If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may have the makings of a personal injury claim. A Scott personal injury lawyer can help you determine how much compensation you may be entitled to and then fight for your rights in court. Whether you were involved in a car accident because the other driver was texting, suffered from a slip and fall on public property without warning, or were bitten by a neighbor’s dog, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party.
After reviewing your case during a free consultation, a Scott personal injury lawyer can help pursue compensation on your behalf, especially if you are still recovering in the hospital due to your injuries. But before your lawyer can fight for compensation, you may have to provide evidence that showcases all the damages you have accrued.
Damages in a personal injury lawsuit may include, but are not limited to:
- Current and future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future wages
- Limited earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
To learn more, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to schedule your free consultation.
The Statute of Limitations in Louisiana
According to Louisiana Civil Code Section 3492, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana is within two years of the incident.
Should you fail to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana before the two-year mark is reached, you may be forfeiting your right to legal recourse. This is because the defendant would likely request for the court to dismiss your case, which they can legally do after the statute of limitations has passed.
Section 3492 also states that the statute of limitations law “does not run against minors or interdicts in actions involving permanent disability and brought pursuant to the Louisiana Products Liability Act or state law governing product liability actions in effect at the time of the injury or damage.”
Essentially, these are rare exceptions for filing a personal injury lawsuit beyond the two-year deadline. These exceptions address minors under the age of 18 and claimants faced with defective products that do not identify the true cause of their injury in a timely manner.
Seeking Medical Attention Prior to Filing a Claim
Because you only have two years to file a claim following your accident or condition, you may need to quickly gather evidence. For instance, you may start by seeking medical treatment if you have not done so yet. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are 29.4 million emergency department visits due to unintentional injuries in the United States each year.
If you have not visited a doctor or an emergency room yet for your injuries, it is critical that you do so as soon as possible—not just for your health, but to protect your opportunity for legal recourse for a personal injury claim. These types of lawsuits are built off the premise that you suffered a real injury. If you have no documentation from a medical provider that proves you suffered an injury, it may be difficult to build a successful case against the negligent party.
Various Types of Personal Injury Cases
A Scott personal injury lawyer can potentially help you and your family with a variety of personal injury cases. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our personal injury practice touches upon many different practice areas:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Product liability
- Defective devices
- Pharmaceuticals & medical devices
- Dangerous drugs
- Mass torts
- Toxic torts
- Maritime injury
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Slip and fall
- Wrongful death
We are here to help. To schedule a free consultation, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777.
Proving Negligence During Personal Injury Claims
During your personal injury case, you will have to prove that negligence was the root cause of your injury. According to the Legal Information Institute (LII), negligence is essentially a lack of reasonable care from the defendant compared to how an ordinary and prudent person would otherwise act with care.
The American Bar Association describes the following example of negligence during a car accident personal injury claim:
“A driver has a duty to use reasonable care to avoid injuring anyone he or she meets on the road. If a driver fails to use reasonable care and as a result of that failure injures you, then the driver is responsible (liable) to you for those injuries.”
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Whether you have been bitten by a dog, hurt in a car accident, or suffered injuries from a defective product, you have the right to pursue compensation for someone else’s negligence. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim and your options for legal recourse.
Our Scott personal injury lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. To learn more, call us today at (337) 777-7777.