Were you recently injured in an accident in Lake Charles, Louisiana? If someone else was responsible, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a personal injury claim. Our Lake Charles Personal Injury Lawyers can help you. Contact Hale Injury Lawyers today by calling (337) 426-1071.
We’re a highly-regarded, full-service personal injury law firm in the greater Lake Charles area. Our Lake Charles personal injury attorneys have more than 61 years of combined experience, and we’ve collected tens of millions of dollars in much-needed compensation for our clients. You can trust us to help you with your case, too. We can help you recover money damages for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced as well as your financial losses.
Schedule a free consultation to offer preliminary legal advice and review your case.
Why Should I Hire Hale Injury Lawyers To Handle My Personal Injury Case?
Sustaining a personal injury can turn your world upside down. The consequences can impact you and your family financially, emotionally, physically, and mentally – in short, just about every aspect of life. If this describes your experience, you deserve to be compensated in full by the responsible party.
The personal injury claims process can be complex, and the opposing party will likely work hard to reduce their liability for your damages whenever possible. They might even try to say that the accident was your fault. Depending on the case, you might be up against a powerful insurance company with an entire legal department dedicated to protecting its bottom line.
Hiring Hale Injury Lawyers will allow you to level the playing field with the other side. You’ll be able to focus on your medical recovery while we handle your compensation claim from beginning to end. Our award-winning injury attorneys have garnered recognition from Super Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and many other prominent legal organizations. We can help with your personal injury case in Lake Charles, LA, by:
- Investigate your case to gather evidence, identify the liable parties, and calculate all of your damages
- Hire experts, such as forensic economists and accident reconstructionists, to support your claim as needed
- Take care of all the paperwork, communication, and negotiation with the at-fault party on your behalf
- If the opposing party refuses to settle your claim for an adequate amount, we’ll be prepared to file a lawsuit and take them to court
We’re here to help you and your loved ones get through this traumatic, difficult time as best as we can. To learn more, give us a call today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury law in Louisiana allows victims to recover compensation after a wide range of contexts. In order to win your case, you don’t necessarily need to prove that the other person intended to harm you; it could be enough to show that they were merely negligent (careless).
In some instances, you can even hold a business or the government liable for your injuries. Examples of situations that could likely lead to a personal injury case include the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Accidents in the workplace
- Medical malpractice
- Maritime and offshore accidents
- Defective or dangerous products
- Assaults and other intentional wrongdoing
- Improper management of property, whether public or private
- Dog bites
One reason we offer a free initial consultation is to learn about your situation and help you determine whether you have a personal injury case. Call today to gain valuable insight so that you can make an informed decision.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Understandably, one of the top questions on your mind after sustaining a personal injury may be how much your case is worth. The short answer is that each case’s value depends on its specific facts and circumstances, so it is difficult or impossible to provide an accurate assessment before speaking with you.
However, we can still describe a few factors that may influence your case’s worth. These include the following:
- How severe are your injuries?
- To what extent have you had to miss work due to the accident?
- Was the accident partly your fault?
- Will you make a full recovery?
- Is there enough evidence to prove your claim?
- What is the nature of the accident, and who is the at-fault party?
- What are the terms of any relevant insurance policies?
- How old were you at the time of the accident?
When you schedule your free consultation with our trusted Lake Charles personal injury attorneys, we can provide you with more personalized information regarding the value of your case.
What Damages Are Available to Lake Charles Accident Victims?
Personal injury accident victims in Lake Charles can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Together, these “compensatory damages” reflect your pecuniary losses as well as those that aren’t so easy to convert into a dollar amount.
A few examples of economic damages are:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Therapy
- Decreased earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
- Childcare and other similar costs
Non-economic damages include:
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other similar conditions
Punitive damages, a third type of damages, are only rarely available in Louisiana personal injury cases. They are awarded to “punish” the at-fault party for egregious conduct. However, Louisiana law only allows them as a possibility in particular circumstances; one example is in cases involving drunk driving.
What If I’m Partially At Fault for the Accident?
In Louisiana, you can recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. The state has a pure comparative negligence system in place to evaluate this issue, and it is one of the more victim-friendly in the country.
Under pure comparative negligence, you’ll be assigned a percentage of responsibility for the accident, and your compensation can be adjusted based on the percentage. For instance, your damages award can be reduced by 30% if you were 30% to blame.
Though this system likely works in your favor (in many states, you’d be barred from recovering any compensation if you were 50% or more to blame), the at-fault party can still drastically reduce the amount of money they owe you.
Having a skilled Lake Charles personal injury lawyer on your side means your interests will be protected, however, and you’ll be well-equipped to respond to these types of allegations.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me After an Accident?
There are many benefits to hiring a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can serve as your legal advocate throughout your case, ensuring your rights and interests are maintained at all times and that you aren’t taken advantage of by the opposing party.
Perhaps most importantly, hiring a personal injury lawyer means you won’t have to worry about how to recover compensation from the person or entity who caused your injuries. Your attorney can take care of your claim while you heal from the accident.
It’s also likely that you’ll be able to recover substantially more money with the assistance of a lawyer, even after attorney’s fees are taken out. Some of the more specific ways a Lake Charles personal injury lawyer can help include:
- Collecting evidence in support of your case
- Conducting legal research into cases similar to yours
- Hiring experts as necessary to enhance your case further
- Using their trained negotiation skills to secure a more favorable outcome
- File a lawsuit against the opposing party if necessary
If you’d like more information regarding how we can help with your case, reach out today to set up your free initial consultation.
How Much Does it Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
The personal injury lawyers in Lake Charles with Hale Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We strongly believe that anyone should be able to hire a lawyer, regardless of their financial situation. This is especially important in personal injury cases since accidents can cause significant economic losses.
Under a contingency fee agreement, you can hire us with zero upfront costs or fees. Further, we only get paid if we secure compensation for you at the end of your case – meaning through a settlement agreement or court award. Otherwise, you owe us nothing in attorney’s fees.
If we obtain compensation for you, we will receive our payment as an agreed-upon percentage of that financial award or settlement.
If you have any questions about the contingency fee payment system and how it applies to your situation, contact us today. We can let you know during your free case review.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After an Accident in Louisiana?
Each state has a statute of limitations that establishes when lawsuits need to be filed. Generally, in Louisiana, you’ll have just two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Otherwise, you’ll forfeit your legal right to pursue compensation.
Though there are exceptions to this deadline, they are rare. It is best to contact a Lake Charles personal injury attorney as soon as you’re able to after an accident to preserve your rights. It can take time to build a case, and evidence fades over time. An attorney can also help you confirm your case’s appropriate deadline.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Personal Injury Case?
Most personal injury cases are founded on a negligence cause of action. Negligence is a legal term with a meaning much like “carelessness.” In order to prove negligence and establish liability, you must prove the following legal elements:
- Duty of Care – Motorists have a duty of care to drive safely, for example
- Breach of Duty – For instance, running a red light would likely constitute a breach of duty
- Causation – This means establishing a causal link between the at-fault party’s conduct and your injuries
- Damages – You must have sustained losses (especially financial losses) due to the opposing party’s actions
Personal injury victims are the plaintiffs in negligence cases and have the burden of proof to establish each element “by a preponderance of the evidence.” This is essentially a “more likely than not” standard of proof. Types of evidence you can present include:
- Medical records
- Photos and videos
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert analysis
With well over 60 years of combined experience, our personal injury attorneys in Lake Charles are confident in their ability to prove even the most complex negligence cases. Call today for more information.
What Should I Do After I’ve Been Injured in Lake Charles?
There are certain steps you should take after experiencing a personal injury accident in Lake Charles, LA, that will help preserve any legal claims moving forward. These include:
- Receive prompt medical attention, even if you haven’t suffered an obvious injury. Many injuries do not present themselves at the scene of the accident. Medical records may be critical to the success of your claim as well.
- Contact the authorities, generally by calling 911. This will create a police report for the accident and will help ensure there is thorough documentation available.
- If it is safe, collect evidence by taking photographs and videos in addition to obtaining the contact information of any eyewitnesses.
- Do not accept blame for the accident, and do not apologize. These kinds of statements can hurt your compensation claim.
It is also recommended that you contact a Lake Charles personal injury attorney as shortly as possible after the accident – and, ideally, before you speak with any insurance companies. A lawyer can advise you on your best next steps and provide helpful, case-specific insight.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you with just about any type of case in Lake Charles. Some of the practice areas our law firm specializes in include, but are not limited to, the following:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are common in Lake Charles, but that doesn’t make them any less impactful. We can help you obtain the compensation that makes you whole again if you’ve been injured in a crash caused by another driver. Call our legal team today to learn more.
Workplace Accidents
If you sustain an injury at work in Louisiana, you may have multiple options available for receiving compensation. Workers’ comp may apply to your case, but it can only go so far. Depending on the nature of your accident, you may have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit for further benefits.
Truck Accidents
Large trucks, such as 18-wheelers, can be found throughout Lake Charles, delivering much-needed goods and supplies. Nonetheless, these vehicles can cause immense devastation in the event of a truck collision. These cases may entail going up against the trucking company itself or its insurer, and hiring an attorney is likely in your best interest.
Construction Accidents
The construction industry is one of the most dangerous to work in. Even though employees are given significant legal protections, construction accidents still occur quite often. As with other workplace accidents, you may have more than one source of compensation to pursue.
Offshore and Maritime Accidents
Not every personal injury lawyer is equipped to help you with a maritime or offshore accident case, as they can involve unique laws that implicate more than one jurisdiction. Hale Injury Lawyers makes it a point of emphasis to take on these cases with knowledge and confidence.
How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?
Each personal injury case in Lake Charles will take a unique amount of time to reach a final outcome. Some cases may resolve in just a matter of weeks; others could take much longer.
For instance, though most cases don’t make it all the way to trial, those that do will generally be on the more time-intensive end of the spectrum. Keep in mind, however, that cases can still reach a settlement agreement even after a lawsuit is filed.
At Hale Injury Lawyers, we’ll work with you and your desired goals throughout the entire process. We won’t rush to conclude your case prematurely; instead, we’ll work hard to secure a final outcome that is in your best interest.
Contact Our Experienced Lake Charles Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help
If you’ve been involved in a personal injury accident in Lake Charles, LA, we’re here to help. Hale Injury Lawyers prides itself on treating every case we take on with the utmost importance. We’ll treat you as family, ensuring your case receives the full attention and resources it needs.
Ultimately, we’re passionate about helping accident victims recover the compensation they deserve from the parties responsible for their injuries. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation with one of our qualified Lake Charles personal injury attorneys.
Lake Charles Personal Injury Lawyer Review
“Taylor Hale helped me reach a settlement in my car accident case where the other driver was uninsured. Very professional and respectful the whole way through and would recommend him to anyone. If I ever need a lawyer again, my first call would be Taylor!”
– Tristan Musser
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