If you are the victim of a crime, you may have sustained serious injuries. If so, hopefully, the criminal justice system did its job, and the perpetrator is now suffering the consequences of their choices. While that may give you comfort, it doesn’t help you pay your medical bills.
When you’re injured because of the criminal actions of another person, you have the right to hold them accountable in civil court in addition to their criminal charges. Our New Orleans crime victim lawyers can help you get compensation for medical care, lost wages, and other damages.
Our team at Cueria Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and awards for injured victims in Louisiana. Call today to schedule a free consultation and find out how our New Orleans personal injury lawyers can assist you.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
There is a lot of emotion when you’re the victim of a crime. You could have sustained serious injuries as a result of the criminal’s actions, or they may have cost you time away from work. In some cases, the pain and suffering you’ve endured because of them can feel unbearable.
You can potentially recover compensation for those damages and others with the help of a skilled attorney. In most cases, that means filing a civil lawsuit. Sometimes, as with drunk driving accidents, you may be able to file a claim with an insurance company.
Our New Orleans crime victim attorneys can assess your situation and offer advice on how to pursue compensation. We can file your claim or lawsuit, manage the paperwork, ensure you meet important deadlines, and help you avoid common mistakes that can sink your case.
Establishing Liability
Your attorneys will investigate the incident to understand how the crime occurred and who was involved. We may review police reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, and other evidence. We want to know who is liable for your damages.
If someone has been charged with a crime related to your injuries, it may seem obvious that they are at fault; however, there could be others. Your attorney will identify all potentially liable parties to maximize your compensation. This could include:
- Employers, if they failed to supervise or properly screen dangerous employees
- Property owners or managers, if they didn’t provide adequate security or address unsafe conditions
- Schools, churches, or daycares that ignore or fail to prevent abuse or misconduct
- Parents or guardians of a minor child involved in criminal activity who failed to take action
- Security companies that did not perform their duties correctly and enabled the crime
- Businesses that were aware of criminal activity on the premises and did nothing about it
Damages for Crime Victims
Through a civil lawsuit or insurance claim, our crime victim lawyers in New Orleans can help you seek damages for the hardships you suffered due to criminal actions. While every case is different, this can include:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the expenses and costs you suffered because of your injury, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income or earning capacity
- Property damage or loss
- Funeral and burial expenses
Non-Economic Damages
The emotional, social, and psychological damages caused by the criminal are considered non-economic because they are not attached to a specific dollar amount. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
Punitive Damages
While rare in Louisiana, in some cases, a court may award punitive damages on top of compensatory damages to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
Restitution
A criminal court may order restitution to compel the plaintiff to repay their victims. This does not prevent you from bringing a civil lawsuit. Civil damages are separate and can go beyond restitution.
Crime Victim Reparations in Louisiana
Crime Victim Reparations in Louisiana provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes who suffer physical or emotional harm. The Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement manages the program, and it’s funded through court fees and offender fines rather than taxpayer money.
Qualifying victims may be eligible for compensation to cover crime-related medical expenses, mental health counseling, funeral costs, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the crime. However, the program does not cover pain and suffering or property loss.
While it doesn’t replace a civil lawsuit or insurance claim, Louisiana’s Crime Victim Reparations Fund can offer critical financial relief, especially when the offender lacks assets or can’t be identified. It is still a good idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer.
Talk to a New Orleans Crime Victim Attorney
When criminals hurt innocent people, it’s not enough that they pay the price with fines or prison time. They must be civilly accountable for the devastation they have caused.
If you are a victim of a crime and you have sustained real damages due to the action of another person, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit or, in some cases, a claim with their insurance provider. Our New Orleans crime victim attorneys will be with you every step of the way.
Call today to schedule your free consultation and tell us what happened.
