This Personal Injury webpage was developed to help
personal injury victims understand their rights, the
law, and the types of compensation available in
personal injury cases. If you have been injured by
another person or corporation, or have lost a loved
one due to another's negligence, you may be entitled
to monetary compensation. Our
Louisiana injury attorneys have
successfully represented many personal injury
clients throughout Louisiana, ensuring that they
receive the fairest settlement and maximum award
available for the harm they have suffered.
At Babcock Law Firm, we
believe that those responsible for injuring innocent
people must be held accountable for their actions.
Whether we're litigating reckless or negligent
individuals, fighting large corporations who ignore
the safety of consumers, or negotiating with
insurance companies - we aggressively pursue justice
for our clients. Our clients depend on our uncommon
insight and a common sense approach to solving legal
problems.
According to The
National Center for Injury Protection and Control,
an estimated 31 million people are injured in
accidents every year. As many as 90,000 people die
each year as a result of these injuries. Personal
injury victims suffer physical pain and mental
trauma that may be permanent and life-changing. The
following highlights some of the leading causes of
personal injury claims:
Vioxx
There are more than 6,500 lawsuits filed against
Merck & Co., maker of the popular arthritis drug
Vioxx, and each one of those lawsuits accuses the
drug maker of failing to inform public health
authorities of the heart risks and other serious
side effects that can occur in patients on Vioxx.
More than 1 million Americans were taking Vioxx when
Merck & Co. withdrew it from the market on September
30, 2004. It has been cited for raising the risk of
cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause
of death in the United States. However, proof of
that did not come until five years after the drug
was licensed and three years after the first hints
of a problem.
Click here for more
information on Vioxx Dangers.
Click here for
recent news on Vioxx.
Railroad
Crossing Accidents
While railroad crossing deaths have fallen in recent
years, there was a 22% increase in crossing-related
deaths in 2004. It has been estimated that one
person dies daily at U.S. crossings and more than
twice as many people have been killed at grade
crossings as have died in commercial plane crashes.
Last year more than 3,000 accidents occurred at
grade crossings.
Click
here for more information on railroad crossing
accidents.
"Slip and Fall"
Accidents
Those businesses and individuals who fail in their
legal duty to provide a reasonably safe condition of
property or do not provide adequate warning that
conditions may be unsafe are considered "negligent"
under the law. Premises liability covers a
comprehensive range of suits for injuries caused by
a property owner's failure to warn, maintain and
correct situations on public and private premises.
Improperly maintained or unsafe property; violent
crime resulting from inadequate security and dog
bites from unrestrained animals are all examples of
injuries that occur because of property owners'
negligent behavior.
Unsafe or
Dangerous Products
Thousands of people are injured or die each year
because of dangerous products - from automobiles to
insulation to medical devices to pharmaceutical
drugs and supplements. If you have been injured,
suffer ill health, or have lost someone because of a
dangerous or defective product, or inadequate safety
warning labels, the manufacturer may be liable for
damages. These types of claims are known as product
liability suits. Everyday there are product recalls
due to safety and design issues in medical devices,
motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, children's toys and
pajamas, and even the food we eat.
Medical
Malpractice
Medical malpractice is the result of a health care
provider's failure to provide the expected standard
of care. Some of the most common ways that medical
malpractice occurs is through failure or errors in
timely diagnosis and ordering appropriate treatment,
failure to order necessary tests and proper
medication, failure to consult with specialists; and
errors in surgical mistakes.
Vehicle Accidents
In vehicle mishaps, injuries may occur because of
the negligence or failure of a vehicle operator to
exercise due care, which resulted in an accident,
injury or death. Other types of vehicle accidents
involve tractor-trailers, motorcycles, recreational
vehicles, and public transportation such as planes,
buses, boats and trains.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death refers to a fatality that occurs
because of the negligence or misdeeds of another
person, corporation or entity. Consideration is
given to the earnings the deceased would have
provided to their family had they lived and the
amount of financial compensation is awarded to
survivors based on this monetary loss. Survivors may
also receive damages for medical and funeral
expenses for the victim, estate administration
expenses, survivor's emotional pain, suffering, and
punitive damages (intentional harm judged to be
exemplary).
In order to win a
personal injury claim, the negligence of another
individual or entity must be proven. Babcock Law
Firm has the skills and resources necessary to
investigate and prove the required elements of
negligence:
-
the defendant had a
duty to you;
- the defendant
failed in that duty; and
- you were injured
because of the defendants' breach of duty and
damages directly resulted from the injury.
In addition to
proving liability, you must also prove damages.
Mental and physical pain and economic loss,
including medical expenses and future earnings are
some of the factors that influence damage awards. As
an experienced firm, we know how to accurately
assess the dollar value of your claim based on your
injury and our familiarity with the justice system
and damage awards.
A skilled personal
injury attorney at Babcock Law Firm will act as your
representative to insurance companies and others
involved in the claims process. Remember, the
insurance company's goal is to minimize payouts, so
it is important that you not communicate with the
other party's insurance representatives until you
have consulted with our attorneys to help ensure
that you receive the maximum damages available in
your claim.
At Babcock Law Firm,
we understand that a good settlement or damage award
can make a positive difference in people's lives. If
you feel that you are a victim of a preventable
injury, or that someone you love has died because of
another's negligence, call our
lawyers today. Louisiana
provides a limited time window in which to file a
claim. Do not risk losing your right to fair
compensation and justice. Call the Babcock Law Firm
at 866-309-0911 or contact us via our online
contact
form.
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