If you have suffered injuries unexpectedly in an accident in Louisiana caused by someone else’s negligence, a defective product, or other preventable circumstances beyond your control, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, suffering, and other losses.
Your injury may be either physical or emotional, and it can arise from various sources or types of conduct. Some of the most common types of personal injuries that give rise to legal liability on the part of the offending party include slips and falls, automobile accidents, assaults and battery, medical malpractice, and injuries caused by defective consumer or pharmaceutical products.
From offering legal representation and evaluating your claim to helping you gather crucial evidence and communicating with the opposing side, a Louisiana personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation after an accident. At Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers, competent Louisiana personal injury attorneys can review the details of your unique case,
assist you in filing a claim, talk to insurance adjusters, determine the value of your claim, and advise you on the best course of legal action.
What To Expect In Your Initial Consultation With A Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you are wondering what to expect when hiring a personal injury attorney in the Pelican State, the process usually begins with scheduling a case consultation. Most reputable personal injury lawyers offer these consultations for free at no risk to you as a victim. After making an appointment, you will meet with an experienced attorney to discuss the details of your accident in depth.
Before the lawyer takes up your case, they will carry out a preliminary evaluation of your case to determine how strong your claim is and whether seeking compensation is likely to be a successful endeavor.
If you have suffered injuries because of the negligent acts of another person or entity, such as businesses or governments, Louisiana law allows you to recover compensation from all responsible parties. In most cases, insurance companies represent the responsible parties and handle the evaluation and payment of claims.
Duration Of the Consultation
An initial consultation won’t take very long. However, the duration of these meetings varies, depending on the type of negligence, how many parties are involved, and the circumstances that led to the injuries. The initial appointment will usually last longer in more complex cases. The consultation is as much your time to get to know the attorney(s) as it is for them to understand your case, answer your questions, and provide some essential legal advice.
Initial consultations typically are informal affairs. Instead, lawyers try to make the process as comfortable as possible for victims of personal injuries to encourage relaxed discussions. That said, we recommend victims make a list of questions to ask during the consultation.
Questions To Ask A Personal Injury Lawyer
Questions you might consider asking during a consultation include:
· In what areas of law do you specialize?
· Do I have a worthy case?
· In what cities and parishes of Louisiana do you handle cases?
· Are there time limits within which I must file a lawsuit against the party that injured me?
· Will my case be settled out of court, or will a lawsuit be filed?
· Who makes decisions about accepting a settlement or trying my case?
· How long will it take to resolve my case?
· What categories of damages can I attempt to recover in my Louisiana personal injury case?
· What will you charge to handle my case?
· Do you offer “contingency” fees?
· How do contingency fees work?
· What is the law firm’s track record?
What Should You Bring to the Initial Consultation Meeting?
During a free initial lawyer consultation, the attorney is going to want to take a look at critical documents associated with your case.
A Louisiana personal injury attorney will want to review your case using as much information as possible. For this reason, you must bring any documentation regarding the injury and accident.
The records, statements, and information you should bring to your initial consultation include:
· Photographs of the accident and your injury.
· Police or investigation reports.
· Witness statements and their contact information.
· Doctor’s notes and emergency room notes.
· Medical records.
· X-ray and MRI results.
· Your insurance information.
· Insurance information from the other party.
· Documentation of missed work.
· Proof of past and future lost wages from missing work.
The more thorough the information the attorney has to assess, the better the legal advice will be. With all this information, your personal injury attorney can give you the basics on how they would pursue compensation, allowing you to determine whether their action plan sounds reasonable.
However, during initial consultations, the lawyer will only examine some documents associated with your case.
Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers: Compassion-driven Personal Injury Law Practice In Louisiana
Meeting with a personal injury lawyer for the first time can be intimidating. At Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers, we ensure initial consultations are as informative and stress-free as possible. We know you’re already dealing with injuries and trying to heal.
With Louisiana personal injury lawyer Bart Bernard on your side, you can feel confident in your claim and have peace of mind knowing that he is fighting for your justice. Attorney Bernard has an unwavering commitment to the welfare of his clients and fosters a deep connection with them.
At our Louisiana personal injury law firm, our lawyers and staff members respect clients, have compassion for the circumstances of their case, and will work tirelessly in pursuing fair and just compensation for them. Our firm has connections with expert witnesses and the financial capability to cover upfront costs like investigation and expert witness fees.
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in Louisiana due to someone else’s negligence and believe you require a personal injury attorney, reach out to our office today so we can get started working for you.