Frequently Asked Questions
When you are suddenly thrown into a situation that may only be resolved in the legal system, the process can seem exceedingly complicated and intimidating. Whether you are up against federal charges of white collar crime or struggling to recover from a catastrophic accident, it is safe to assume that you have a lot on your mind right now. As you begin to move forward with your situation in Baton Rouge, you will likely need to have a number of questions about your rights and options answered by legal counsel. With that in mind, we have provided answers to questions that people in situations like your own have found to be helpful.
If there is anything our firm in Baton Rouge can do for you, or if there any additional questions you would like to have answered about your particular case, please call our offices at (225) 650-7400 today.
- What can I recover compensation for with my catastrophic injury claim?
- Should I just pursue my personal injury claim on my own?
- Will it be possible to file a claim if I was partially at fault?
- Can I be convicted on conspiracy charges if I didn’t actually do anything myself?
- What should I know about my federal white collar criminal charges?
What can I recover compensation for with my catastrophic injury claim?
Though every case will have its own unique set of circumstances, there are a few things that just about every personal injury claim will seek to recover compensation for. Aside from the medical and rehabilitative care you have had and may continue to require, personal injury claims may be used to further seek compensation for any loss of income, any diminishment in your quality of your life, or any property damages that are related to the catastrophic accident. In any case, our Baton Rouge team may work closely with you to assess the full extent of all the damages related to your accident before we help you take legal action against the responsible party.
Should I just pursue my personal injury claim on my own?
Though you certainly may be able to represent your own interests as you pursue your personal injury claim, you ought to take a moment to seriously consider all of your options before you do so. Since there is likely to be so much at stake for you and your family in this case, you need to make sure that you take every precaution to provide yourself with the best opportunity for a successful outcome to your claim. There’s a very good chance that our Baton Rouge attorneys have handled cases like your own in the past, and we will know the best moves to make in order to protect your interests.
Will it be possible to file a claim if I was partially at fault?
Since liability is determined under a pure comparative system in our state, you may be able to recover compensation for your catastrophic injury even if you were partially responsible for the accident itself. However, the amount of compensation you will be able to recover will directly reflect the degree to which you are found to be responsible for the accident. For instance, if you were 40% responsible for a catastrophic car accident, you would only be able to recover 60% of the total damages that are awarded in your case.
Can I be convicted on conspiracy charges if I didn’t actually do anything myself?
All that federal prosecutors need in order to convict you on federal conspiracy charges is that you conspired with one or more people about a federal crime that was eventually attempted by any member of the alleged conspirators. With that in mind, prosecutors will not have any obligation to prove that you overtly engaged in any criminal act other than conspiring about the crime in order to convict you of conspiracy. To make matters somewhat murkier, prosecutors do not necessarily need any physical evidence that you conspired—such as written correspondence—to pursue these charges against you. These charges are serious and you should retain representation as early on in the legal process as you can for the best possible results from your case.
What should I know about my federal white collar criminal charges?
Governmental agencies with federal jurisdiction have seemingly unlimited resources to investigate and prosecute those individuals they suspect of committing white collar crimes. With that in mind, there is a very good chance that the investigating agency has already dedicated considerable resources to your case by the time you are aware that you are even suspected of engaging in any activity that may be considered illegal. The outcome of your case is likely to have a significant effect on you and your family; as such, it is critical that you enlist the help of an attorney who will work to protect your rights and dismantle each and every aspect of the case against you.
How long will I have to file my personal injury claim?
Generally speaking, personal injury claims in Louisiana must be filed within a single year after the injury has been discovered. If you do not file your claim within this period of time—otherwise known as the statute of limitations—there is very little chance that you will be able to recover any compensation at all. Bearing that in mind, accident victims should be aware that the statute of limitations for personal injury claims only come into effect at the moment they become aware, or should have reasonably been aware, of their injury.
Why are investigators contacting me about my BP claim?
The Department of Justice has been actively monitoring claims submitted to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility for compensation from the dedicated fund set aside for victims of the Deepwater Horizon spill. Bearing that in mind, the only reason that investigators with the Department of Justice would be contacting you about your claim is if they believe that you have attempted to defraud the fund. Since so much could potentially be at stake for you and your family in this type of situation, you need to speak with an experienced attorney about the particulars of your case, regardless of the actual legitimacy of your situation.
What should I do if federal investigators contact me about a white collar crime?
By the time federal investigators make you aware of their investigation, you should expect that the investigating agency will have already dedicated considerable resources to the case. Given the strong possibility that investigators are simply looking for you to confess to the crime they believe you committed, you should exercise your right to say nothing to investigators, regardless of what they tell or promise you. Rather, you should immediately contact a skilled white collar criminal defense attorney who will have the experience and the resources to defend your rights and protect your future.
What constitutes wire fraud?
Any effort that law enforcement believes is intended to defraud others of property or money through the means of electronic communications may be charged as wire fraud. In the last few years, wire fraud charges have been pursued more regularly by federal prosecutors who are attempting to crack down on internet fraud. If federal investigators have contacted you about some alleged scheme to commit wire fraud, there is a very good chance that you will be in for a long, difficult legal battle in the near future. That being said, you should exercise your right to silence and contact an attorney who can represent you as soon as possible.
What kind of documentation could help my personal injury claim?
Just about any piece of evidence that you can collect that corroborates your claim will be advantageous to you when it comes time to seek out compensation for your injuries. Bearing that in mind, you should be sure that you have a copy of the police report from the accident, copies of any and all eyewitness accounts of the accident, and copies of all the bills for all the medical care you have undergone. Though it will be helpful to have this evidence ready to go right away, your attorney will be able to tell you exactly what evidence you need to collect.
What can you do to protect me from federal white collar criminal charges?
Our team includes a former federal prosecutor and a former U.S. Attorney who can help you anticipate how your case will be tried in the federal court system. It is with this kind of insight that our team can help you build a comprehensive legal defense that is designed to challenge each aspect of the federal white collar charges that have been leveled against you. Though this is sure to be a troubling time for you and your family, our team can help you assert as much control over your current situation as possible so that we will have the best opportunity to defend you throughout the coming legal battle.