taking notes on your account of the catastrophic event.
- Identifying and calculating your damages.
- Collecting documentation of your damages.
- Gathering any relevant evidence.
- Recording witness accounts.
- Communicating with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
- Preparing your case for trial in case a settlement cannot be reached.
- Determining the best approach to your case, which may be a personal injury lawsuit.
- Handling every legal step in your case, from settlement negotiations to trial, if one is necessary.
We’ve secured significant financial recoveries for our clients through insurance settlements and court awards. We’re comfortable in either arena and will work with you to choose your case’s best course of action.
Time Limit for Taking Legal Action
Under CC Art. 3492, injured victims generally have one year from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. If you miss this deadline, you may be unable to pursue any legal claims related to this injury.
When you hire one of our attorneys, we will get started immediately. We will then monitor the timeline for your case to ensure we meet all applicable deadlines.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation
Don’t let an insurance company settle for less than your case is worth. Instead, allow Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to build your catastrophic injury case in Alexandria today.
Our personal injury attorneys handle cases on a contingency-fee basis so that you won’t pay anything upfront. We are committed to helping Louisiana accident victims and will evaluate your case for free. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Get The HelpYou Need(318) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
