Big River

September 2019

Personal Injury

Proving Negligence in a Multi-Vehicle Accident in Louisiana

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Proving Negligence In A Multi-Vehicle Accident In Louisiana Oftentimes collisions take place with two vehicles, but at times, multiple vehicles are involved. When several cars are part of a crash, it can be difficult to figure out who is negligent and at-fault for the accident. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration states that there are at least 5.25 million accidents in the United States every year. Unfortunately, most people are likely to participate in a collision at least once in their lifetime. So how is fault determined after a multi-vehicle accident in Louisiana? How To Determine Fault After A Multi-Vehicle Collision Despite however many vehicles are engaged in a collision, there will likely need an investigation into the accident to realize exactly how the collision took place. Multiple vehicle collisions are more tricky than collisions that involve only two cars. However, there are tools to help determine which driver was negligent and at fault. The data that an insurance company or the court system considers after an accident includes police reports, witness accounts, photos of the scene, and any injuries that are incurred due to the collision. At times an accident reconstruction is established to help figure out what actually happened right before and during the accident. While it may be assumed that the driver who was in the rear of the collision is at-fault, that may not actually be the case. Multiple reasons can cause a crash. When there are several vehicles involved, this complication increases tenfold. There may be more than one driver who is negligent or to blame for the accident. Multiple-vehicle accidents are extremely complex. You may need to hire an experienced attorney for your claim. Filing a claim can help you to win the legal battle and to get the compensation for the injury caused. A lawyer can look at the information, talk to witnesses, and investigate the scene of the collision. An attorney can use information to prove negligence against the other driver or drivers that were involved in the accident. You Need An Accident Lawyer In Louisiana The accident lawyers at Big River Trial Attorneys understand how to look at accident cases to help determine the cause. This information lets us build a case to gain compensation for a victim of a collision. If you have been injured in an accident in Louisiana, Big River Trial Attorneys will help. Our attorneys have the experience to handle every case. It is vital to call a Louisiana accident attorney after your accident. We can then put together evidence in your case and work to make sure you get the compensation that you deserve. The negligent party is responsible for your medical bills and other damages like lost wages. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more likely you are to get a fair settlement. Call Big River Trial Attorneys to discuss your case and your injuries, and learn about any compensation that you could be entitled to. With the help of Big River Trial Attorneys, you or your loved one will get the help you need. Don’t wait, contact us today.

Personal Injury

How Do You Define A Catastrophic Injury In Louisiana?

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How Do You Define A Catastrophic Injury In Louisiana? Car collisions and other kinds of accidents can cause severe injuries. But what is considered a catastrophic injury? Catastrophic injuries are injuries so serious that they can create a long-term handicap. Catastrophic injuries have an extreme effect on a person’s life as well as the lives of his or her family. These kinds of injuries usually include a mental or physical impairment or even a life-long deformity. If you have experienced a catastrophic injury due to a car collision or other type of accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault negligent party. You should contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away. The Kinds Of Catastrophic Injuries Here are injuries that are considered serious enough to be called catastrophic – including: Traumatic brain injury or TBI Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis Permanent Brain damage Loss of limbs or amputation In addition, any injury that creates a loss of motor skills or motor function can be deemed catastrophic. Of course, paralysis and brain damage are obviously devastating. However, there are other examples of catastrophic injuries, such as that the injured party needs to use a cane or wheelchair for the rest of their lives. With the catastrophic injury, some people never actually heal, while some face partial recovery. In extreme cases, a person could require full-time medical and physical assistance for the rest of their life or for a long recovery period. Because of this, the injured party may not be able to go back to work and suffer from loss of income. Who Is Entitled To A Settlement? If you are injured due to the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to recompense for damages that you have suffered. What is the first step? The first step is to figure out what caused the accident and who was the responsible party. Negligence is defined as that the person breached the duty of care or cause harm. To prove the negligence of the other party, you must demonstrate that the party resulted in your injury. Some damages that you can recover in a personal injury case for a catastrophic injury are: Medical costs Lost wages Future medical costs Mobility devices like wheelchairs or personal assistance Temporary medical care or permanent medical care Psychological trauma counseling It is smart to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after suffering a catastrophic injury. You Need An Accident Lawyer In Louisiana The accident lawyers at Big River Trial Attorneys understand how to look for accident cases to help determine the cause. This information lets us build a case to gain compensation for a victim of a catastrophic injury. If you have been injured in an accident in Louisiana, Big River Trial Attorneys will help. Our experienced attorneys have the experience to handle every case. It is vital to call a Louisiana accident attorney after your accident. Your attorney can then put together evidence in your case and work to make sure you get the compensation that you deserve. The negligent party is responsible for your medical bills and other damages like lost wages, pain, and suffering. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more likely you are to get a fair settlement. Call Big River Trial Attorneys to discuss your case and your injuries, and learn about any compensation that you could be entitled to. With the help of Big River Trial Attorneys, you or your loved one will get the help you need. Don’t wait, contact us today.

Personal Injury

The Differences Between Truck And Car Accidents In Louisiana

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The Differences Between Truck And Car Accidents In Louisiana Collisions that involve two or more passenger automobiles are very different than accidents that involve a passenger automobile and a truck. Accidents that involve semi-trucks and other huge commercial vehicles often lead to fatalities for the people in the automobiles. And even when they don’t lead to death, they often cause much more grievous injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. When we think about how long can injury cases take, it totally depends upon injury’s depth and also property damage. An average commercial truck outweighs an average passenger vehicle by 20 to 30 times and has a ground clearance that is just high enough to where a smaller car is able to slide below it. Even when traveling at slow speeds, these weight and size differences between a truck and a passenger vehicle can cause serious injury or fatalities. Have you have been injured in an accident with a semi-truck? Our Louisiana truck accident attorneys can assist you. How Are Truck Accidents Dissimilar To Other Car Accidents?, Here are some of the largest differences between a truck accident and a passenger vehicle accident. The impact of the injuries sustained. Truck accidents usually cause serious or even fatal injury. Even at low-speed, an accident with a commercial vehicle can cause emergency as well as long-term medical care. Unfortunately, victims of truck accidents often have to deal with emotional, physical, and financial issues regarding their injuries for the rest of their lives. In such cases, it is a good idea to consult Plymouth injury lawyers for hire, who will help you legally and help you recover the compensation for the injury and damage caused. The accidents are complex. Accidents that involve both cars and trucks can be more complex for several reasons. There are laws that regulate commercial trucking and they are extremely specific. Awareness of these laws is vital to building a case which determines liability on the truck driver, the company that he or she works for, or even another party. The cause of the accident. There are many ways things can go wrong while driving in a semi-truck. Some factors that are the driver’s responsibility include: speeding, the following distance, getting enough sleep, and not driving under the influence. Other causes, like the weight and size of the truck’s cargo, any safety equipment, and a reasonable schedule are not the driver’s responsibility. In order to gain fair compensation, the cause of the accident needs to be investigated and determined. How many people are involved? Even if the accident involves just one car and just one semi-truck, there may be multiple parties involved. Truck accident liability does not always rest on the truck driver, even when he or she may be obvious to blame for the incident. Issues like schedules, loads that are poorly secured, and equipment breakdown can end up being the responsibility of people who are nowhere near the scene of the collision. Securing compensation is difficult. Trucking companies, as well as their drivers, often retain attorneys as well as insurance companies that work to lessen their liability after an accident. If you do have the same kind of protection, you will likely not see the compensation your injuries deserve. You Need A Truck Accident Lawyer In Louisiana The truck accident lawyers at Big River Trial Attorneys understand how to look into commercial vehicle crashes to help determine the cause. This information lets us build a case to gain compensation for a victim in a passenger vehicle. Without a lawyer, you are at the mercy of lawyers and insurance companies who represent the truck driver. If you have been injured in an accident in Louisiana, Big River Trial Attorneys will help. Our experienced attorneys have the experience to handle every case. It is vital to call a Louisiana accident attorney after your accident. Your attorney can then put together evidence in your case and work to make sure you get the compensation that you deserve. The negligent party is responsible for your medical bills and other damages like lost wages, pain, and suffering. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more likely you are to get a fair settlement. Call us at (225) 963-9638 or contact us to discuss your case and your injuries, and learn about any compensation that you could be entitled to. With the help of Big River Trial Attorneys, you or your loved one will get the help you need. Don’t wait, contact us today.

Personal Injury

How Long Does It Take To Settle A Personal Injury Claim in Louisiana?

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How Long Does It Take To Settle A Personal Injury Claim In Louisiana? Personal injury claims can seem similar, but every case is unique, which makes it hard to figure out how long it takes to settle a claim without knowing the specifics. Some personal injury claims are settled very fast. While others, like those involving serious personal injury, can take over several years and even end in court. While you may want to settle the matter quickly, insurance companies want to do something else: If you accept an offer before talking to an attorney, you will waive your ability to gain any additional compensation. This can result in victims having a hard time long after the initial settlement. Why Personal Injury Claims Can Take Time There are steps that need to be taken to make sure you get the full compensation that your injury deserves. Insurance companies don’t pay more than a policy’s limit, even when that limit is obviously inadequate. Once the insurer’s liability was met, they don’t have to pay more, regardless of the actual amount of damages you deserve–even then, a maximum payout will only happen if the at-fault party is obviously liable. Establishing liability is where a personal injury lawyer comes in. Liability In order to prove liability, an investigation into the accident may be needed. Your personal injury lawyer may have to work with an accident reconstructionist, doctors, and any other experts who can determine how the accident took place, who is at fault party, and what damages are expected. This process alone can take a few months but is essential for determining what your claim is worth. Damages in a personal injury claim include: Medical and rehabilitation cost Lost wages Home modifications such as wheelchair or prosthetics Costs related to permanent injury like paralysis Property damage expenses Personal injury claims often look for compensation for pain and suffering, too. Although, pain and suffering are not always considered in initial insurance settlements. The Personal Injury Claim Process After the first investigation, a letter of demand is sent to the insured and his or her insurance company. If the insurance company will not pay or offers too small of a settlement, a formal complaint is filed with the court. This is where the personal injury claim process can feel like it’s not moving forward. Following the complaint filing, a discovery process then begins. While this happens, both your attorney and the defendant will put together information for the case with interviews, documents and medical reports, and other investigations. This is essential for creating a strong claim that can, if need be, stand-up in court. But, most cases don’t go to court. 90 percent of personal injury claims are settled out of court. Settlement Negotiations And Mediation Next, your attorney and the defendant’s attorney will begin settlement negotiations. Sometimes, this is where the process stops. In other cases, it moves through to mediation. In mediation, both sides meet with a neutral third party, which is often appointed by the court, to present their cases and negotiate. Almost all personal injury claims are settled in this process. But, if your claim deals with large damages, the case will go to trial. Personal Injury Trials If mediation doesn’t work out, a trial is scheduled. The trial date can be set for several months in the future. While the trial itself may be short, there can be appeals after the judgment is decided, which further lengthens the time it takes to settle your claim. This is just one reason to make sure you are working with a qualified personal injury lawyer. Retaining A Personal Injury Attorney In Louisiana If you have been injured in an accident in Louisiana, we offer a no-cost consultation to discuss your case. Our experienced attorneys have the experience to handle every case. It is vital to call a Louisiana accident attorney after your accident. Your attorney can then put together evidence in your case and work to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. The negligent party is responsible for your medical bills and other damages like lost wages, pain, and suffering. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more likely you are to get a fair settlement. Call us at (225) 963-9638 or click here to contact us to set a time to discuss your case and your injuries, and learn about any compensation that you could be entitled to. With the help of Big River Trial Attorneys, you or your loved one will get the help you need. Don’t wait, contact us today.

Personal Injury

Steps to Take When You Are Injured at Work in Louisiana

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Steps To Take When You Are Injured At Work In Louisiana Workplace accidents can happen at any time and you need to be prepared on how to move forward when filing a workers’ compensation claim. It is extremely vital that employees, with the assistance of a workers’ compensation lawyer, go after compensation for medical bills and lost wages due to being out of work with a workplace injury. Here is a guide of what you should do after being injured at work in Louisiana. Report Your Injury Always report your injury to your employer right away. This is important because in many cases, employers and workers’ compensation insurance companies may attempt to deny a claim because the injury was not reported promptly. An injured employee that doesn’t inform his or her employer, in writing, within 30 days after the date of the injury, may lose the right for workers’ compensation ben Tell Your Doctor That The Injury Is Work-Related When you seek medical care, it is very important to tell your doctor that the injury is workplace-related. Also, make certain that your doctor records this fact in your medical notes for each visit related to the injury. You need to do this because employers and workers’ compensation insurance companies may try to deny your claim otherwise. Give Written Notice To Your Employer Provide written notice of injury to your employer, including the date of your injury and a description of that injury. Give this to your employer as soon as possible. Finally… Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Go back to work as soon as possible. Attend any required hearings that are a part of the case. Contact A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Wading through workers’ compensation can be puzzling and hard. Insurance adjusters are always attempting to take recorded statements from you that will be used against you in your claim. So stay smart! Lawyers can help with your workers’ compensation. They can fill out and file injury forms, deal with insurance companies, and ensure you receive the treatment you need as you recover from your injury. A lawyer will help you file to retain the wages you deserve while you are out of work. Big River Trial Attorneys, will work with you through your case and will work hard to make sure you receive the lump settlement you deserve. Contact Big River Trial Attorneys at (225) 963-9638 if you have been injured on the job and need help. We will help guide you through every step so contact us today and start moving your case forward.

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