Do not downplay injuries sustained due to negligence or worry about covering expenses related to injuries yourself; instead, seek compensation from a personal injury case after an accident in Louisiana.
Personal injury plaintiffs can get compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, other economic damages, and non-economic damages. Punitive damages are incredibly rare in Louisiana and are only allowed in very specific situations. To get the compensation you need, wait to file your lawsuit until you have reached maximum medical improvement, unless that would make you miss the 2-year filing deadline for a personal injury lawsuit.
Call the Schoenfeld Law Firm’s personal injury lawyers at (337) 674-2099 for a free evaluation of your case.
What Damages Can You Seek for a Personal Injury in Morgan City, LA?
We can help you seek compensation for all damages due to a personal injury by identifying and calculating them on your behalf.
Medical Expenses
You can seek recovery of all economic damages due to negligence. All medical expenses can be covered, including hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, and physical therapy sessions.
Lost Wages
You can also seek compensation for all lost wages due to negligence. Listen to physicians who warn you against returning to work after an accident, and let our personal injury lawyers calculate your lost wages using pay stubs and tax returns proving your pre-injury wages.
Vocational and medical experts can help us secure a full recovery of all your lost wages by testifying about your reduced earning capacity and the severity of your injuries.
Other Economic Damages
You are also entitled to compensation for any other economic damages incurred due to negligence. That includes property damage expenses, home modification costs, and other costs you only incurred because of the accident caused by the defendant.
Non-Economic Damages
Personal injuries can be very painful and emotionally distressing. Such non-economic damages are compensable in Louisiana and are not subject to any statutory caps in most personal injury claims arising from car accidents, slip and falls, and other negligence-based accidents.
The value of your non-economic damages depends on the pain and suffering you have endured because of the defendant. This can be challenging to quantify, especially without the help of our experienced attorneys. Hearing more about your pain and suffering leads to more accurate valuations, so be forthcoming about what you have experienced.
Punitive Damages
Louisiana allows punitive damages only in very specific situations, so they are not available in most personal injury claims in Morgan City. Typically, punitive damages are reserved for victims of drunk driving accidents, childhood sexual abuse, hazing, and domestic violence who file personal injury lawsuits.
Though Louisiana limits when plaintiffs can seek punitive damages, it does not cap awards, meaning a judge or jury can award whatever amount they deem appropriate based on the defendant’s actions and the impact on the victim.
What is the Right Time to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Avoid filing a personal injury lawsuit too early or too late with our lawyers’ help.
After Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement
Plaintiffs who file lawsuits before reaching maximum medical improvement risk misunderstanding their injuries and the full cost of their medical expenses.
Not all victims reach maximum medical improvement within 2 years of an injury, and that should not stop them from pursuing compensation. What matters most is appreciating your injuries and their impact on your life before filing your case.
Within the Statute of Limitations
To get the damages you seek from a personal injury case, you must file your lawsuit while there is still time remaining in the statute of limitations, which is 2 years for most personal injury lawsuits in Louisiana.
The date the statute of limitations accrues is often, but not always, the date of injury. The accrual date may be later because of delayed discovery, minor victims, or defendant concealment.
If you must bring your case before reaching maximum medical improvement to file within the statute of limitations, our lawyers may use testimony from medical experts to support requests for future damages if you also need additional medical treatment.
How Can Comparative Fault Affect Personal Injury Claims in Morgan City?
In Louisiana, a plaintiff’s contribution to an accident offsets the defendant’s liability for a personal injury, except for cases involving intentional misconduct on a defendant’s behalf.
Are Damages Capped or Restricted in Personal Injury Cases?
Louisiana does not specifically restrict compensatory damages in most personal injury cases. In medical malpractice cases and claims against the government, some compensatory damages may be capped.
Can You Get Enough Compensation by Settling a Personal Injury Case?
You can get enough compensation by settling a personal injury case, but most likely only if you are patient during settlement discussions and let our attorneys aggressively negotiate for a larger amount. You might not get enough compensation if you sign the first settlement offer you receive, which our lawyers can stop you from doing.
How Often Are Personal Injury Lawsuits Litigated in Court?
Personal injury lawsuits are not frequently litigated in Louisiana courts, and most often settle without trials or court appearances.
How Do You Get Paid After a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If your case settles with a lump-sum settlement agreement, you will be paid in a single lump sum payment. If your case ends in a structured settlement, you will receive many smaller payments over a period of several months or years.
Do You Need a Morgan City, LA Personal Injury Attorney to Win Your Case?
Personal injury lawsuits are complicated, involved processes that require the experience and insight of a capable personal injury lawyer. Without an attorney’s help, you face too big a risk of making small procedural or filing errors that jeopardize your case.
Our Morgan City, LA Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
For help with your case from the Schoenfeld Law Firm, call our personal injury lawyers at (337) 674-2099.
