You might think the law is boring, but in our home state of Louisiana, laws are anything but boring.
From strange and entertaining laws to unique traffic laws and important rights you have as a Louisiana citizen, Louisiana personal injury lawyer Blaine Barrilleaux is here to keep you informed about Louisiana personal injury laws that everyone should know.
Why Is It Important to Know the Louisiana personal injury laws?
While every state has its fair share of quirky laws, our laws are put in place to protect the safety of everyone in our local community.
It’s important to know the laws that affect the place where you live so you can make sure to follow them and also know your rights in the event that you’re affected by someone else’s carelessness.
The law functions as a sort of silent protector over us all. Staying informed is critical to being a responsible citizen and protecting yourself and your family from the actions of others.
Civil Statute of Limitations Laws
There are two sides of the law: civil and criminal. Civil law deals with disputes between two individuals in a community, or an individual and an organization. In these cases, money, known as “damages”, is awarded to the victim of the incident.
In other words, if you were hurt in a car accident because another driver was acting carelessly and now you have expensive medical bills and property damage, you may have the ability to file a civil lawsuit against the other driver with the help of a Louisiana personal injury lawyer.
What a lot of folks don’t know is that there are time limits for filing a civil lawsuit called “a statute of limitations.” These laws vary from state to state, but typically ranges from two to five years. These laws, however, are unique in that almost all civil actions only have a one-year statute of limitations.
This means that from the date you discovered an injury or harm, you have a maximum of one year to take legal action against the person responsible for that harm. A Louisiana injury lawyer can come to your aid in this matter.
General Traffic Laws
While most of our traffic laws are well-known, there are some less common rules of the road that many drivers aren’t aware of.
Here are a few Louisiana traffic laws that are commonly misunderstood and broken:
- Headphones are prohibited while driving. You may have seen other drivers behind the wheel using headphones to either take a call or listen to music, but Louisiana forbids the use of any type of listening device that isn’t a hearing aid. You can still listen to music on your commute to work every day, so long as you don’t do it through your earbuds.
- Those under 18 who either withdraw from school or have a history of habitual tardiness or absenteeism may lose their driving privileges. Louisiana is one of the 29 states that links drivers’ licenses to school enrollment.
- It is against the law to smoke in a vehicle when children are present. Even if the windows of the car are down, cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are prohibited in Louisiana if a child is riding with you.
Strange Laws
Louisiana is a unique place in a lot of ways and the law is no exception. While some of these are outdated, it’s interesting to imagine what was going on in our communities at the time these laws were passed.
Here are some of the strangest Louisiana laws you might not have known:
- You may not tie an alligator to a fire hydrant.
- Snakes are not allowed within 200 yards of the Mardi Gras parade route.
- Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
- In Abbeville, it is illegal to use roller skates on the sidewalk.
- It’s illegal for fans at a sporting event to insult players.
Stay Informed, Protect Your Rights
While some laws are indeed strange, it’s always important to stay informed about our local laws and your rights as a citizen.
Unfortunately, the law can be pretty tricky to understand, and many people aren’t aware of their rights or how to proceed when something bad happens and they need legal help from a Louisiana injury lawyer.
Blaine Barrilleaux, your trusted Louisiana personal injury lawyer, has dedicated his career to personal injury Louisiana to helping members of his community, understand and protect their rights after being involved in an accident.
A Louisiana native who has served the Lafayette, Metairie, New Orleans, and surrounding communities in personal injury Louisiana for more than 25 years, Blaine is truly a local lawyer who understands the people and the laws of his state.
If you’ve been the victim of an accident, your rights under the law are at risk and many parties from the person responsible to big insurance companies might try to take advantage of you.
Don’t leave your rights up to chance, no matter your situation. If you’re in pain, call Blaine. As a Louisiana injury attorney he’s here to listen and help you take the right steps. Even if Blaine can’t provide you with the exact legal assistance you need, he can point you in the right direction.
