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Your Slidell Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Louisiana most injury claims must be filed within two years (La. Civil Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423, eff. July 1, 2024), for delictual (tort) actions arising on or after July 1, 2024). The trial court for St. Tammany Parish sits in Covington, at 701 N. Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
An injury changes the pace of your days. Medical visits, paperwork and worry about money can crowd out everything else. If you were hurt in Slidell because of another person’s actions, this page explains how Louisiana treats injury claims so you can plan your next step.
A quick note on what this page is: general information about Louisiana injury law, written from the statutes, from a matching service that does not practice law. It is meant to help you ask good questions, not to decide your case.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Slidell Attorney
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- The deadline. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file for your claim. The general limit for injury claims in Louisiana is two years (La. Civil Code art. 3493.1).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Louisiana.
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame (La. Civil Code art. 2323(A)(2)).
- Who will work on it. Ask who handles your file day to day and how fast messages are answered.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
Kinds of Injury Claims
Vehicle crashes
Vehicle injuries start with the same few steps: medical care first, then photographs of the scene, names and numbers of anyone who saw it, the other driver’s insurance information and any estimates for repairs.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
A collision on foot or on a bicycle is easy to dispute afterward. Record where it happened, what the road and signals were like, and who saw it, and keep any damaged clothing, helmet or equipment.
Falls and unsafe property
Slips, trips and falls come from spills, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and broken stairs. What matters is who controlled the place and how long the problem was there, so document the hazard and tell the owner or manager promptly.
Wrongful death
When a death is caused by someone else’s wrongful act or neglect, the claim works differently from an injury claim. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules in Louisiana; ask an attorney which date applies (La. Civil Code art. 2315.2(A)). This is a hard moment to decide anything, and an attorney can walk you through the steps without hurrying you.
Injured in Slidell? Get matched with an attorney now.
Your Own Share Of The Blame
A person who is fifty percent at fault or less can still recover in Louisiana. La. Civil Code art. 2323(A)(2) sets the rule.
You can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred, and a few narrow statutory exceptions can also bar a claim, for claims arising on or after January 1, 2026 (La. Civil Code art. 2323(A)(2)). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
Is There A Ceiling On The Award
The amount of an award in Louisiana turns on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects. How fault is assigned can also change the amount.
Lasting effects and missed work are part of what is proved. A separate rule covers punitive damages (La. Civil Code art. 2315.4).
Filing Deadlines For Injury Claims
The general time limit for an injury claim in Louisiana is two years (La. Civil Code art. 3493.1).
A wrongful death claim follows its own rules, so ask which date applies (La. Civil Code art. 2315.2(A)). The type of claim decides the date, so do not wait.
Why Policy Limits Matter
Louisiana requires at least $15,000 for injury to one person, $30,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage (La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)).
When the other driver carries only the minimum and your injuries are serious, any other policy that applies becomes important. Before you accept a payment, ask your attorney to check for every policy that might apply, yours included.
Courts and Hospitals Near Slidell
Slidell lies in St. Tammany Parish, according to Census Bureau place and county names. For St. Tammany Parish, the Louisiana court directory shows the 22nd district court in Covington, at 701 N. Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433. In St. Tammany Parish, the Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section list of trauma centers shows Lakeview Hospital in Covington as a Level II trauma center. In St. Tammany Parish, the Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section list of trauma centers shows St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington as a Level III trauma center.
Whichever provider treated you, request your complete records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every appointment. If you were transferred to another hospital, ask for the paperwork from both ends of the transfer.
Beginning Your Case Review In Slidell
Fill in the form at the top of this page. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Louisiana. The form is free to use, and sending it does not mean you have hired anyone.
Meanwhile, jot down the facts while they are fresh: date, time, place, who was there, what care you have had and what work you have missed. Save every bill and every message from an insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the other driver’s policy enough to cover my injuries?
At least $15,000 for injury to one person, $30,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage (La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)). Several policies can apply to one crash. Before you accept a payment, check for every policy that may apply.
Which records matter most after an accident?
Save every treatment record and bill. Pictures of the scene and the injuries show what words cannot. Keep proof of missed pay, repair estimates and all messages from insurers.
Is it safe to answer the other side’s adjuster?
It is fair to say you are getting advice first. Saying that you want advice first is a reasonable answer. Before you sign anything, have someone review it.
Does it cost anything to use this page to find an attorney?
No. The form is free to use. Fees vary, and many injury cases are taken on contingency. Get the terms in writing.
Which court covers Slidell?
The court is chosen by the type and size of the case and where the injury happened. Ask the attorney you speak with to name the court and explain why. The state judiciary’s court listing, described above, shows where its local courts are.
When does the time to file an injury claim run out in Louisiana?
Within two years for most injury claims (La. Civil Code art. 3493.1). Ask which date applies to your claim. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules (La. Civil Code art. 2315.2(A)).
Does Louisiana bar me from recovering if I share the blame?
The rule: you can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred, and a few narrow statutory exceptions can also bar a claim, for claims arising on or after January 1, 2026 (La. Civil Code art. 2323(A)(2)). How the facts are described matters from the start. Details from the day of the accident can matter.
Are there limits on an injury award in Louisiana?
The amount depends on the facts of your claim, so ask an attorney whether any rule limits it in your case. The bills, the missed work and the lasting effects drive the amount. Punitive damages follow a separate rule (La. Civil Code art. 2315.4).
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Louisiana Communities
NeedAnAttorney.net connects injured people throughout Louisiana with attorneys who handle cases in their area.
