Dependable New Orleans Personal Injury Lawyers

Thousands of people drive in and around New Orleans each day, many of whom are unfamiliar with the roads on which they are traveling. Unfortunately, not everyone behaves safely and reasonably behind the wheel. If you were injured in a car accident, you may be able to recover compensation in a civil lawsuit. Most lawsuits arising out of car accidents allege that the driver who caused the accident was negligent and therefore should be held liable for any harm sustained in the accident. To prove a negligence claim in Louisiana, the plaintiff must show that he or she was owed a duty of care by the defendant and that the defendant breached the duty. The plaintiff also must show that the breach was the cause in fact of the plaintiff's harm. In other words, the plaintiff's harm would not have occurred without the breach. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that he or she suffered quantifiable damages.

Commercial trucks are an essential part of the Louisiana economy. Their immense size can make them dangerous, however, and trucks are frequently involved in serious collisions. Operating a commercial truck is difficult and requires specialized skills, and many truck accidents are caused by insufficient training. Truck accidents are also often caused by violations of federal safety regulations, such as rules that limit drive times and require truck drivers to conduct truck inspections and limit truck weight. People injured in accidents involving commercial trucks should retain a New Orleans personal injury attorney to pursue claims against the driver of the truck and, if it is a company truck, his employer as well.

Many people find motorcycles to be an attractive alternative to cars, and they may use motorcycles as their means of transportation. However, motorcycles do not provide the safety of cars or other vehicles. When a motorcyclist is involved in an accident, it can have devastating results. Motorcycle accidents often cause brain injuries, hemorrhages, fractures, and internal injuries. Frequently, the harm sustained can be permanent. In many instances in which a rider is injured in a motorcycle accident, the at-fault defendant will argue that damages should be denied, claiming that the injured rider caused the accident. Under Louisiana law, however, if an injured person is partially at fault for an accident, his or her damages will merely be reduced proportionately to his or her fault. Even if the motorcycle rider contributed to causing the accident, he is still likely to recover his losses.

If you suffered the loss of a loved one due to the negligent acts of another person or entity, a personal injury lawyer in New Orleans can help you seek damages through a wrongful death claim. Under Louisiana law, a deceased person’s beneficiaries have a right to seek damages for losses suffered due to the deceased person’s death. Specifically, compensation recoverable in a wrongful death and survival action includes funeral bills, lost wages, loss of household services, and damages for the pain and suffering caused by injury and death of the deceased. Anyone who wishes to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit must file the lawsuit within one year of the date of the accident giving rise to the victim’s death.

In many cases, medical professionals provide care that not only is incompetent but also causes actual harm to the patient. Common examples of errors by doctors include failing to promptly diagnose a patient, misdiagnosing a patient, committing a surgical error, or providing a patient with inappropriate medication. When a person suffers harm due to negligent medical care, he or she may be able to seek compensation via a medical malpractice lawsuit. To successfully prove liability, the victim and their New Orleans personal injury lawyer must show that the defendant possessed the skills and knowledge of a practitioner in the same field and in the same community, but the defendant deviated from the applicable standard of care, causing the patient’s harm.

If you are charged with a DUI or DWI offense, you may feel that the odds are stacked against you. Simply because you have been charged with a crime does not mean that you will be found guilty, however, and there are numerous defenses that you may be able to set forth to challenge the charge. For example, if the officer who detained you did not have a reasonable suspicion that you were committing a crime or violation, you may be able to argue that the stop was unlawful. This can prevent the State from introducing any evidence obtained during the stop at trial. Similarly, if you were not properly advised of your rights, any statements or evidence obtained in violation of your rights may be inadmissible as well.

Hurricanes frequently make landfall in New Orleans, and their torrential rains and high-speed winds often cause substantial damage. While many residents of Louisiana have flood insurance, insurance contracts can be complex and confusing, and it is not always clear which types of damage are covered. Additionally, insurance companies may delay investigating a claim or fail to pay the full amount of damages owed. If you sustained damages due to a hurricane, it is crucial to submit notice of your claim to your insurance company as soon as possible and to comply with any obligations imposed by your insurance policy. If your insurance company unreasonably refuses to pay you benefits that you are owed, you may be able to obtain damages in a lawsuit alleging that your insurer acted in bad faith.

If you were harmed in an accident caused by someone else, you should speak with a personal injury attorney in New Orleans regarding your options for seeking compensation. Attorney Cliff Cardone at the Cardone Law Firm can zealously advocate on your behalf. Mr. Cardone represents people throughout Louisiana in a broad range of personal injury cases, as well as in DUI cases and hurricane damage claims. PHONE CARDONE. He can be reached at 504-522-3333 or through the online form to schedule a free consultation.