Several years ago, a fellow attorney encouraged me to begin doing pro bono work representing children in Child in Need of Care (“CINC”) cases through the Southwest Louisiana Bar Foundation. With an undergraduate degree in Sociology/Social Work, CINC cases seemed a natural fit.

While it is disheartening to see first-hand the issues that many children face today, it is very satisfying to play even a small part in ensuring that these children get the best start possible given their particular circumstances, some of which are very difficult.

I encourage all attorneys, regardless of educational or legal background, to make time for pro bono work in a field that interests them.  Doing so brings a sense of self-satisfaction unlike that achieved in our day-to-day work.

How do we make time for pro bono work with so many demands on our daily lives?   Fundamental are law firms that acknowledge that pro bono work is valuable to the individual attorney, the law firm and society as a whole.  Those firms encourage their attorneys to participate in pro bono work without penalty.  I am fortunate that my firm has supported my pro bono work over the years, allowing me the freedom and opportunity to do so on a meaningful level.
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Jackey W. South
Lundy, Lundy, Soileau & South, LLP
Lake Charles, Louisiana

Jackey accepting an award from the Southwest Louisiana Bar Foundation for her pro bono work with CINC cases.

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​If you were hurt in an auto accident, you're probably wondering if you need an attorney. There are several reasons why you should contact Lundy Law LLP. Below we share five reasons why you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer if you have been in an accident.

To Avoid Hassle

The first reason to hire a personal injury attorney Lake Charles is so you can focus on yourself as well as your loved ones. You want to focus on your health and recovering while your lawyer does the rest of the work. It's their job to handle these things. They often do more than just handle the insurance companies, most of the time they help address the medical bills, records, and the finances.

The moment you get into a car accident, you will probably be unsure where to begin. You have to worry about medical bills, insurance, personal injury, and property damage. You'll receive mounds of paperwork to fill out. This can be a stressful and time-consuming process while you are focused on recovery, and can easily be handled by your personal injury lawyer who is accustomed to such work.

Level Out the Playing Field

Your insurance company will try to pay you as little money as possible. Once your accident is reported to your insurer, they will conduct several investigations and methods of research to ensure their cost is reduced. They're in the business of managing and negotiating claims while protecting their investors profits. You need to level the playing field by having a lawyer that has your best interests in mind.

You need someone who can handle the insurance company in a timely manner. While no one usually gets sued, you want to stay current on time limit you have to sue for injuries or damages following an auto accident. It's important that you know and file within your limits. Personal injury lawyers in Lake Charles will keep your claim inside the statue of limitation laws for auto accident claims along with the deadlines.

To Avoid Pitfalls

Another reason you need to hire a personal attorney is to avoid potential pitfalls that occur with your case. This can prevent the insurance company from getting you in trouble and not compensating for damage or an injury. They may not even want to help repair your vehicle after the auto accident. This may be new to you since you if you have never been in an accident.

There are so many ways you can incur fault with your own insurance company. Most of those mistakes could cost you money and prevent you from receiving fair compensation. The insurance company will use some of these mistakes against you to reduce the value of your claim. Your a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can work with you to prevent these pitfalls from happening.

To Get Compensated Fairly

​Your attorney is going to fight to obtain money you justly deserve and more than you would likely receive on your own. When serious auto accidents occur and cause lengthy recovery, you really are doing yourself a disservice by not engaging an attorney, a skilled attorney will help you recognize losses that would not generally come to mind.

Keep in mind how long your recovery will take. Your personal injury attorney Lake Charles will help you come up with a realistic answer. If you have sustaining injuries that last a year or longer, your time away from work, medical bills, physical therapy, etc. will add up. The financial loss will be devastating if you're never able to recover. The insurance company has attorneys working to limit their liability, that's why you need a legal professional who's on your side.

To Help Ease Your Burdens

When you've been in an accident, you’ll have a lot going on in your life. Its likely tol become a stressful situation for both you and your family. Not just physically damaging, but emotionally and mentally damaging as well. When you have injuries with life-threatening or long-term consequences, you'll feel the pressure of trying to getting back to a normal life.

You have a lot to do. That's why you need someone to fight your battles and ease your burdens. Experienced personal injury lawyers in Lake Charles will do most of the heavy lifting as you work on your recovery. After all, recovery should be your primary focus.
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The attorneys at Lundy Lundy Soileau & South are here to help if you ever in an auto accident. You need someone who will take the time to look into your claim and help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our law office for a free consultation.

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​If you are going through a personal injury case, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the claims and litigation process. Understanding legal and procedural requirements and the pragmatics that go into litigation can make the long road a bit easier to travel. Here are a few tips from our personal injury lawyers in Lake Charles La. to help you through.

Few personal injury cases actually go to trial

Industry sources give varying numbers but they are consistent – only between 2% and 5% of all personal injury cases actually go to trial. That means well over 90% of cases settle before that point. However, it is important to prepare the case as if it will go before a jury. This makes for a much stronger case that can increase your settlement amount and also ensures you are not caught off-guard if settlement negotiations fall apart and trial becomes inevitable.

Claimants with lawyers recover greater compensation

Some people are concerned that attorney fees will reduce the amount of compensation they receive. However, statistics show that the opposite is true. According to a 2014 report by the Insurance Research Council, claimants represented by a lawyer secure, on average, an amount 3.5 times higher than those who represented themselves.

Typically, there is no need to pay attorney fees up front. Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, so there is no fee if you lose; the legal fee and any expenses come out of the award. If you need to speak about flexible fees with a personal injury attorney Lake Charles area Lundy Lundy Soileau & South can discuss contingency options with you.

Your time to file a lawsuit is limited

The Louisiana statute of limitations only permits you to file a personal injury lawsuit within one year of the injury. There are some exceptions that can extend this deadline, but it is extremely risky to interpret and apply these without the help of a seasoned attorney.

Personal injury cases can require expert witnesses

Something that catches people off-guard is expert witnesses, which can be required when a claim hinges on an allegation of professional negligence or involves specialized training. If expert testimony is required, not providing it can lead to a court dismissing your case.
Understanding what experts are needed, evaluating their persuasiveness, securing their testimony, and arranging for their payment are all steps that can easily overwhelm a person. Put these kinds of tasks in the hands of seasoned personal injury lawyers in Lake Charles, La. Personal injury experts understand the confusion you may feel and can take this burden off your shoulders.
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If you have suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, do not wait to speak with a personal injury attorney Lake Charles area law firm Lundy, Lundy, Soileau & South is committed to helping you through it. Call our office to obtain a free confidential consultation. We accept personal injury cases on a contingency basis so we never charge a fee unless we win compensation for you.

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