Articles Posted in Personal Injury

atvMany people enjoy being adventurous and getting a thrill. All-Terrain Vehicles are great for this as they allow you to get outside, enjoy some fresh air, and have some off-road fun all at the same time. In fact, many individuals grow up riding ATVs with their family and friends and even learn to operate them at a very young age.

However, this fun activity can instantly turn into a tragedy. Unfortunately, ATV accidents are fairly common and can result in just some cuts and scrapes or life- threatening injuries or worst of all, death.

bicyclistSpring has sprung! And, for many of us, that means getting back to enjoying the sunshine, warm temperatures, and longer hours of daylight. To take advantage of this, many people are outside on the busy streets walking, jogging, running, and cycling.

While being outdoors and exercising can be great for your physical and mental health, you must also be aware of the safety issues that come along with this choice. Far too often, I see pedestrians and cyclist ignoring the rules of the road. It only takes one quick second for this ignorance to backfire on you.

uninsured motoristA legendary basketball coach was invited to give an inspirational speech to religious leaders. Midway through the speech the group broke for refreshments. Two punch drinks were offered…. One, was spiked for the Catholics, the second was unspiked for the Baptists.

The coach was talking to a rather self-important Baptist minister who mistakenly took a sip of the spiked punch. When he realized that the punch was spiked, he defiantly poured it back into the punch bowl, telling the coach…”I’d rather commit adultery than drink spiked punch.” To which the coach dryly responded, “by God, I didn’t know I had a choice”! ADULTERY OR SPIKED PUNCHED?

auto insurance policyIf you’ve been injured in a car wreck that is not your fault, you will always look to the at fault driver to pay for your damages. But what happens if that driver did not have insurance? Or did not have enough insurance to fully compensate you? What if you are involved in a hit and run? If this is the case, we would turn to your own auto policy to see if you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

While Louisiana does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage (UM), it is never a bad idea to add it to your policy. In fact, 15% of Louisiana drivers do not have auto insurance. Although drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance, not all drivers abide by this rule, so it is always important to have an extra layer of coverage for yourself in case of an accident.

mardi gras paradeMardi Gras is undoubtedly one of the biggest holidays in New Orleans. Nearly 1 million enthusiastic visitors fill the streets each year to celebrate the exciting carnival season. However, with the Mardi Gras excitement, comes a much greater risk of injury due to large crowds, overconsumption of alcohol and carefree partying.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission found that the Mardi Gras holiday is the most dangerous holiday for car accidents on Louisiana highways. The New Orleans Police Department revealed that they routinely see a spike in car accidents in the two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday as visitors begin to trickle in. In fact, the Saturday before Mardi Gras is the most active day for collisions with over 120 accidents happening on that day each year since 2017.

caution cruiseNearly 30 million people board cruises each year. No one anticipates being injured on their vacation, but accidents can happen to anyone. Undoubtedly, slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of accidents that occur aboard cruise ships. This kind of accident seems inevitable with slippery surfaces, crowded common areas and the motion of the sea. So, what should you do if you’ve been injured on a cruise ship?

First, it is important to understand the difference between an accident and negligence of the cruise ship. As we know, sometimes accidents happen. You may trip over your own feet or not pay attention to what you are doing. In that case, no one is to blame; however, other accidents are due to the negligence of the cruise line and its employees. If this is the case, the cruise line will be liable for the injured passenger’s injuries. This includes medical bills, future medical treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, loss of consortium, etc.  This is because shipowners owe a duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of its passengers Kermarec v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, 358 U.S. 625 (1959).  

police reportHave you ever been involved in a car crash and wondered what you should do next? After making sure that everyone is okay and does not require immediate medical attention, call the police. In many cases, the police officer will come to the scene and write an accident report. This report can be very important for your personal injury claim.

Although an accident report itself is not typically admissible as evidence in court, it is used as a great source of information as to the basic facts of the accident such as location, time, driver information, witness statements, police narrative, and more.

Thanksgiving safety tipsThanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year. In fact, the American Automobile Association anticipates nearly 55 million people will be traveling for this year’s holiday. With the increase in traffic on the roads, there is also an increase in the likelihood of an auto accident occurring. To ensure that you and your family stay safe this Thanksgiving, we have included some tips for safe travels.

Before you get on the road this year, be sure to:

cruise shipTaking a cruise is popular vacation for many people. Each year, approximately 28 million people set sail for some relaxation and fun. You may find yourself dining in, swimming, shopping, rock climbing, ziplining, surfing, etc. However, your dream vacation can quickly become a nightmare if you find yourself becoming injured while on a cruise ship.

Although a cruise ship can contain many fun activities conveniences for its passengers, it also presents many dangers. The most common types of cruise ship accidents include:

man with whiplash after accidentIf you were involved in an accident and were already dealing with a pre-existing injury, you may be wondering how that previous injury will impact your new claim. While having a pre-existing condition does not bar a car accident victim from recovery, it could present challenges when it comes to proving your injuries and value of your claim. Insurance companies will often use this as a tactic to deny fair compensation or claim the motor vehicle accident did not cause the injury. So, it is crucial to contact an attorney immediately to guide you through the process.

Simply put, a pre-existing condition is a health condition that an injured person already had before a new accident occurred. The likelihood of someone suffering from a pre-existing condition is high, especially as you age. However, this should not keep personal injury victims from being properly compensated. Although the insurance company may want an injured party to believe otherwise, a squeaky-clean bill of health is not necessary to prove your injuries. If you suffer from a pre-existing injury, it is important to prove that the accident worsened that injury rather than caused it.

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