If you were injured due to someone else's negligence — especially if medical treatment, lost income, or lasting harm is involved — yes. Insurance companies are staffed with adjusters and attorneys whose job is to pay you as little as possible. Having an attorney levels that playing field and ensures nothing is missed, waived, or settled for less than it's worth.

No. When an insurance company tells you that you don't need an attorney, that's the clearest sign that you do. Insurers make more money when claimants handle cases alone. They know unrepresented people accept lower offers, miss deadlines, and give statements that hurt their own claims. There is no scenario where it benefits you to take legal advice from the company that profits by paying you less.

Yes. Everything you share with Justin Reese Law Group is protected by attorney-client privilege from the moment of your first consultation — even if you don't ultimately hire us. Your information cannot be shared with the other side, insurers, or anyone else without your consent.

A contingency fee means you pay nothing unless your attorney wins your case. Legal fees are taken as a percentage of the final recovery — not billed by the hour, not charged upfront. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fees. It's how Justin Reese Law Group handles every personal injury case.

Most personal injury cases resolve through settlement negotiations before a lawsuit is ever filed. A lawsuit becomes necessary when the insurance company denies your claim, refuses to offer fair compensation, or when the one-year deadline in Louisiana is approaching. Filing a lawsuit doesn't mean going to trial — it means you're serious about getting what you deserve.

The vast majority of personal injury cases — over 90% — resolve through settlement rather than trial. That said, the strength of your settlement depends heavily on how well your case is prepared. Insurance companies pay more when they know an attorney is ready to take the case to court if necessary. Preparation and credibility drive settlement value as much as the facts themselves.

One year from the date of the injury. Louisiana's prescriptive period is one of the shortest in the country, and courts rarely grant exceptions. If you were hurt anywhere in the Greater New Orleans area or Southeast Louisiana, do not wait.

Yes. Louisiana's pure comparative fault rule allows you to recover even if you were 50% or more at fault — your damages are simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers routinely try to inflate your share of fault to reduce what they owe. An attorney protects against that tactic.

One year from the date of the crash. Whether your accident happened on I-10, the Westbank Expressway, or a side street in Gretna, the clock starts the day of the collision.

Don't say you weren't hurt, don't speculate about fault, and don't minimize your symptoms. Your own insurer has an interest in paying as little as possible. Stick to basic facts — date, location, vehicles involved — and let your attorney handle all further communications.

Louisiana has high rates of uninsured drivers. If the at-fault driver has no coverage, your own uninsured motorist (UM) policy may cover your damages. UM coverage in Louisiana is broad — an attorney can help you maximize that claim even when the other driver can't pay.

Yes. Delayed-onset injuries like whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue damage are common and legally recognized. Seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear and document the timeline clearly. Gaps in care can be used against you — don't wait to see a doctor.

Liability rarely stops with the driver. The trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance contractor, or parts manufacturer may each bear responsibility. Every one of them will have attorneys working to limit their exposure immediately after the crash. You need someone doing the same for you from day one.

The truck's electronic logging device, black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, cargo manifests, and the trucking company's hiring and training records are all critical. Some of this data is routinely overwritten within days. Getting legal representation early is essential to preserve it before it disappears.

If a mechanical failure — brake failure, tire blowout, steering defect — contributed to the crash, the parts manufacturer or maintenance company may be liable in addition to the carrier. These product liability claims can significantly increase your total recovery beyond what the trucking company's insurance alone would cover.

Settlements range widely. Minor crashes may resolve for tens of thousands. Serious injuries — fractures, head trauma, road rash requiring surgery, or fatalities — can result in six- or seven-figure recoveries. The value depends on injury severity, available insurance coverage, and fault allocation.

Don't remove your helmet if there's any chance of a spinal injury. Don't admit fault. Don't delay medical care — adrenaline masks serious injuries. Don't post about the accident on social media. Don't give the other driver's insurer a statement before consulting an attorney.

Louisiana requires helmets for all riders. Not wearing one can affect your comparative fault percentage and limit recovery for head injuries specifically. It does not automatically bar your claim, but it is a factor the insurer will raise. An attorney can help manage that issue effectively.

Yes, but claims against government entities in Louisiana follow specific procedural rules and may require a notice of claim before a lawsuit can be filed. Missing these steps can permanently forfeit your right to recover. An attorney familiar with Louisiana public entity claims is essential — do not try to navigate this alone.

Whiplash, back and spinal injuries, head trauma, broken bones, and soft-tissue injuries are most common — particularly because buses have no seat belts and passengers are often standing. Even a sudden stop can cause serious injury sufficient to support a legal claim.

Yes. Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver, you may have a claim. Coverage depends on the driver's status in the app at the time — logged off, waiting for a ride, or actively transporting a passenger. Passenger coverage can reach $1 million per incident.

If the driver was actively on a trip, Uber's $1 million liability policy applies. If the driver was waiting for a ride request, a lower coverage tier applies. Uber and Lyft will push toward the lower tier whenever possible. An attorney ensures the right policy is applied and that you receive the maximum available coverage.

Yes. Both companies and their insurers actively work to minimize payouts — disputing injury severity, app status at the time of the crash, and fault allocation. Having an attorney handle all communications prevents the company from taking advantage of an unrepresented claimant.

In crashes between cyclists and motor vehicles, the driver is at fault the majority of the time — failure to yield, dooring, distracted driving, and unsafe passing are the most common causes. Louisiana's pure comparative fault system means even shared fault doesn't eliminate your right to recover.

Dooring — opening a car door into the path of a cyclist — is considered negligent under Louisiana law. The driver or vehicle occupant who opens the door bears responsibility for injuries caused. These crashes are common in New Orleans neighborhoods with dense street parking.

You may have a claim against the City of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, or Louisiana DOTD. Government liability claims have strict notice requirements and shorter deadlines than standard personal injury claims. Act fast and consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Catastrophic injuries result in permanent or long-term disability that fundamentally changes a person's ability to live, work, or function independently — spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and loss of vision or hearing.

They require accounting for lifetime medical costs, ongoing care needs, future lost earning capacity, loss of quality of life, and the impact on family members. These cases demand more thorough investigation, more expert testimony, and a law firm willing to invest the resources necessary to pursue full compensation.

In Louisiana, family members may have claims for loss of consortium — the loss of companionship, support, and services that result from the injured person's condition. These claims run alongside the primary injury claim and can add meaningful value to the overall recovery.

Mild TBIs with full recovery may settle modestly. Moderate to severe TBIs with lasting cognitive, physical, or emotional effects can result in recoveries worth hundreds of thousands to millions. The amount depends on the permanence of symptoms, impact on work and daily life, and the projected cost of future care.

TBIs often don't show up on standard imaging. Insurers routinely argue symptoms are exaggerated or caused by pre-existing conditions. Strong medical documentation, neuropsychological testing, and expert testimony are essential to establishing the injury and its long-term impact.

No. TBI symptoms often evolve over months or years. Settling before the full picture of recovery is clear can permanently forfeit your right to compensation for future medical care and long-term disability. Justin Reese Law Group advises clients not to settle until the medical prognosis is fully established.

Yes. Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321 imposes strict liability on dog owners — you generally don't need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Compensation can include medical treatment, surgery, scar revision, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.

Yes. Louisiana's strict liability standard does not require proof of a dangerous propensity or prior bites. The owner is responsible simply by virtue of owning the dog that caused the injury. This is more protective than the "one bite rule" used in many other states.

The Jones Act gives seamen — workers who spend a substantial part of their employment on a vessel in navigation — the right to sue their employer for negligence. It provides significantly broader protections than standard workers' compensation. Whether you qualify depends on your specific job duties and vessel assignments.

Maintenance and cure, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and compensation for permanent disability. In cases of willful employer negligence, punitive damages may also apply — damages not available under standard workers' compensation.

The Jones Act has a three-year statute of limitations. General maritime law claims may have different deadlines. Claims involving government vessels may have shorter windows. Consult an attorney quickly after your injury to protect all available deadlines.

Claims under the Jones Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), or general maritime law — all separate from workers' compensation and potentially resulting in significantly higher recoveries. Justin Reese Law Group handles offshore injury claims throughout the Gulf region.

Retaliation against workers who report injuries or file claims is illegal under federal maritime law. If you experienced retaliation after reporting an injury, that may give rise to an additional claim against your employer on top of your injury case.

Under the Jones Act, employer liability extends to injuries caused by coworkers' negligence. You don't need to prove the employer was directly at fault — negligence by any crew member is legally attributed to the employer, making recovery significantly more accessible for injured offshore workers.

Yes. Chemical burns from workplace accidents, industrial explosions, or defective products can support claims against employers, plant operators, or chemical manufacturers. Louisiana's refinery corridor — from the New Orleans area through the River Parishes — sees a disproportionate share of these incidents.

Yes. If a third party — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or chemical supplier — contributed to the accident, you may pursue a tort claim against them while also receiving workers' compensation benefits. These parallel claims can significantly increase your total recovery beyond what workers' comp alone provides.

Toxic exposure claims — involving respiratory damage, neurological harm, or cancer caused by long-term chemical exposure — are equally compensable. These cases often require environmental and medical experts to establish causation between the exposure and the health condition.

Failure to provide required care resulting in harm — untreated bedsores, medication errors, falls from inadequate supervision, malnutrition, dehydration, and failure to maintain basic hygiene. Louisiana law provides specific protections for residents, and facilities that violate those standards can be held liable.

Unexplained bruises or injuries, sudden weight loss, poor hygiene, fearfulness around staff, social withdrawal, unexplained financial transactions, and bedsores that worsen despite reported treatment. If you notice these signs in a loved one at a New Orleans-area facility, trust your instincts and seek legal advice immediately.

One year from the date the abuse or neglect was discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered. In cases involving ongoing neglect, the timeline can be complex. Contact Justin Reese Law Group as soon as you have concerns — delay can affect your ability to recover.

A property owner's legal responsibility for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property. In Louisiana, owners owe a duty of reasonable care to lawful visitors. If they knew or should have known about a hazard and failed to fix it, they may be liable for resulting injuries.

You must show the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to address it. Louisiana Revised Statute 9:2800.6 sets the specific burden for merchant premises — requiring proof that the condition existed long enough that the owner should have discovered it.

Surveillance footage, incident reports, and maintenance logs can establish what happened and how long the hazard existed. Request that the business preserve its footage immediately — most systems overwrite within 30 days. An attorney can send a preservation letter on your behalf to protect that evidence.

The surviving spouse, children, parents, and siblings — in that order of priority under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2. If a higher-priority family member exists, lower-priority relatives generally cannot bring the claim.

Grief, loss of love and companionship, loss of financial support, loss of services, and the mental anguish of surviving family members. The survival action separately recovers the deceased's own pain, suffering, and medical expenses between the injury and death — both claims are typically filed together.

One year from the date of death. Medical malpractice wrongful death claims have different procedural rules, but the standard deadline is strict. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after losing a loved one due to someone else's negligence.

Workers' compensation may provide death benefits, but if a third party — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — contributed to the fatality, a separate tort claim may be available. These third-party claims can significantly exceed workers' compensation benefits and should always be explored.