Getting seriously injured in an accident can upend your life. You may have been commuting to work or walking down the street when everything changed. Now, you face costly medical treatments, missed months at work, and perhaps even permanent disability.
You don’t have to go through it alone. As a personal injury firm in Slidell, LA, Margaret Burns Injury Law can help you pursue legal compensation claims, contact us today for skilled accident injury representation.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Slidell, LA
An insurance claim may cover your expenses in an accident that causes only property damage or minor injury. But if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury or had your claim denied by an insurance company, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek financial relief.
To pursue compensation in a personal injury case, you must prove someone else’s negligence caused the accident. For example, a drunk driver may have crashed his vehicle into yours, or a hotel owner may have failed to repair an ongoing safety hazard on their property.
When someone else’s recklessness or carelessness contributes to your injury, our experienced personal injury lawyer in Slidell, LA, can help you file a claim.
How Can I Prove My Personal Injury Claim?
All legal cases hinge on the evidence, and personal injury lawsuits are no exception. Common forms of proof in accident claims include the following:
- Police reports
- Photos and video of the accident scene
- Surveillance footage from nearby homes or businesses
- Testimony from eyewitnesses
- Testimony from professional accident reconstructionists
- “Black box” data and other vehicle safety information
- Medical records and bills
- Employment records and financial documents
What Kind of Compensation Can I Seek?
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek monetary relief through “damages.” These awards compensate you financially for the past and future consequences of your injuries. In Louisiana, damages fall into three broad categories:
Special damages describe compensation for losses with a specific dollar figure. For example:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Past lost income
- Future lost income
- Property damage
General damages refer to losses that are harder to quantify in dollars. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
A third, more limited category is punitive damages. Rather than compensating the victim, as special and general damages do, punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant. Louisiana law allows punitive damages only in certain situations, such as if a drunk driver or domestic abuse caused your injuries.
What If I Was Partly at Fault?
Accidents are not always black and white. What if you were going a few miles an hour above the speed limit when a drunk driver slammed into your car? What if you were going 30 miles above the speed limit? What if you weren’t committing any moving violations but suffered worse injuries because you didn’t have your seat belt on?
In some states, you cannot collect compensation if you bear any responsibility for your injuries. In other states, you can collect compensation as long as you are not more at fault than the defendant. Thankfully, Louisiana law is even more forgiving to victims of motor vehicle accidents.
The state uses a pure comparative negligence system, which means you can still file a claim even if you were 99% to blame for your injuries. However, the amount you can win will drop based on the percentage that you are at fault.
Contact Our Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer in Slidell, LA
If you want help filing a personal injury claim in Slidell, LA, give the experienced team at Margaret Burns Injury Law a call. As a boutique law firm, we provide personalized care and the highest level of legal representation. Call us today at (985) 892-2945 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable civil litigation attorney.
