New Orleans Serious Injury Lawyer

When an injury changes everything.

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SERIOUS INJURIES —

Life-Changing Injuries Need a Lawyer Who Plans for the Long Run

Some injuries heal in weeks. Others change the rest of your life. A traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury or the loss of a limb can mean years of medical care, a different job or no job at all, and big changes for your whole family.

Stephen J. Hecker represents people with serious injuries from car and truck wrecks, motorcycle crashes, falls and other accidents caused by someone else’s carelessness. In these cases, the goal is not a quick check. It is making sure the settlement or verdict covers what you will need years from now.

Serious Injuries We Handle

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions with lasting symptoms
  • Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
  • Herniated discs and back and neck injuries requiring surgery
  • Amputations and crush injuries
  • Severe burns
  • Multiple fractures and joint injuries
  • Injuries causing permanent scarring or disfigurement

Planning for the Future Cost of an Injury

With a serious injury, the bills you have today are only part of the picture. A full claim may account for:

  • Future surgeries, therapy and medications
  • In-home care, equipment and home or vehicle modifications
  • Lost future earnings and reduced earning ability
  • Pain, suffering and mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • The effect on your marriage and family

When needed, we work with your doctors and, where appropriate, outside professionals to estimate those future costs and support them with evidence.

Why Serious Injury Cases Get Fought Harder

The bigger the claim, the harder insurance companies push back. Recent changes in Louisiana law, such as limits on some medical bill recovery to amounts actually paid, the end of a long-standing presumption that helped injured people link their injuries to the accident, and a new 51% fault bar for accidents on or after January 1, 2026, give insurers more room to argue. Good medical documentation and a well-prepared case matter more than ever.

Deadlines

In Louisiana, most injury claims from accidents on or after July 1, 2024 must be filed within two years. Injuries before that date generally had only one year. Evidence also disappears fast, so don’t wait.

Facing a life-changing injury? Call Hecker. Free consultation. (504) 446-1000.

FAQ —

Serious Injuries: Common Questions

What counts as a "serious" or catastrophic injury?

Generally, an injury that causes permanent impairment, requires major surgery or long-term care, or keeps you from returning to work. Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and severe burns are common examples.

Should I settle quickly to pay my bills?

Be careful. Once you settle, you usually can’t go back for more, even if you later need surgery. Talk to a lawyer before accepting any offer.

How do you figure out future medical costs?

We start with your treating doctors’ opinions and records and, when appropriate, work with outside professionals to estimate future care and lost earnings.

How long do I have to file?

For most injuries on or after July 1, 2024, you have two years to file suit in Louisiana.

PRACTICE AREAS

Other Ways We Help

We help injured drivers, passengers and families get the compensation they deserve.

We take on trucking companies and their insurers after 18-wheeler crashes.

Riders get blamed first. We push back and work to show what really happened.

Cyclists hit by careless drivers deserve full and fair compensation.