If you are injured due to another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. Louisiana divides personal injury damages into three general categories: special, general, and punitive. It is essential that you understand what types of damages you can recover and how they are calculated.
You need an experienced Lafayette personal injury attorney with a proven record of success to protect your rights and help you recover the maximum compensation. At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers have the skills, experience, and resources to thoroughly investigate your accident, identify causation and liability, build your strongest case, and help you secure the full value of your damages.
Call (337) 233-3366 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.
Special Damages in a Louisiana Personal Injury Case
Special damages are also known as economic damages. They are easier to prove and value than general damages because they are objective in nature. You typically have receipts, invoices, or estimates for special damages. Special damages include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost wages
- Property damages
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
- Other financial losses and expenses incurred due to your accident
General Damages in a Louisiana Personal Injury Case
General damages are also referred to as non-economic damages. They are more challenging to prove and accurately value because they are subjective. However, they are often even more devastating to injury victims than special damages. General damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Other intangible losses and costs incurred due to your accident
You should never accept a settlement offer until you know the actual value of your damages. At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, we often work with medical, economic, and other industry experts to help establish and accurately value your current and future economic and non-economic damages so you know what a fair settlement of your claim would be.
When Punitive Damages Could Be Awarded in a Louisiana Personal Injury Case
In rare cases, you could be awarded punitive damages in addition to special and general damages. However, as outlined in Louisiana Civil Code Article 3546, punitive damages may only be awarded in Louisiana when expressly authorized.
For example, if your injuries are caused by a drunk driver, the Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.4 permits an award of punitive damages.
At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, our Louisiana personal injury attorneys aggressively pursue all available types of damages and work to maximize your compensation.
How Damages Are Calculated in Louisiana Personal Injury Cases
General and special damages are determined by numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries, how long your recovery takes, the strength of your case, and the availability of insurance proceeds or other assets to pay your damages.
Our attorneys work diligently to identify and prove the existence and value of all your damages to help secure the full value of your claim. We also thoroughly examine the facts of your case to identify all possible causes and potentially liable parties, helping ensure that all available sources of compensation are held accountable.
Contact Anderson Blanda & Saltzman Today
If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, we want to help you recover every dollar you are entitled to. Call us today at (337) 233-3366 or visit our contact and schedule a free consultation.