Were you recently injured in an accident? A Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer can explain your rights. Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is a law firm dedicated to helping injured clients in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Contact us at (225) 263-4787 to schedule a free initial consultation today.
Our personal injury lawyers can explain your options. We have 50 years of collective experience helping injured clients. We fight to get money to help them physically and mentally recover after accidents in Baton Rouge, LA.
Why Choose Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers?
Dealing with the aftermath of an injury is challenging enough without attempting to hold the at-fault party accountable. We can make the personal injury claims process more manageable for you and your loved ones.
You can count on our skilled attorneys to do the following:
- Investigate your accident and how it occurred
- Ensure you comply with all applicable filing deadlines
- Gather evidence that’s relevant to your claim
- Work with experts to strengthen your case
- Combat claims that you were to blame for your own injuries
- Accurately assess your damages and pursue all available compensation
- Communicate with the insurance company and defense attorney
- Negotiate for a fair settlement agreement
- Provide excellent courtroom representation when needed
Reach out to Mansfield Melancon to learn more about how we can make a difference in your case.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Hiring an attorney after an accident in Baton Rouge will likely result in a higher compensation award than handling your claim alone.
Here are some reasons why:
- You level the playing field: Your case will probably involve a large insurance company. These corporations have teams of people working to devalue and deny claims. Your lawyer will put you on more equal footing with insurers and protect your best interests.
- You gain access to the firm’s resources: You may require expert witness reports and testimony to strengthen and prove your claim. Your legal team will have the connections and resources necessary to increase your chance of a full financial recovery.
- You deserve time to heal: You shouldn’t have to handle a legal battle while struggling with injuries. Let an attorney take on the fight for you while you focus on healing.
Learn more about the benefits of an attorney-client relationship by calling our office for a complimentary appointment.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Baton Rouge, LA
We help clients with all kinds of cases:
Car Accidents
Car accidents can be devastating for victims who are left facing healthcare bills and vehicle repairs. If you were injured in a collision, you don’t have to go through it alone. We can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable if you were injured in a car crash. Call our Baton Rouge car accident lawyers to learn about your legal options.
Truck Accidents
18-wheeler accidents often lead to severe harm. These cases can also be complicated, as multiple parties, such as truckers and trucking companies, may be involved. When this happens, you’ll need a dedicated team to go up against the trucking company and insurance adjusters. Our Baton Rouge truck accident attorneys can offer the help you need to move forward.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are left more exposed to serious harm than other motorists. Whether riders suffer traumatic brain injuries or road rash, they can be painful and result in overwhelming medical expenses. You shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of someone else’s negligence. Reach out to our Baton Rouge motorcycle accident attorneys for help getting the compensation you need.
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can be devastating. Whether an accident victim is paralyzed in a fall or loses a limb in a traffic crash, these injuries are devastating. In addition to the emotional suffering and physical pain caused, they can result in significant costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and more. Call our Baton Rouge catastrophic injury lawyers to learn how you can obtain compensation.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is unbearably traumatic. You are not alone in your pursuit of justice. You deserve a Baton Rouge advocate in your corner who will fight for you every step of the way, from the initial consultation and settlement negotiations to trial representation, if necessary. Reach out to our Baton Rouge sexual abuse attorneys for the help you need and deserve during this unimaginable time.
Uber and Lyft Accidents
Uber and Lyft accidents can be complicated to navigate on your own. There may be multiple liable parties and insurers to deal with. It can be challenging to handle every aspect of your claim while also focusing on healing from the injury you sustained. Our Baton Rouge Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can begin the process of holding the negligent driver and rideshare company responsible.
Maritime/Offshore Accidents
Maritime/offshore accidents can lead to severe injuries for workers and other victims in Baton Rouge. Whether you slipped and fell while working and suffered a spinal cord injury or an explosion occurred causing burns, the results can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. Our Baton Rouge maritime/offshore accident attorneys can begin the process of pursuing just compensation.
Slip & Fall Accidents
Slips and falls can occur in a variety of locations, resulting in various degrees of injury. Whether you slip on a spilled drink on a restaurant floor or you fall down poorly maintained movie theater stairs, you deserve to be compensated for the harm you endure. Call our Baton Rouge slip and fall accident lawyers to learn how you can hold the negligent property owner accountable.
Industrial Accidents
Industrial accidents in Baton Rouge can result in serious harm. These accidents may lead to fires, explosions, exposure to toxic substances, and more. It can be nearly impossible to successfully go up against a company and its representatives while also focusing on your own healing and recovery. Reach out to our Baton Rouge industrial accident attorneys for help holding the at-fault company accountable.
Our personal injury lawyers in Baton Rouge can help you no matter what type of harm you have experienced.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Baton Rouge Personal Injury Lawyer?
Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers charge a contingency fee. This means that the fee varies depending on the outcome of the case. Furthermore, if the lawyer loses, you don’t have to pay them anything at all.
If the lawyer wins the case or you settle, then you will pay a percentage of the settlement or jury award. You will agree to a percentage when you first hire the lawyer. Usually, the percentage is between 33% to 40%. The exact percentage may vary depending on the time and effort that an attorney puts into your case.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available To Personal Injury Victims?
Personal injury victims are entitled to compensatory damages, which compensate them for their losses. The purpose is to make someone whole again after sustaining harm.
There are two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are financial losses. They are tangible costs caused by the injury; examples include:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Reduced future earnings
- Property damage
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Cost of medicine
- Therapeutic medical devices
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are non-financial and intangible. This means that they are hard to calculate because they aren’t associated with a dollar figure.
Examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Inconvenience
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
There is another type of award called punitive damages. They punish a defendant for bad behavior.
The plaintiff is not always entitled to collect punitive damages. In fact, they are generally not available in Louisiana. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as personal injury lawsuits based on drunk driving or domestic abuse cases.
A Baton Rouge personal injury attorney can explain what compensation is available in your case.
What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Several factors can impact the value of your case. In general, a personal injury case is worth more when the victim has serious and life-altering injuries.
When assigning your case a value, you should ask the following questions:
- Are your injuries permanent and disabling? Will you make a full recovery?
- How painful are your injuries, and how long will the pain persist?
- What medical treatment have you undergone or will you undergo in the future?
- Are you able to earn income at the same level as before?
- Do you regularly miss work to go to doctor’s appointments?
- Did you have any property damaged?
- Were you partially responsible for causing the incident?
- Has your overall quality of life diminished because of your injury?
- Do you have emotional trauma?
Ultimately, personal injury claims are about recovering compensation. It is important to know how much you are entitled to get so that you don’t accept a low-ball settlement offer. We will help you calculate your case value so that you know what to expect at the end of the case.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Injury in Baton Rouge?
Yes, you can get compensation if you are being blamed for your injury in Baton Rouge, LA.
Louisiana applies pure comparative negligence law. This law says that as long as you are less than 100% responsible, you can recover proportionate damages.
For example, if you are 80% at fault and the defendant is 20% at fault, you can receive 20% of your total award.
It’s best to avoid getting blamed. The easiest way to do this is to have a lawyer speak on your behalf and advise your statements to insurance adjusters throughout the case.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit In Louisiana?
As of 7/01/2024, you have two years to initiate a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana. However, if you were hurt before this date, you may be subject to a one-year deadline. This is known as the statute of limitations.
There could be exceptions, depending on the facts. If you miss the applicable deadline, you will lose your right to seek compensation in court.
Before initiating a lawsuit, your lawyer may file an insurance claim and negotiate for a settlement. You’ll want to ensure that they have adequate time to do this. If you wait too long to retain a lawyer, they may not have enough time to do the work needed on your case.
What is Negligence and How Do I Prove It?
Negligence is a legal term of art. It has a distinct meaning within the context of a personal injury case. Negligence is the bedrock of most personal injury claims. If you fail to prove that the defendant was negligent, then you will likely lose your case.
Negligence has four parts. You must prove each part by a preponderance of the evidence.
The four elements are:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Essentially, everyone owes others a duty to use reasonable care when out in the world. When we fail to use reasonable care, we are said to breach that duty. If that breach causes an accident and someone gets harmed, then they are negligent.
You don’t have to be perfect. However, you are expected to act as a reasonably prudent person would act in a similar circumstance. Failure to do so can make you liable for another’s harm.
We’ll Fight for Compensation for All of Your Injuries
You need a lawyer who understands your injury. We go the extra mile to review medical records and consult with your doctors. This helps us understand your needs and the impact that your injury has had on your well-being.
We will secure compensation for all your injuries, including:
- Brain injuries
- Head trauma
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Internal organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Burns
- Lacerations and bruising
- Loss of hearing or eyesight
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis and nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Neck and back injuries
We can also help with a wrongful death case after the loss of a loved one. There’s no case too big or too small for our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys to handle.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
The steps you take after a Baton Rouge accident can drastically affect your health and any potential claims.
If you’re able, do the following:
- Notify the proper authority. For example, call 911 to report a collision and request emergency services if anyone is hurt. Inform your employer if you were injured at work.
- Exchange information with other parties, including eyewitnesses.
- Document the scene. Take photos and videos of all relevant details. This will be vital evidence you can use later.
- Seek a prompt medical evaluation. You may be transported to the hospital by EMS, but if not, visit a physician to get a full checkup. You may have injuries you’re unaware of. Your medical record will help establish a causal link between the accident and your injury.
Do not apologize at the scene or make assumptions regarding liability. Instead, keep communications with other parties brief and allow the incident to be formally investigated. Consult an attorney as soon as you can to learn additional steps you should take to protect yourself.
Contact Our Baton Rouge Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Review
Don’t waste time thinking about hiring a lawyer after an injury in Baton Rouge, LA. Call Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to get started on your case.
We offer a free case review with a Baton Rouge personal injury attorney with no strings attached. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about your legal rights and how we can help you protect them.
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