Gonzales Personal Injury Lawyer

Home    Home    Gonzales Personal Injury Lawyer

Gonzales Personal Injury Attorney

A personal injury claim can be filed when one party causes another party harm through intentional or unintentional acts. The purpose of a civil personal injury claim is to enable the injured party to become whole. While monetary compensation does not make up for all the damage caused by a serious incident, it allows the injured party some financial stability and enables them to get the care and treatment they need. A skilled Gonzales personal injury lawyer can help you secure this compensation.

At Murphy Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of work as a firm and over 150 years of collective experience across our attorneys. We focus on helping you through the difficult time brought on by a sudden injury as we fight for the compensation you deserve.

gonzales personal injury attorney

Determining Liability in a Personal Injury Claim

To successfully hold another party liable for the damages you have suffered as the injured party, the following must be true:

  1. Duty of Care: You must prove that the other party owed you a duty of care to behave with reasonable consideration to your safety. For example, drivers have a duty of care to others on the road, and healthcare providers have a duty of care to patients they have agreed to treat.
  2. Breach of Duty: You then must prove that the party breached their duty of care. Typically, this breach is under the theory of negligence, meaning that the party unintentionally acted or failed to act in a way that was careless. A breach of duty can also occur through recklessness, intentional misconduct, or malice.
  3. Causation: The breach of duty of care must have led directly to the injury or incident. Another party can behave negligently but not cause the injury due to that negligence, so they would not be liable.
  4. Actual Damages: You must then prove the actual damages that you suffered due to the injury and accident. These may include economic damages, like medical bills, and noneconomic damages, like physical pain and emotional suffering.

Types of Personal Injury Claims We Handle at Murphy Law Firm

Personal injury claims can arise from many unique circumstances, including different hazards and types of accidents. Each type of personal injury claim may need to be handled differently, including the investigation of its cause and the parties that can be held liable. Each accident type can also result in unique injuries and damages.

Due to all these intricacies, it is important that your personal injury attorney knows how to navigate the specific type of accident, claim, or injury that is involved in your case. Common types of personal injury cases include car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, and product liability. Your attorney can then rely on their experience while still tailoring their legal care to your needs.

Their experience may help with investigating and gathering evidence, calculating the long-term damages of an injury, and negotiating with high-resource insurance providers. This can result in a more efficient and highly valued claim. At Murphy Law Firm, we have significant experience in some of the following types of personal injury claims:

Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of personal injuries. A vast amount of these collisions result from the negligence of a driver. This individual may cause an accident by being distracted, fatigued, or under the influence. They might also be ignoring road signs or failing to yield the right-of-way. When a driver’s error or negligence results in an accident, they can be held liable for the damages of any injured parties.

Car accidents are generally handled through car insurance claims. These claims can still benefit significantly from an attorney. An attorney’s investigation of the accident can determine the cause and the negligent party. This investigation can also gather important evidence. An attorney can negotiate for you with the insurance provider. If the provider will not allow for a fair settlement, then your attorney can advise you on the next steps to secure compensation. This may include taking the claim to court.

Truck Accidents

Collisions between commercial trucks and smaller passenger cars can have devastating results. These accidents cause more severe injuries, are more likely to result in fatalities, and may involve multiple vehicles. The magnitude of the damages makes an insurance claim more complicated. Truck accidents are also more likely to require wrongful death claims.

Truck accidents can be more complex because of the number of people and entities involved in putting a commercial truck on the road. Negligence by any of these parties could have contributed to the accident. A failed component of the truck could be the fault of a dangerous product, improper maintenance, or an overloaded truck trailer. A truck driver’s error may be due to their own negligence, their employer’s training or hiring methods, or an unrealistic shipping schedule.

Your attorney needs to understand these incredibly complicated claims, along with the state and federal laws that regulate trucks. Investigating truck accident claims to determine the at-fault party is a significant undertaking that requires resources and experience. At Murphy Law Firm, we have all that is required to properly navigate truck accident claims.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle collisions often occur because other drivers either fail to see motorcycles or do not take appropriate care while driving near them. Motorcyclists do not have the same physical safety precautions on their vehicles as those in passenger cars have, so they are more likely to sustain catastrophic injuries as a result.

When the other driver is at fault for this collision, they are responsible for the damages that a motorcyclist sustains. However, even if the motorcyclist was partially responsible for the accident, they may still be able to recover some amount of compensation. Because the costs of a motorcyclist’s damages are often much more severe, this can still be a significant amount of money.

Premises Liability

Property owners have a level of responsibility to ensure that their premises are not hazardous for those who are allowed or invited onto the property. Failing to do so can result in hazards like:

  • Uneven floors
  • Electrical hazards
  • Cords and wires
  • Potholes
  • Broken safety equipment

These dangers can cause serious harm to individuals. Slip and fall claims are the most common type of premises liability.

Dog Bites

Dog attacks and bites can cause serious injuries and even permanent physical and psychological damage. If the dog’s owner knew or should have known that the animal was dangerous, they could be held liable for these damages.

Workplace Injuries

Workers’ compensation is a separate area of law from personal injury law, although a personal injury attorney can be very helpful when filing for this type of compensation. Additionally, there are unique cases where an injured worker can file for a personal injury claim in Louisiana, such as when a third party is at fault for their injuries.

Maritime Accidents

Accidents at sea are much more likely to impact maritime employees due to the amount of time they spend in dangerous work environments, such as ships or offshore oil rigs. These workplace accidents are subject to unique laws, like the Jones Act. It’s important to have an attorney who can help you get the most from these claims.

At Murphy Law Firm, we can also help with claims related to defective products, injuries due to medical negligence and malpractice, and wrongful death claims in Gonzales.

FAQs

Q: How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take in Louisiana?

A: How long a personal injury claim takes in Louisiana depends on the specifics of your case. It includes steps such as:

  • Filing a claim for an injury or accident
  • Gathering evidence of damages and liability
  • Negotiating with the other party
  • Filing a claim in court if negotiations do not work

The process is more likely to resolve faster when you work with an experienced attorney. They can also provide you with an individualized estimate of how long your claim will likely take.

Q: What Is the Bodily Injury Statute of Limitations in Louisiana?

A: The statute of limitations for bodily injury in Louisiana is a set amount of time after an injury that you are allowed to file a civil claim. If you fail to file the claim before that deadline, the court will not follow through on any claim you file, and you will be unable to recover compensation. This deadline is important for out-of-court negotiations, as the other party negotiates with an injured party to avoid litigation. It’s important to be aware of the deadline while you are negotiating a settlement.

Q: What Are Personal Injury Damages in Louisiana?

A: Personal injury damages in Louisiana are the losses you suffered from being injured, including financial, emotional, and psychological losses. If another party is at fault for your injury, then they are liable for the entirety of your damages. These may include:

  • Medical bills, both past and future
  • Lost income
  • Lost earning capacity and disability
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost enjoyment of life

An attorney is beneficial for determining the value of your unique losses after a personal injury. This can enable them to secure the most compensation possible for your claim.

Q: Can You Sue for Emotional Distress in Louisiana?

A: Yes, you can sue for emotional distress in Louisiana. This loss is a type of noneconomic damages in a personal injury claim. Noneconomic damages compensate for a loss that does not have a clear financial value but is still recognized as a loss. If another party was at fault and caused you emotional distress, you can recover those damages. However, the value of those damages will be influenced by the significance of the economic damages and injuries you suffered.

Qualified Legal Representation After a Personal Injury

If someone else is to blame for your personal injury, contact Murphy Law Firm today.

We Will Come To You

Free Consultation

Proudly serving the state of Louisiana for nearly 30 years