Last reviewed: September 26, 2026 Louisiana now uses two different comparative fault rules, and the date of the injury usually determines which one applies. For an injury before January 1, 2026, a claimant’s damages generally are reduced by the claimant’s percentage of fault. For an injury on or after January 1, 2026, a claimant…
Last reviewed: September 26, 2026 A valid settlement usually ends the dispute it was intended to resolve. That finality is one of the reasons defendants and insurers agree to pay. If an injured person later discovers that treatment will cost more than expected, the claim ordinarily cannot be reopened simply because the agreement now…
People ask for the average personal injury settlement because they want a number they can use. Louisiana does not publish a reliable statewide average that predicts what a particular claim will settle for. Even if a useful average existed, it would mix minor injuries, permanent disabilities, disputed accidents, clear-fault cases, small insurance policies, and…
A class action changes who may litigate a shared dispute together. It does not create a new legal claim. One or more named plaintiffs ask to represent a larger group because central questions can be answered with common proof. The underlying dispute might concern a standard contract, a uniform fee, a product, a notice,…
A lawyer’s address is a poor shortcut for deciding whether that lawyer is right for an injury case. A Baton Rouge or New Orleans office does not guarantee resources, attention, or courtroom ability. A lawyer in a smaller community is not automatically at a disadvantage. The useful question is whether the firm can investigate…
Choosing a personal injury lawyer is less about finding the loudest advertisement and more about learning who will actually handle the work. You should leave the first conversation knowing what evidence matters, what could weaken the claim, who will keep you informed, and what happens if the insurer refuses a fair resolution. The right…
You do not have to hire a lawyer to ask an insurer for payment. Whether handling a claim yourself makes sense depends on what is disputed, how much remains unknown about the injury, and what you would be agreeing to in a settlement. A small claim with clear responsibility, understood medical needs, and no…
A post can be accurate and still leave out facts that matter to an injury claim. A photograph may show that you attended a family gathering without showing how long you stayed or how you felt afterward. Insurers and defense lawyers may seek posts, tags, comments, messages, and photos that bear on the accident…
In Louisiana, a loss of consortium claim seeks damages for harm to a qualifying family relationship after someone is injured, including changes to companionship, household services, and intimacy under Louisiana Civil Code art. 2315(B). The law ties who can recover to the same beneficiary categories used for wrongful death actions in Louisiana Civil Code…
Medical bills may arrive while the insurers are still deciding who caused an accident. Paying for treatment now and recovering those costs through an injury claim are separate questions. Available health insurance, auto medical payments coverage, or workers’ compensation may help with current bills, depending on the policy and circumstances. Keep the bills, insurance…