LA personal injury case & accident info
Louisiana has the best of both worlds: bustling city life for the metropolitan and rural areas for the outdoorsy among us. Both of these, however, can have their share of negligence, car accidents, and personal injury cases.
Perhaps it was you who was injured, or maybe it was a family member or friend whose life was changed. Whatever happened, if you need guidance for your personal injury case, Enjuris has the answers.
Louisiana personal injury law: the basics
Louisiana statutes online
This is where you’ll find Louisiana's laws. The website has details about how long you have to bring a case, monetary limits on personal injury cases (also known as damage caps), and other important information that you will need. Louisiana law also incorporates French and Spanish civil law, unlike every other state, which means that new attorneys have to sit for the longest bar exam in the country.
To read:
Louisiana's car accident statutes of limitation
In Louisiana, you have only one year to bring both a personal injury claim and a property damage claim. That means you have to file your paperwork with the court before that one-year limitation is up. Make sure to act fast.
Louisiana's Statute of Limitations
To read:
Accidents & injuries in Louisiana
Need a lawyer?
Accident worksheets
Your First Meeting with an Attorney
A worksheet to prepare for your first meeting with a personal injury attorney – what to bring, what they'll ask
Download in PDF format
Documents & Evidence Checklist
Checklist of 30 items to help you prepare for making a personal injury or accident claim
Download in PDF format
Personal Injury Attorney Interview Sheet
Worksheet with questions to ask a personal injury attorney to help determine if he or she will be a good fit for your case
Download in PDF format
Damages/Expenses Worksheet
Damages worksheet to track expenses for your injury claim (medical treatment, property damage, lost wages, prescriptions)
Download in PDF format
Post-Accident Journal Form
Sample accident journal/diary to help you document the effect on your daily life
Download in PDF format
Accident Report Form
Sample post-accident report form to keep in your glove box - fill out at the scene or as soon as you can after a car accident
Download in PDF format
Hiring a lawyer in Louisiana
The first meeting with a personal injury attorney is normally free. (Note that other legal specialties, such as real estate law or criminal defense law, are different.) After that, lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that they will receive a third of the eventual reward or settlement, plus whatever office expenses they incurred.
If your case ends up going to trial, the percentage could rise to 40% of the eventual reward or judgment. These numbers aren't set by law, so don't be surprised if your lawyer suggests something else.
Want to hire a lawyer and need some help?
Check out some of our best articles:
Examples of personal injury cases and accidents
Personal injury cases (also known as a tort lawsuit) come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Auto accidents, medical malpractice and premises liability (slip/fall) are a few examples of the most common types of personal injury cases, but there are many more. In fact, torts are among the most common legal actions in the United States. Read more
Read our complete guide to finding the right injury attorney for your case. Read insights from Enjuris attorneys and lawyers across the USA on when and why you need to hire a car accident attorney. Learn more
Need a lawyer?
Law libraries in Louisiana
There are lots of issues you can solve without the help of a lawyer, surprisingly enough. If you don't know where to start, a law librarian can help you. They are usually legally trained, and they can help you both with texts or online research engines like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
- Louisiana Supreme Court: Law Library
- LSU: Law Library
- Tulane University: Law Library
- Loyola University New Orleans: Law Library
- Southern University Law Center: Oliver B. Spellman Law Library
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Law Library
- State Library of Louisiana: Library Laws