Trial lawyers Not case managers

What to Expect From Our Accident Lawyers in New Orleans

When clients come to The Chopin Law Firm, they are often going through some of the most difficult and trying times of their lives. We provide our clients with the attention they need in order to get the results they deserve. Each of our cases begins with a comprehensive case evaluation where we determine if our clients have a case.

Then, we devote tremendous amounts of time and resources to the investigation and preparation of their case while informing our clients of what to expect during each step of the case proceedings. Our personal injury lawyers in New Orleans provide seasoned legal guidance throughout the process.

Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages

Compensation for personal injury claims generally fall under one of two umbrellas: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages (also called “specific” damages) are intended to compensate injury victims for measurable, verifiable monetary losses, such as missed wages, damage to personal property, and medical bills related to the accident. Non-economic damages (“general” damages), on the other hand, compensate for non-tangible losses like emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or even reputational damage.

Our New Orleans accident lawyers are highly skilled in the calculation of damages, leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to maximize the value of our clients’ cases. If you have questions about how much your case may be worth, our injury law firm is ready to offer you a free consultation.

When to Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

It’s best to contact a personal injury lawyer after an accident as soon as possible. There are a few important reasons for this, the first being the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is a law which is implemented on a state level that allocates a specific amount of time when a personal injury case can be filed before the claimant loses their right to do so.

People tend to be more familiar with the criminal statute of limitations due to the fact that this law is often depicted in movies and T.V. shows. The civil law statute of limitation works in a similar way. After the statute of limitations has passed, a claimant will lose their legal right to file even if all parties are in agreement that the negligent party was at fault.

Because of this, it is crucial that you speak to a personal injury attorney about your case to learn how the statute of limitations may affect your case. According to the Louisiana Civil Code section 3492 the state of Louisiana has a one-year time period for personal injury cases.

This means you have one year from the date of your accident to file a claim or you will lose your right to do so along with your right to recover compensation. There are some exceptions to this law where the filing time may change, including:

• If the injury victim is a minor when the accident occurred
• In special circumstances the statute of limitations won’t begin until the injuries were reasonably discoverable