Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys In Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Experiencing an injury due to someone else’s actions can be financially and emotionally devastating. The personal injury attorneys at Shanklin Sosa Injury Law can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other costs associated with the injury.
How Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
If you have been injured as a result of another party’s negligence or willful harm, you need the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. The team at Shanklin Sosa Injury Law will thoroughly investigate the circumstances under which the injury took place to build your case. Because we care about achieving results for your case, we only charge a fee once you receive compensation for your claim.
Types Of Personal Injury
An injury doesn’t need to be physically apparent to have a serious negative impact on your well-being. In fact, sometimes, the emotional scars of a serious accident are just as impactful as the physical scars. Whether you can no longer work because you’ve suffered an injury or you are troubled by recollections of the accident, you deserve compensation for its effect on your health and quality of life. Types of personal injuries can include the following:
- Amputations
- Back and neck injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Internal injuries
- Pinched nerves
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
These injuries can be caused by:
- Motor vehicle accidents (including car, truck, ATV, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents)
- Defective products
- Unsafe property conditions
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents and countless other incidents.
When an accident causes a serious injury, insurance investigators will attempt to determine the cause. It’s important to refrain from signing documents or recording statements about your injury without the advice and support of a personal injury attorney who can ensure that your rights are protected during these proceedings.
Understanding Personal Injury Law In Louisiana
Louisiana uses a comparative fault rule when it comes to determining responsibility for personal injury. This means that the court will attribute a percentage of fault for the incident to each party and award damages accordingly. For example, if you are injured in a car accident that is found to be 90% the fault of the other party but 10% caused by your actions, the award will be reduced by your fault percentage. In this case, if the total damage amount is $50,000, you would receive 90% of $50,000 or $45,000.
Your Personal Injury Questions Answered
Below, we’ve provided answers to some of the most common questions asked by prospective clients:
What should I bring to my initial meeting with a personal injury attorney?
When you meet with a personal injury attorney for the first time, it’s helpful to bring certain documents and information. Consider bringing:
- Any medical records or bills related to your injury
- Police reports or incident reports
- Photos or videos of the accident scene and your injuries
- Contact information for any witnesses
- Insurance information
- Any correspondence with insurance companies
Having these items ready can help your attorney better understand your case and advise you on the next steps.
How is compensation determined for nonphysical injuries such as pain and suffering?
Nonphysical injuries, often called “noneconomic damages,” do not have a direct monetary value. These damages are crucial as they provide compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused by an injury. Calculating them can be challenging, but two common methods are often used.
The first is the “multiplier” method, which involves multiplying your actual damages, like medical expenses and lost income, by a number usually ranging from 1.5 to 5. This multiplier reflects the extent of your pain and suffering.
The second approach is the “per diem” method, where a daily compensation rate is set and then multiplied by the number of days you experience suffering. Both methods require a comprehensive understanding of your circumstances, and an experienced attorney can assist in ensuring you receive appropriate compensation.
What should I do immediately following a car accident to protect my rights?
The things you say and do following an accident (as well as what you avoid saying and doing) can be critical. If possible, you should:
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t feel injured right away
- Report the accident to the police and obtain a copy of the report
- Document everything – take photos, gather witness information and keep a detailed account of what happened
- Notify your insurance company but only to report that the accident occurred
- Avoid making official statements or signing documents without having legal representation
Finally, you should contact an attorney who can protect your rights, explain your legal options and help you seek maximum compensation.
Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Yes, you can. As discussed above, Louisiana’s comparative fault law simply means that your overall compensation will be reduced relative to your percentage of fault.
What is the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Louisiana?
Until recently, Louisiana allowed accident victims just one year (in most cases) to take legal action, making it among the shortest statutes of limitation (SOL) in the country. Now, however, the SOL has been doubled to two years for most injuries occurring in July 2024 or later. While this is a definite improvement, it is still not a lot of time. If you’ve been hurt, it’s important to consult an attorney as soon as reasonably possible.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
Get in touch with the attorneys at Shanklin Sosa Injury Law if you’ve been injured and want to determine whether you have a personal injury case. When you call 225-424-6094, you’ll speak directly with one of our lawyers and can arrange a free consultation. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is a year from the date of the accident, so it’s important to seek legal advice before it’s too late. Fill out our online contact form for a prompt response from our team.