​Monroe Personal Injury Lawyer

As people go through their daily routines, they encounter many hazardous situations, often unknowingly. Sometimes people avoid injury altogether or only suffer minor injuries. Other times people sustain serious injuries in traffic accidents, at work, or while visiting someone else’s home or business.

Those who suffer significant injuries face emotional and financial distress on top of the physical pain of injury. Preventable injuries that occur because of someone else's reckless behavior can make matters worse. You and your family shouldn't suffer because of someone else's negligence.

Fortunately, you have legal recourse when someone else harm’s you. Louisiana law permits you to seek compensation for your injuries and related costs. A skilled Monroe personal injury lawyer can fight to help you receive compensation and hold those who harmed you accountable for their actions.

The experienced legal team at Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, advocates for victims of negligence to receive the maximum compensation for their injuries. We are a national law firm with multiple offices around the country, including Louisiana. We also work with affiliate law firms in most states that share our focus and dedication to excellence. No matter where you are located, we may be able to help you, so call or contact us now. We are open, for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-898-4877, or you may contact us now by clicking here to submit your case for review.

Why Choose Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, for Your Monroe Personal Injury Claim

The resourceful and devoted team of intake specialists, legal professionals, and personal injury lawyers at Stewart J. Guss Personal Injury Attorneys fights for clients to recover damages related to losses incurred because of injuries caused by negligence. Our consistent dedication to client service and seeking justice for victims of negligence has led to the recovery of tens of millions of dollars in damages from settlement agreements and the occasional jury award.

We serve clients throughout the United States, including those in Monroe. Our experienced Monroe personal injury attorneys review clients' cases to ensure they have viable claims. Once we uncover the facts of a personal injury case, we negotiate with insurance companies and other relevant parties to obtain the most compensation possible for a client's injuries.

Compensation in Monroe Personal Injury Claims

If you take legal action to recover damages after suffering injuries due to negligence, you could receive compensation if you win your case. Many personal injury claims share the same type of damages, but they can differ among claims. The total amount of compensation can also vary based on the severity of injuries, total economic loss, and whether someone suffers a permanent injury.

Each case has different facts and circumstances that impact the type and amount of damages. Additionally, Louisiana separates damages into two types: special and general.

Special Damages

Special damages refer to damages that compensate victims of negligence for specific monetary losses related to their injuries.

Examples of special damages often included in Monroe personal injury claims include:

• Current and estimated future medical treatment costs, including ambulance service, emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, diagnostic imaging, follow-up care, medication, and travel expenses to and from the doctor, Monroe Medical Center, St. Francis Medical Center, or other facilities
• Lost income from missing work due to injuries and rehabilitation
• Estimated lost future income from work when an injury prevents someone from returning to their job or seeking future employment
• Funeral and burial or cremation expenses if a victim of negligence loses their life
• Property damage, including vehicle repairs when an injury occurs in a traffic crash

General Damages

General damages compensate victims of negligence for how their injuries affect their lives. Lawyers and insurance companies place a value on general damages because they do not have a specific dollar value attached to them.

Examples of general damages often included in Monroe personal injury claims include:

• Current and future pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium and other damage to family relationships

The team at Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, can evaluate your case and advise you on which damages apply to your claim.

Statute of Limitations for Monroe Personal Injury Claims

Each state has laws—statutes of limitations— that limit how long someone has to take legal action after suffering injuries due to negligence. Louisiana is one of the few states with a short, one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This means you have one year from your injury to bring a lawsuit against the responsible negligent party. One year might seem like a lot of time. However, it's not very long in the context of a legal claim.

If you miss the statute of limitations for your personal injury claim, it's doubtful a Louisiana court will hear your case. Most personal injury cases do not go to trial, but you must still meet the deadline to negotiate a claim. You lose your leverage to negotiate a settlement if you miss the statute of limitations deadline.

Connect with a Monroe personal injury law firm as soon as possible after sustaining injuries. Your legal team will meet all deadlines, giving you the best chance to recover compensation for your injuries.

The law allows for some exceptions. For example, the one-year statute of limitations deadline does not apply to minors. If you are worried about the time clock on your Monroe personal injury claim, Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, can review your claim and identify any situations that might warrant an exception.

Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, Handle Various Personal Injury Claims

Various situations and scenarios can give rise to a Monroe personal injury claim. Injured people have the legal right to seek compensation for damages when their injuries occur because of reckless and careless actions or omissions. The compassionate team at Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, has the experience and resources to help victims of negligence in most situations. However, we see some types of claims more often than others. Common personal injury claims we handle include the following:

Car Accidents

Data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows traffic accidents in Ouachita Parish continue to trend upward each year. Distracted driving, drowsy driving, and other dangerous driving behaviors can lead to dangerous and preventable car accidents. The Monroe personal injury attorneys at Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys hold negligent drivers accountable for their poor driving.

Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving is indeed a greater problem in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but Monroe sees its share of drunk drivers too. Drunk driving accidents are entirely preventable and occur because of the driver's irresponsible actions. Drivers learn about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after drinking during drivers' education and often before. Alcohol impairs a driver's ability to judge space and time, making it difficult to process the information they need to operate their cars safely.

Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are among the most dangerous and deadly of all traffic accidents. A standard semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. The size and weight of tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks often protect truckers from severe or deadly injuries. However, those who share the road with careless truck drivers usually aren't so lucky.

If they live through a crash with a truck, they often have severe, permanent injuries. Trucking companies can also be liable for accidents because of poor hiring and training practices, poor truck maintenance, and pushing drivers to break federal mandates about hours of operations.

Motorcycle Accidents

Riding a motorcycle is a popular pastime and mode of transportation in Monroe and throughout Louisiana. Some bikers don't ride safely, but most operate their bikes far more safely than the average motorist in a car or truck. Reckless, inattentive, careless drivers who don't watch for motorcycles can cause treacherous accidents. Bikers often suffer severe injuries in a crash because they don't have the same protection from the road even when wearing proper safety gear.

Bicycle Accidents

Cycling is a favorite activity for adults and kids alike. It's great exercise and a fantastic way to get around town when it's not too hot or cold. Yet, the fun and convenience of bike riding fade when careless motorists cause bicycle accidents. Young children and teens, who spend much time on bicycles, are especially vulnerable to negligent drivers. Bicycle accidents can cause some of the most debilitating and deadly injuries of all traffic crashes.

Pedestrian Accidents

Monroe has some highly walkable areas, especially downtown by the University of Louisiana. Whether walking around campus, visiting the Masur Museum of Art, or the Louisiana Purchase Zoo and Gardens, pedestrians risk severe injuries if a car strikes them. Even when pedestrians use crosswalks, they risk injury when a distracted or careless driver doesn't see them. Motorists have a legal duty to drive with care around those on foot, but some make poor driving choices.

Wrongful Death

Some accidents and events lead to fatal injuries, forcing surviving family members to face the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one. Legal action against the responsible party will not bring back a loved one, but it can help families deal with some of the financial burden and uncertainty they face due to their loss. If your loved one died because of someone else's careless choices, you have grounds to bring a wrongful death claim to seek economic and noneconomic damages for your loss.

Premises Liability Accidents

Monroe homeowners, property owners, and business owners must keep their premises safe for visitors. If they cannot fix a known hazard, they must warn visitors about any dangers. Some owners are lazy or do not care about their property, so they don't regularly inspect for or fix problems, creating hazards that could harm visitors.

Slip and fall accidents are common premises liability accidents, but other situations fall under the premises liability umbrella, including:

• Swimming pool accidents
• Elevator or escalator accidents
• Negligent security
• Dog bite injuries

Premises liability accidents typically include homeowners or business insurance providers and are often more complex than traffic accident claims. Our team knows how to deal with insurance carriers to help clients obtain compensation for their injuries.

Preserving the Value of Your Monroe Personal Injury Claim

Insurance companies do whatever they can to deny and devalue personal injury claims. They do not stay in business by paying the full amount demanded for each claim. Settlement negotiations are inevitable, and both sides have the motivation to avoid a costly trial. However, you still want to take every step possible to obtain maximum compensation for your injuries.

Following these guidelines make it more difficult for the insurance company to downplay your injuries:

• Follow your doctor’s orders and keep all medical appointments for doctor visits, physical therapy, and any other appointments with specialists.
• Keep proof of economic loss, including bills and receipts for medical treatment, vehicle repairs, domestic help, and any other losses caused by your injuries.
• Keep copies of payroll information that show lost income and paid time off you had to use because of your injuries.
• Keep a journal to document the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you face because of your injuries.
• Don't post personal information or photos on social media until your claim resolves.

Provide the information you've gathered to our firm so we have the facts we need to evaluate your Monroe personal injury claim.

Get the Help You Need from Stewart J. Guss Injury Accident Lawyers

The legal team of Stewart J. Guss, Personal Injury Attorneys, is nationally recognized for protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 20 years. If you suffered injuries in Monroe or the surrounding area because of someone’s careless actions, call us now for your free consultation! We take all our cases on a contingency fee basis, so you will not owe us a dime unless we win your case. We are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, so call us today at 800-898-4877 or contact us now by clicking here.