Lafayette Personal Injury Law Blog

Even though it should be enough that a Louisiana resident has been injured in a car accident to receive compensation for his or her injuries, but this is unfortunately not the case. The accident victim has the burden of proof. This means they have to gather the evidence supporting their claim of negligence against the other driver and present it in a manner that demonstrates that they were responsible. The more evidence there is, the better the chances of getting a settlement to cover the property, physical and emotional damage done by the accident.

The process begins soon after the accident. Witnesses forget what they saw and skid marks fade, which is why accident victims should work quickly to gather it necessary proof. For example, getting eyewitness contact information to ensure one knows how to contact them is very helpful. Taking pictures of the accident scene to document the damage, the position of the vehicles and the skid marks on the roads can be used to show speed at the time of the crash, direction of the crash and information about braking. The police report also is a valuable source of information during a trial.

Last week's Louisiana post highlighted the dangers of distracted driving, an activity commonly practiced on roadways despite so much awareness being created around the hazard. As mentioned, teens are more likely to engage in the risky behavior, never considering the fact that a tragic accident can take place in the blink of an eye.

It is possible to hold the distracted driver accountable for their actions through a civil lawsuit, but to be successful, certain legal requirements must be met, such as proving one's case. That often ends up becoming difficult -- how does one prove that a driver was not paying attention on the road when they were driving? One way to accomplish this is by engaging experienced lawyers, such as those at Tauzin and Lorio Attorneys at Law.

Thousands of people in Louisiana and other states are part of class-action lawsuits against the manufacturers of IVC filters. If you experience medical problems after receiving such an implant, you might seek answers to several questions. If your blood forms clots, they could travel to the heart or lungs and cause deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolisms. The typical treatment would be a prescription for anticoagulants that would thin the blood to prevent blood clots. Sometimes, the blood thinners do not work, and this is where IVC filters come in.

The IVC filter is a tiny, cone-shaped device that allows blood to flow but captures blood clots, and it is placed in the largest vein in a person's body -- the inferior vena cava. The most modern of these devices are retrievable.

Research suggests that one in five patients experience a medical error. This could explain why 55 percent of 4,000 medical professionals across more than 25 specialties surveyed admitted that they had been sued. Half of those who had been sued also claimed it was not the first time they faced more than one lawsuit.

Louisiana obstetrics, gynecologists and surgeons were those most likely to be sued. Each field accounted for 85 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits. This could be because birth trauma has the potential to limit the life of a child, even before it has begun and is especially difficult for parents. A recent medical malpractice case illustrates this as the lawsuit claims the 11-year-old child has been left disabled after a series of medical errors during his 2007 birth.