A Quick Overview of Paraplegia

Per the Mayo Clinic, paraplegia is paralysis from a spinal cord injury. If you have paraplegia, the paralysis affects all or some of your trunk, pelvic organs, and legs. Quadriplegia, also called tetraplegia, affects those parts of the body, plus your arms and hands.

Some people with spinal cord injuries have some motor or sensory function below the level of spinal cord damage. Doctors call this situation incomplete paralysis. Complete paralysis, on the other hand, is when all motor and sensory functions are gone below the level of the injury to the spinal cord.

person in hospital bed with IV attached

Recoverable Damages in Lafayette Paraplegia Accidents

Every injury case is different, even from one paraplegia case to another. For example, the medical bills and other factors can vary that determine what types of monetary damages you might recover.

After establishing the at-fault party’s liability, people typically seek to recover their medical expenses, lost earnings, and other economic losses like wheelchairs, adaptive vehicles, home renovations, and other costs because of their paraplegia accident. They can also request intangible losses, such as disfigurement, amputation, pain and suffering, and the loss of enjoyment of life.

Our paraplegia attorney in Lafayette, LA, can talk with you about the possibility of additional categories of monetary damages that could apply in your case. They can also advise you of the compensation you could recover.

Contingency Fees Demystified

Some people hesitate to call a lawyer to help them with their injury cases because they do not understand how legal fee payments work. We handle Lafayette paraplegia personal injury cases on a contingency fee arrangement. Reach out to a Lafayette Catastrophic Injury Lawyer to discuss your situation.

With this payment plan, you do not have to pay a deposit toward your legal fees. No matter how hard we work on your case, our legal fees will be a percentage of the settlement proceeds or court award. If you do not win, you do not pay us attorney’s fees.

Talk to a Louisiana Local Attorney Today

Get a Free Case Evaluation

Pitfalls to Avoid After Suffering a Paraplegia Injury in Lafayette, LA

Even with such a life-altering injury as paraplegia from an accident in Lafayette, getting the compensation you deserve from the at-fault party is not guaranteed. Many things can happen that diminish the amount of your financial recovery. We want to help you avoid that situation.

Here are some of the pitfalls you should avoid when you have a pending Lafayette paraplegia claim:

  • Settling your claim before completing your medical treatment. Until you complete your medical treatment and get released by your doctor, you do not know if you will have an ongoing impairment that might be permanent. After you settle your paraplegia injury claim, your case is over. Even if you need additional treatment like surgery, you cannot pursue additional money from the defendant or insurer from this accident.
  • Accepting a lowball offer. Unless you work in the liability insurance industry and have access to the jury verdict information that insurance companies and personal injury attorneys use, you will be taking a wild guess about how much your case is worth. You should expect the first offer the claims adjuster makes to be far below your case’s value. A paraplegia injury attorney can guide you toward a fair settlement offer amount.
  • Not understanding how waivers or releases work in settlements. When you settle your claim, you must sign some paperwork before they give you your check. One of these documents is a waiver or release, in which you give up the right to go after the defendant for any more money for this accident. That one will represent your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, long-term impairment, and everything else.
  • Thinking that the insurance company will pay you a fair amount for your injury claim. The insurer’s adjuster might be friendly, but their job is not to pay you the full value of your injury claim. Their job is to get your claim off their books for as little money as possible, even if it means blaming you for the accident that left you with paraplegia.

When you work with a Lafayette paraplegia injury attorney, we can protect you from some of the tactics injured people encounter when dealing with insurance companies.

Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations Set Filing Deadlines for Lafayette Paraplegia Cases

Even with a devastating wound that causes paraplegia in Lafayette, Louisiana, our state generally gives you only two years to file a lawsuit for your injuries in CC 3493.1 and two years under CC Art. 2315.2 to file a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died from their wounds.

After the filing deadline expires, you cannot pursue a claim or a lawsuit for compensation against the negligent party who caused these life-changing injuries. Get in touch with us today so that our Lafayette paraplegia lawyer can review your case and start working for you.

branded accent

Client Testimonials Hear from locals like you.

Elizabeth Lachney was super helpful in explaining a lot of things i didnt understand about my case. Very respectful and seemed so welling to help me! ...

Elizabeth Lachney was super helpful in explaining a lot of things i didnt understand about my case. Very respectful and seemed so welling to help me! She is the best, I 1000% recommend her if you have any questions!

s
skylar bachman

New Iberia

I had an amazing experience working with my paralegal, Wesley Guillory, at Laborde Earles Law Firm. Wesley went above and beyond for me throughout the...

I had an amazing experience working with my paralegal, Wesley Guillory, at Laborde Earles Law Firm. Wesley went above and beyond for me throughout the entire process. He was always patient, knowledgeable, and quick to respond to any questions I had. What stood out most was how genuinely he cared. He made sure I understood every step and always made me feel supported and informed.

Wesley’s professionalism and compassion truly set him apart. He made a stressful situation so much easier, and I’m incredibly grateful for all of his hard work. I highly recommend Wesley and the entire Laborde Earles team. They really do put their clients first.

J
Jaine Fisher

Lafayette

Jordan is a wonderful paralegal very sweet and helpful good job very professional hold on to her she is a asset to your firm hard worker. Thank you fo...

Jordan is a wonderful paralegal very sweet and helpful good job very professional hold on to her she is a asset to your firm hard worker. Thank you for all your hard work to all the people working on our case.

S
Sandi W.

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs...

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs. Courtney. I spoke with her multiple times, and each time she was patient and answered every question I had. She made me feel like I was the only client. Grateful for her and Laborde Earls!

T
Tracie M.

I just want to say that Kelby is a wonderful Attorney and will do what ever it takes to make sure you are taking care of. And his Team of Paralegal's,...

I just want to say that Kelby is a wonderful Attorney and will do what ever it takes to make sure you are taking care of. And his Team of Paralegal's, Amber, Toni, Debbie, Alana & Erica are absolutely amazing. You couldn't have ask for better. And to Rachael, she was so sweet the other day when I needed some information about when my advance was going to be ready. Thank you Laborde Earle's Law Firm for always being the Best.

L
Lauren O'Quinn

New Orleans

Courtney Marsh has a positive attitude and great attention to detail in her work!

R
Rhonda C.

Toni is an absolute professional. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision. He...

Toni is an absolute professional. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision. Her communication is clear, and she truly cares about delivering results. I couldn’t recommend her more highly!

M
Mimi

Lake Charles

I had the pleasure of working with Erica Ducote, and I cannot say enough about the excellent job she did on my case. From the very beginning, Erica wa...

I had the pleasure of working with Erica Ducote, and I cannot say enough about the excellent job she did on my case. From the very beginning, Erica was professional, knowledgeable, and attentive to every detail. She took the time to explain each step of the process, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and made sure I always felt supported and informed.
Her dedication and attention to detail were clear throughout, and it was evident she genuinely cared about achieving the best possible outcome. Thanks to Erica’s hard work and expertise, my case went smoothly and successfully.
I highly recommend Erica Ducote to anyone in need of a skilled, reliable, and compassionate paralegal. She truly goes above and beyond!

m
maddie jo

Marksville

I’m so grateful for the help I received from Renee McCaslin. From start to finish, they were kind, professional, and truly cared about my situat...

I’m so grateful for the help I received from Renee McCaslin. From start to finish, they were kind, professional, and truly cared about my situation. They made everything easy to understand and handled every detail with care. I felt supported the whole way through. I highly recommend Renee McCaslin to anyone looking for a paralegal who goes above and beyond.

R
Rosann Roberts

Lake Charles

Over 1,700 5-Star Reviews

Read More Testimonials

Call Us Today – Our Lafayette Paraplegia Lawyers Can Help

We founded Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to help people who suffered harm due to others’ negligence. We collectively have more than 350 years of personal injury experience, so no matter how unique your Lafayette paraplegia injury case might be, we have the experience of other cases to guide us as we handle it.

Come find out why people call us “Louisiana Attorneys That Care.” We treat our clients like family and work together like a big team. You can contact us today for a free initial consultation on your case. We are ready to talk to you today.

View More Articles Trusted Voices Sharing What Matters

Blog Louisiana Sets New Two-Year Statute of Limitations for Tort Claims

Now that Louisiana has set a new two-year statute of limitations on tort claims, injury victims will have more time to take legal action for...

Read Full Article
law statue

Blog Digger Earles Honored With Appointment to GLP-1 Plaintiff Steering Committee

In a significant victory for plaintiffs in the high-stakes multi-district GLP-1 litigation, renowned Lafayette personal injury lawyer Digger...

Read Full Article
big rig car accident

Blog $1,400,000 Settlement for Alexandria Woman in Car Accident

When it comes to being injured in a car accident, choosing the right attorney can be the difference between getting $1,400,000 in 9 months i...

Read Full Article
mardi gras beads

Blog Safety Tips to Help Stay Safe During Your Mardi Gras Celebration

Mardi Gras is a grand and celebratory holiday filled with parades, live music, picnics, and much more. From the crazy costumes to the colorf...

Read Full Article
two workers in orange suits

Blog $42,000,000 Settlement for Burn Victim in Plant Explosion

What our client thought would be a normal workday at the plant left him questioning whether or not he could fulfill his role as a father and...

Read Full Article
cars driving in the fog

Blog Were You Injured in a Super Fog Vehicle Accident in Louisiana?

Early Monday morning, October 23rd, a dense “super fog,” a rare weather condition created by the mix of smoke and fog, resulted in a tragic ...

Read Full Article

Guidance you can trust, from people who actually know.

View All FAQs View All Articles

Our Locations Find Your Local Office

Get Legal Help Today Talk to a Louisiana Local Attorney Today

25+ Attorneys Collaboration on every case

Call Anytime Speak to our local team 24/7

(337) 777-7777
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
Send Message
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (337) 777-7777.