Negligence in Personal Injury Cases

Under federal law, anyone who is injured or passes away due to the actions of another has the right to pursue legal action against the defendant. The defendant can be an individual, a business, or even a municipal organization, such as your local government. The failure to prevent an injury to someone due to lack of care is known as negligence.

Negligence can come in many different forms depending on the circumstances. For example, someone can be found negligent if they caused a car accident because of texting while driving. A business may be found negligent if they sold a product that caused an injury to a customer. A lawyer can examine your experience and determine if you can file a lawsuit.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Premises Liability

Examples of premises liability include a slip and fall, being struck by an improperly mounted sign or shelf, or a similar type of hazard that the owner failed to prevent. The premises can be a private residence or a commercial property, such as a retail store. The owner or manager of the property is liable for neglecting their duties to keep their property safe for visitors or anyone who is legally conducting business on the property.

Medical Malpractice

A healthcare provider can be held liable for causing injuries to their patients. Common types of medical malpractice claims include misdiagnosis, medication errors, birth injuries, and surgical errors. Patients should be able to trust their healthcare providers, whether they are a nurse practitioner or a licensed physician. Even in a field that is heavily regulated, healthcare providers can still harm their patients out of negligence.

Car Accidents

Car accidents can have devastating consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, 36,096 people died due to car crashes in the United States alone. This number does not include the amount of non-fatal injuries that resulted in permanent disability.

Product Liability

If a business sells a product that harms someone, that business can be found liable and negligent. Products that have a defective design, such as a vehicle that has faulty brakes or hidden defects, can seriously injure or kill someone. A product may have been improperly assembled, sourced from unregulated wholesalers, or tampered with by an employee. Product liability cases can be especially serious if a large number of products were released to the public.

What You Can Do and How We Can Help

You may feel powerless, stressed, and anxious after sustaining an injury, but there are steps you can take to regain control over your life and recover your losses. One of the first steps in filing a lawsuit is consulting a personal injury attorney. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers offer free consultations, and if your case is accepted, you will not be charged a dime unless we win your compensation in court or if we reach an agreement for a negotiated settlement.

If the case goes to trial, your lawyer will prepare evidence to be submitted for the discovery process. The discovery process is a formal exchange between parties that presents witnesses and evidence. Evidence and testimony for a personal injury case can come from several sources.

Types of Evidence in Personal Injury Cases

When a personal injury case is taken to court, evidence can help prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. Some types of evidence include:

  • Photos of the injuries
  • Medical records from healthcare providers such as hospitals, emergency personnel, or your doctor
  • Police records
  • Footage from surveillance footage or dash cams
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Professional testimony
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The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits in Louisiana

The statute of limitations for reporting a personal injury in Louisiana is two years from the date of the injury under Louisiana Civil Code § 3492. One of the first pieces of information you should share with your lawyer is the date of the injury and when it was reported so that it can be determined that you are within the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit.

Considering the short amount of time that you are given to file a personal injury lawsuit, it can be a great advantage to begin the filing process immediately. Keeping a record of your injury early on can produce a clear timeline of events that can provide credibility to your claim.

Types of Recoverable Damages

Recovering from an injury can take months or even years. In some cases, the effects of an injury can result in permanent physical or mental disability. The medical treatment for injuries can quickly accumulate into massive amounts of medical debt.

Going into debt can ruin your credit rating and diminish the quality of life for you and your family for years to come. However, if you are a victim of negligence, you can take steps to protect your financial future. Damages that can be recovered by a personal injury lawyer include:

  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental and emotional trauma
  • Lost wages
  • Personal property damage
  • Wrongful death

If you want to learn more about how a St. Charles Parish personal injury lawyer can help you evaluate your damages, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today/

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If you or a loved one has been injured due to a car accident, medical malpractice, or a defective product, you are probably in the process of researching facts about personal injury lawsuits. If you are trying to figure out the best course of action to begin recovering your losses and protecting your family from future debt and hardship, a St. Charles Parish personal injury lawyer may be able to help. If you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit and would like to further explore your options, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today.

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