What is the appropriate venue for an accident lawsuit in Lemannville?

Lemannville, LA – Once a person has been involved in a car accident, they may have many questions about what they should do next. There will be property damage, medical bills, the person may miss time from work, and additional problems can cause losses of time and money. In addition to these matters, there are specific legal procedures that need to be followed if the accident results in a lawsuit, otherwise the case will not be successful. Venue is an important matter for filing cases in civil court, and a local attorney can provide more information about this process.

Starting the lawsuit and filing procedures

Civil cases begin when the attorney for the plaintiff files the complaint in the local court and then serves a copy to the defendant. If the case is filed in the wrong court, the judges will not have jurisdiction to hear the case and it is dismissed.

In most cases, this filing takes place in the parish where the defendant lives or their business is located and has an office. If there are any more complex issues related to venue, the attorney for the plaintiff will have to sort through them before filing the case. Any qualified attorney in Louisiana will understand how the process of determining a venue works, so the accident victim does not need to worry about these procedural issues if they are represented.

After the filing

Once the case is filed and served, the defendant has a chance to respond to the allegations in the lawsuit and then the discovery process begins. After a sufficient amount of evidence and information has been exchanged, the case will either go to trial or settlement negotiations can begin.

Civil cases and compensation

The complaint that needs to be filed in the proper venue also contains a section called the statement of relief. This is where the plaintiff asks for what they need the courts to do, and in civil cases this is almost always financial compensation, although injunctions and other equitable remedies are available in some cases. The victim will ask for various types of damages, which can include economic, non-economic, or punitive damages. Economic damages are related to losses like medical bills, lost income and wages, and any other specific costs caused by the collision. Non-economic damages are less tangible, and they are related to the victim’s physical and emotional pain and suffering. Punitive damages are only available in drunk driving accidents in Louisiana.

Louisiana car accident attorneys

Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf is a firm that works with local clients in the area of Lemannville and other parts of Louisiana. Their attorneys provide advice about the process to file civil lawsuits for compensation after an accident.

Firm contact info:

Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf

3960 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

225-343-2205

www.mlhlaw.com