Food may seem flavorless after a car accident even when the tongue can still detect sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory sensations. Much of what people call taste is actually flavor created by taste and smell working together. A crash-related change in smell can therefore feel like a loss of taste. A new sensory…
A hurricane claim begins before an adjuster arrives. The first photographs, temporary repairs, receipts, and written notices may become the best evidence of what the storm changed. At the same time, no insurance file is worth entering an unsafe building or climbing onto a damaged roof. This checklist is organized around the decisions Louisiana…
The best workers’ compensation lawyer for one injured employee may be a poor fit for another. A useful consultation should help you understand the disputed issue, the next decision, and who will do the work. It should not feel like a sales presentation built around a promised result. Louisiana workers’ compensation has its own…
Hurricane damage is not always visible when the wind stops. Water can travel behind siding, around windows, through roof openings, and into insulation before a ceiling stain appears. A quick exterior look may miss damage that becomes expensive after materials dry, swell, or begin to decay. Homeowners should balance two goals: avoid unsafe areas…
Restaurant work combines wet floors, sharp tools, hot equipment, heavy trays, lifting, and repetitive motion. An injury can happen in seconds, while the claim that follows depends on details that are easy to lose during a busy shift. The first priorities are medical care, prompt notice to the employer, and a reliable record of…
If you are considering a lawyer for a Louisiana workers’ compensation claim, ask for the fee agreement before you sign. State law limits an employee’s attorney fee to 20% of the amount recovered, but the percentage alone does not tell you which benefits are included, when a fee is paid, or who pays case…
A homeowner opens the declarations page after a storm and finds two deductibles: perhaps $1,000 for many ordinary covered losses and 3% for a named storm. The percentage is usually applied to the insured property value identified in the policy, not to the repair estimate. That difference can decide whether a modest roof claim…
A worker may be sent to a clinic after an injury and leave believing that the clinic’s doctor is the only one the employer will permit. Louisiana law distinguishes an employer’s examination from the worker’s choice of a treating physician. That distinction matters when care, referrals and work restrictions are disputed. Your choice of…
A family can be displaced long before the roof or drywall estimate is finished. A hotel bill arrives nightly, a short rental may require a deposit, and meals cost more when there is no kitchen. Additional living expense coverage, often called ALE or loss of use, addresses certain increased costs of living away from…
A hurricane claim often begins while the house is still wet. The adjuster may not arrive before a tarp goes up or damaged materials come out. Start a record as soon as it is safe, then keep it current as the loss becomes clearer. You can take reasonable steps to prevent more damage without…
Archive context: This page was first published after Hurricane Ida in 2021. The resources below are general Louisiana starting points, not a live list of open shelters, restoration times or assistance programs for a particular storm. Check your parish’s current emergency notices before traveling. If someone needs urgent medical care or rescue, there is…
A commercial hurricane claim is more than a repair estimate for the building. A storm can damage the roof and equipment, spoil inventory, interrupt operations and require temporary space. The first challenge is to show what happened to each part of the property and how the loss affected the business. Start with safety and…
There is no standard dollar amount or universal percentage that every Louisiana hurricane claim lawyer receives. The fee depends on the agreement with the client, the work undertaken and the outcome if payment is contingent. Before hiring counsel, ask how the fee is calculated, what expenses are separate and what happens if the insurer…
There is no single 30-day rule for reporting every Louisiana car accident to an insurer. Look at the policy that may cover the loss and give notice promptly under its terms. The duty to notify police is a separate question with its own statutory threshold. If you are still at the scene, get emergency…
After a hurricane or severe storm, the first available contractor can feel like the only option. That urgency is exactly why a few checks before signing matter. A polished truck, a local telephone number, or a promise to “work with insurance” does not establish that the business is licensed, insured, or able to finish…