Personal injury victims experience physical pain, distress, and financial stress that can linger for weeks, months, or even years. At our law firm, we ensure that your story won’t end with you suffering in silence. You have rights, and our priority is to help you exercise those rights to the full extent of the law.
Our Monroe personal injury lawyer at the Morris Bart law firm can provide you with legal representation for your personal injury case. We offer a no-obligation consultation to allow you to speak with a lawyer for free. We can help you determine your best course of action.
Damages Available in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
After suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you can be left with exorbitant expenses. Luckily, you can recover many of your financial losses in a personal injury lawsuit, such as:
- Hospital bills: All your medical expenses, including ambulance costs, bills for your hospital stay, medications, and medical testing are compensable.
- Lost income: If you missed time at work to recover from your injuries, you could seek compensation for your lost income. You may also be able to pursue compensation for reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making as much money as you once did.
- Pain and suffering: You can demand compensation for the physical pain and suffering your injuries cause.
- Emotional distress: You may suffer mentally and emotionally after a personal injury accident. You can receive compensation for this damage.
- Lost life enjoyment: If your injuries prevent you from participating in the same activities you once enjoyed, you could seek compensation for loss of enjoyment of life.
If the worst has happened and you have lost a loved one due to negligence, we can help you in pursu a wrongful death lawsuit. You may be able to claim loss of companionship. Your lawyer can help you determine which damages you may recover in your lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Monroe, call (318) 884-0904
The Elements of a Personal Injury Case
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to another person or entity’s negligent actions, you may have grounds to pursue legal action under Louisiana law, La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.1. To know if you are eligible to recover damages, you need to meet the three basic requirements for a personal injury claim.
There Was a Negligent Action
For instance, if a business establishment failed to put up a wet floor sign to alert people of a slip and fall hazard, this would be considered a negligent action under the law. You expected to shop safely, and the business did not uphold their duty of care.
The Negligent Action Caused a Personal Injury
If you fell at the grocery store and fractured bones as a result of the slip and fall hazard, the business establishment’s negligent actions, or failure to act, would be considered the cause of your personal injury.
The Personal Injury Resulted in Compensatory Damages
If your broken bones led to medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, those economic and non-economic losses would be considered damages, and you may qualify for compensation for those damages.
Evidence To Prove Negligence in a Monroe Personal Injury Case
Depending on your case, you will most likely need to provide evidence to prove that the at-fault party acted negligently. You will need to prove that the negligent party was is responsible for the accident that injured you. This evidence may include:
- Photos of the scene of the accident
- Witness statements
- Police accident reports
- Accident reconstruction reports
It can be difficult to manage your case while recovering from injuries. Our personal injury lawyers in Monroe can help you establish the responsible party’s liability by gathering evidence to prove your claim.
How A Monroe Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Your Case
Our personal injury attorneys in Monroe at the Morris Bart law firm perform a wide range of duties when it comes to representing our clients. A few of these responsibilities include:
Providing Legal Counsel
When you speak to a personal injury lawyer in Monroe, you can learn if you have a valid case to pursue a lawsuit. Your lawyer will offer counsel on the critical steps to take. Our law firm can explain your rights, tell you what to expect in your litigation, and share the best strategy to employ in your case.
Examining Your Case
By listening to the details of your case and conducting an extensive investigation, a personal injury attorney can determine the full extent of your damages. They may also seek other professionals’ expertise, such as a financial advisor, to provide insight into how the accident resulted in lost wages.
Offering Legal Guidance
Your personal injury lawyer in Monroe will prepare you for depositions, hearings, and a trials if necessary. This service may involve reexamining elements of the case and creating practice sessions to help answer your questions.
Negotiating on Your Behalf
When settling with insurance companies, your personal injury attorney in Monroe will be your advocate at the negotiating table. We will defend your rights and ensure that you receive compensation for your suffering and loss. If the insurance company fails to agree on an equitable amount, your lawyer will proceed to trial.
Working With You on a Contingency-Fee Basis
When motor vehicle accident victims choose our personal injury law firm, they pay us nothing upfront. You can hire our team without spending any money out-of-pocket on attorney’s fees. Instead, you can work with us on a contingency-fee basis. This means we do not get paid until your case is won or settled.
We cover the costs of fighting for your fair compensation. Then, once you’ve received your settlement, we take an agreed-upon percentage of your compensation as payment.
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Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Chances Of Winning Your Lawsuit
Unfortunately, actions you take can have a negative impact on your personal injury lawsuit. Failing to act quickly enough can also hurt your chances of winning your lawsuit. Mistakes you want to avoid include:
- Not seeking medical attention
- Not following your doctor’s advice
- Discussing your case with anyone other than your lawyer
- Posting details about your case on social media
- Making inconsistent statements
- Accepting a low settlement offer
If an insurance adjuster or the other party’s attorney tries to reach you, have your lawyer speak with them instead. Anything you say or post to social media can be used against you in a lawsuit. Hiring a lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you don’t hurt your own chances of winning your personal injury lawsuit.
Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer
Accepting a low settlement offer is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. As soon as you accept an offer, you won’t be permitted to ask for more money later on. If you come to a personal injury lawyer and say you’ve already accepted an offer, but changed your mind, you may be out of luck.
Instead, when you get that offer, take it immediately to a Monroe, LA, personal injury lawyer. They can tell you whether it’s a fair settlement or if you need to fight for a better offer.
Trial vs. Settlement in Personal Injury Cases
Only a handful of personal injury cases actually make it to trial. The majority of them are settled as soon as both sides know the full story of the evidence. Trials are long and expensive for both sides, and insurers are always looking for the best deal to preserve their profits.
Your attorney can tell you whether or not a settlement offer is reasonable. If it is not, you will have the option to go to trial. Yes, it is possible to get much more compensation at trial. However, there are risks and it can take months or even years to get your final settlement.
The Time Limit To Pursue Legal Action in Louisiana
The statute of limitations is the timeframe you have to file a lawsuit for the damages you suffered. Under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492, most civil cases have a one-year statute of limitations. This statute means that if you file your lawsuit after the deadline, you may not be eligible to receive any compensation for your injuries.
We recommend you see your doctor or a healthcare provider immediately following an accident, and then speak to a lawyer to start working on your case. Our personal injury lawyers in Monroe will initiate your lawsuit promptly to avoid losing your opportunity to pursue compensation.
Team Up With a Personal Injury Lawyer in Monroe
Your time to act is limited, so call us today to get started on your case. Our law firm will offer you legal advice through this difficult time so you can direct your full attention to your recuperation. Let us take the stress and pressure off of your family.
Reach out to the Monroe personal injury lawyers at the Morris Bart law firm to discuss your legal options. We offer a free, no-obligation case review. We’re standing by 24/7 to take your call.
Questions?Call us, Louisiana.
(318) 884-0904
