Houma Louisiana Personal Injury Blog

Compensation for emotional distress in wrongful death

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

No matter what people in Louisiana do for their health, at some point, everyone will pass away. It is a fact of life. However, how people pass away can vary greatly. People hope that they will live a long, full life and simply pass away peacefully in their sleep, but this is not always what happens. People can develop diseases, like cancer, and die much younger than they would like. They also could be involved in a fatal accident, which could occur while they are driving or in other situations.

When people die in fatal accidents, it can be particularly devastating for the family and friends of the victim. All deaths are difficult, but when people do not have time to prepare, it can be even more difficult.

Determining damages for personal injury claims

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

Personal injury cases occur every day, and parties who suffer due to the negligence of others should not have to pay. Thankfully, personal injury claims provide such parties with a means to seek recompense.

In order to argue a successful claim, it is important that claimants understand the various aspects of the process. In particular, it may be helpful to understand how the courts determine damages for a personal injury claim.

Procedures used to treat burns

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Burn Injuries on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Fire, other forms of heat and various chemicals can be useful for people in Louisiana in their daily lives. It can allow people to cook their food, drink hot beverages, clean up messes and many chemicals are used in many industries that people work in. However, these elements can also be dangerous if used improperly and people are burned as a result. Severe burn injuries can have serious consequences for the victims and create difficulties for them.

In order to treat the burns people may need to go to the hospital and undergo various treatments. These can include water-based treatments, ointments and creams, pain medication, drugs to prevent infections and other treatments. Though, severe burns may require much more medical treatment, such as surgeries and other procedures.

What are the main causes of traumatic brain injuries?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Brain Injuries on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

It is never fun when people in Louisiana are injured. However, some injuries are more significant than others. Often times, how an injury will affect people is determined by which body part is injured. If people break legs, they will need assistance with walking. If they break their arms, they may need assistance carrying things and performing other daily tasks. But, if they injure their brain, it can affect the entire body and make daily life very difficult.

The brain is what tells the body what to do. So, when it is injured, the messages are not being sent, and the body will not function. Traumatic brain injuries also can affect people mentally and emotionally, as well and cause psychological and social problems for people. Essentially, depending on the severity of the brain injury, people's lives can be completely change, and sometimes, the changes are permanent.

Teen Driver Safety Week: younger drivers pose risks

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

The third full week in October marks National Teen Driver Safety Week. Because car accidents are the top cause of death for people between 15 and 18, authorities are encouraging parents to use this week as an opportunity to talk to their teenagers about safe driving habits.

However, it is important for all Louisianans to remember that thousands of people die each year in crashes involving teenage drivers, and not all of these victims are either the teen drivers themselves or their passengers. For example, in 2017, over 3,250 drivers involved in a fatal car accident were between 15 and 19 years old. While this number is actually a marked improvement over the same numbers in years past, teen drivers are still, statistically speaking, more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than are their adult counterparts.

Drunk driving in the morning hours a rising concern

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

According to one online firm that keeps track of various auto safety statistics, a relatively new phenomenon is drunk driving accidents in the mid-morning and early afternoon hours (brunch hours). No matter what time of day they happen though, car accidents related to drunk driving are always preventable and never acceptable.

While the majority of Louisiana drunk driving accidents still happen during the overnight or evening hours, a surprising number of fatal accidents involving drunk driving, over 3,900, happened during the traditional hours for brunch. Moreover, of all fatal accidents during the brunch rush, over 1 out of 10 involved drunk drivers.

Punitive damages are available in drunk driving cases

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Car Accidents on Friday, October 11, 2019.

Unlike other states, Louisiana does not have a general rule allowing for punitive damages. Given Louisiana's legal history, this means that, for the most part, injured victims in car accidents have to rely on non-economic and economic damages in order to get compensation for their losses.

This is true even when a motorist is flagrantly careless or even reckless and that malfeasance causes a serious accident.

4 signs road rage may have contributed to a car crash

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes on Monday, October 7, 2019.

Like many of your friends and family members, you drive to work every day. Fortunately, most mornings and evenings you reach your destination without incident. If you encounter an angry driver, though, you may find yourself in the middle of a serious collision.

According to some estimates, more than half of traffic fatalities involve aggressive driving. While you cannot control the emotions of other drivers, you should understand how road rage may put your life in jeopardy. Here are four signs that road rage may have contributed to an automobile collision:

Benefits of consulting an auto accident attorney

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes on Sunday, October 6, 2019.

Auto accidents occur every day, and many leave parties physically, emotionally and financially devestated. In cases where other parties are responsible for the accidents, it may be possible to seek restitution.

However, sometimes even in receiving such benefits, parties do not gain all that they deserve. In fact, parties may be surprised to learn some of the benefits of consulting with an auto accident attorney.

Suing the government requires additional steps

On behalf of The Law Offices of Brent J. Rhodes posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, October 4, 2019.

As our blog has discussed on previous occasions, a Louisiana resident who has been the victim of another person's negligence, or has lost a loved one due to negligence, will likely have to take several legal steps in order to recover compensation for their losses.

After all, very few people or businesses are willing to come out and admit that they were careless. Likewise, they and their insurance carriers may for a variety of reasons decline to pay compensation even if every indication is that the victim is entitled to it.