Lafayette Louisiana Personal Injury Law blog

Motor vehicle accidents: Was your car run off the road?

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, April 3, 2020.

Having one's vehicle run off the road due to the actions of another driver can be a frightening experience. Sadly, this happens to more people in Louisiana and elsewhere than one might think. Victims of such incidents often end up crashing their cars, suffering injuries as a result. When motor vehicle accidents like this occur, the victims may feel they have no legal recourse, but that may not be the case.

In many cases involving cars being run off the road, the individuals responsible fail to remain at the scene. There could be several reasons for this, such as they were not paying attention and were unaware they had done anything wrong, or it was an act of road rage and they don't want to face the consequences of their actions. Regardless, leaving the scene of a crash, even if one's vehicle failed to come in contact with the victim's car physically, is considered a hit-and-run and has criminal consequences.

Louisiana wrongful death: Motorcyclist killed in wreck

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in wrongful death on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Lake Charles Police are in the process of investigating a recent crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist. This accident occurred March 23 on Nelson Road. If driver negligence is believed a contributing factor in this case, the victim's surviving family members may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim in a Louisiana civil court.

According to reports, just before 7 p.m., the victim was operating his vehicle southbound on Nelson Road when a car turned left out of a Kroger parking lot directly in front of him. The motorcyclist had no time to react and collided with the vehicle. Sadly, he died at the scene of the crash.

Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19: Three Ways to Protect Your Rights Amid Uncertainty

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

Many business insureds have heard the insurance companies' latest mantra that:

· business losses suffered in connection with the recent responses to COVID-19 are not covered by policies with business interruption coverage;

· such losses are not caused by the type of physical damage required to file a successful claim; and

· exclusions for losses in connection with viruses are ironclad.

Certainly, there will be opposition by carriers to recovering business interruption losses in connection with COVID-19, and we expect insurance companies to swiftly deny such claims. The legality of such denials is not, however, as certain as insurance companies would have you believe. In addition to filing a proof of loss and a claim with their insurer, insureds can take the following three actions today to best protect their rights.

Daylight saving time causes an increase in car accidents

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, March 20, 2020.

Daylight saving time took effect on March 8, and many Louisiana residents are still struggling to adjust to the time change. Springing forward an hour may be something everyone knows to expect this time of year, but knowing it is coming doesn't make it easy on the body. Daylight saving time is known to cause various problems. It is even known to cause an increase in car accidents.

There are several health problems that researchers have seen, following the start of daylight saving time. First is an increase in blood pressure. Second is a higher rate of heart attacks in the first week of the change. Finally, third is an increase in fatigue. The last one, in particular, may be what contributes to the highest rate of auto accidents seen this time of year, because when people are tired, they make poor decisions when behind the wheel -- they may even fall asleep.

How long do you have to bring a bad faith insurance claim?

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Insurance companies want people to trust them, as that trust can lead people to inaction when a company fails to make good on their contractual obligations to policyholders in a bad faith insurance denial. Insurance companies love to advertise in ways that make them look like caring and concerned corporate entities, when, in reality, they have a profit motive for denying people adequate compensation under their policies.

That profit motive is one reason why the insurance companies that operate both in Louisiana and across the United States are subject to state and federal regulations that mandate how they handle claims related to legitimate policies. Companies have a legal obligation to pay on legitimate claims brought under the terms of the policy that a customer paid for.

Birth injury, among other things, may cause CP

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in birth injury on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Becoming a parent can be an exciting, albeit scary thing. Everyone hopes that their children will enter the world healthy, but it doesn't always happen. Some children are born with congenital issues that can affect their quality of life and lifespan; other children acquire injuries during or shortly after birth. Take Cerebral Palsy; it can be a congenital issue or acquired. If it is acquired as the result of a birth injury, parents in Louisiana may be entitled to seek relief for themselves and their children.

It is believed that most CP cases are of the congenital type. The cause of this form of CP can be challenging to pinpoint, but there are some things that experts believe may contribute to such cases. A few of them are:

Premature birth
Low birth weight
Mother experiencing fever or infection during pregnancy
Mother's overall health
Infertility treatments

Who can be held responsible for maritime injuries?

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in admiralty & maritime law on Friday, March 6, 2020.

Louisiana has hundreds of miles of coastline. As such, numerous residents and visitors to the state spend a great deal of time working or playing offshore. Unfortunately, every year, several people suffer injuries while doing so. When maritime injuries occur, who can be held responsible?

If you are one of the many Louisiana residents who works in shipping, fishing or oil, and you suffered an injury on the job, there are specific laws that have been passed to protect you. These laws act as workers' compensation for maritime workers. You can read more about these laws by visiting our firm's website. Your employer may also be held accountable for your losses, as may any of your co-workers who contributed to your injuries.

Motor vehicle accidents: 2 killed, 2 injured in recent wreck

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, February 28, 2020.

Police in Louisiana are in the process of investigating a crash that left two people dead and two others injured. This incident occurred in St. John The Baptist Parish on Monday, Feb. 24. Motor vehicle accidents with results like this one leave surviving victims and family members of the deceased with a lot of questions. If negligence contributed to this tragic event, these individuals may seek compensation for their losses through legal means.

According to reports, a 27-year-old woman of Baton Rouge was driving her vehicle eastbound on Interstate 10 when a pickup truck struck her from behind. The woman, who was pregnant with twins, died in the wreck, as did her 7-year-old son. A male passenger and his 3-year-old boy suffered injuries in the collision and were taken to a local medical facility for treatment. Their current conditions are unknown.

This one thing can help prevent teen-involved car accidents

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, February 21, 2020.

Numerous Louisiana teenagers drive themselves to school every single day. Sadly, many have been or will be involved in car accidents while doing so. According to a recent study, there is one thing that can help prevent teen-involved car accidents -- sleep.

A study out of Boston Children's Hospital found that allowing teenagers to sleep in greatly reduced the number of collisions involving 16- to 18-year-olds. The study looked at two years' worth of driving statistics in an area of the country that changed its school starting time to 8:30 a.m., giving teenagers an extra hour of sleep. Statistics showed that the number of accidents in this area and with this age group fell significantly.

Claiming compensation after being injured as a restaurant worker

On behalf of Gaar Law Firm on Monday, February 17, 2020.

The majority of workers in the United States have the right to gain compensation if they become injured, and restaurant workers are no exception. However, you must take action to gain workers' compensation within a certain time frame if you want to be successful. This is why you must understand how the law applies in the state in which you were injured.

The following article will focus on workers' compensation law as it applies to restaurant and bar workers in Louisiana. By reading this article, you will be better informed of your rights and how you can effectively take action to gain the workers' compensation that you deserve.