If you have suffered an injury due to the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to damages. We all have a duty to obey the rules of the road when driving and if you fail to uphold that duty you can be held responsible for injuries and damages suffered by a victim. If you are a physician you have a duty to use reasonable standards of care and if you fail to do so causing injury to a patient you have not met your legal obligation.

These are just a couple examples of personal injury and the responsibility we all have to act responsibly. If you have been injured in an accident, a personal injury attorney can review your case and help you sue for damages. The state of Louisiana has a one year statute of limitations. This means you have one year from the date of the injury to file suit against the responsible party. They make some exceptions like the Discovery Rule. If you discover your injury later than one year but in a reasonable manner you have up to three years to file. There are caps on damages but they vary and an attorney can assist you in figuring that out. Personal injury cases can include but are not limited to medical malpractice, toxic substance exposure, slander, assault, auto accidents, defective product injuries and slip and fall injuries. If you decide to hire an attorney, you improve the chance your case will have a successful outcome. Your attorney should be a member of the Louisiana Bar Association and the American Bar Association. You can request a consultation even if you’re in the hospital or at home too injured to travel. Most personal injury attorneys will take your case on contingency. You pay nothing unless they win your case then the attorney will then take a percentage of your award. They can help you find doctors that can wait for payment, medical experts to testify on your behalf, negotiate a settlement and represent you in court. Whatever you do, do not speak to the insurance company before you speak to an attorney. A claims adjuster may call you after an accident and ask for a taped statement of the incident. You will want to know your rights before doing so. Finding a personal injury attorney is not difficult but you should research them a bit if possible. Ask around to friends and family for recommendations and check them out on the internet.

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