Louisiana Personal Injury Demand Letter

PERSONAL INJURY DEMAND LETTER — STATE OF LOUISIANA

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL — SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION
PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION
Subject to Louisiana Code of Evidence Art. 408

CRITICAL PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD WARNING: Louisiana applies a TWO-YEAR prescriptive period for delictual (personal injury) actions accruing on or after July 1, 2024 (La. C.C. Art. 3493.1, enacted by Acts 2024, No. 423; former art. 3492's 1-year period was repealed). For causes of action that accrued BEFORE July 1, 2024, the former one-year period under repealed art. 3492 still applies. See Section XI for details.

ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Law Firm: [________________________________]
Attorney Name: [________________________________]
Louisiana State Bar Roll No.: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP: [____________________], Louisiana [________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Facsimile: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

CLAIM INFORMATION

Date of Letter: [__/__/____]

Sent Via: ☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested ☐ Regular U.S. Mail ☐ Email ☐ Facsimile

To:
Insurance Company: [________________________________]
Claims Adjuster: [________________________________]
Adjuster Address: [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Claim Number: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Insured (Tortfeasor): [________________________________]
Claimant: [________________________________]
Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
Date of Birth (Claimant): [__/__/____]
Type of Claim: ☐ Bodily Injury ☐ Wrongful Death ☐ Survival Action ☐ Property Damage ☐ UM/UIM ☐ Direct Action Against Insurer

I. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

This letter constitutes a formal demand for settlement on behalf of our client, [________________________________] ("Claimant"), for personal injuries, damages, and losses sustained as a direct result of the fault of your insured, [________________________________] ("Tortfeasor"), arising from an incident that occurred on [__/__/____] in [________________________________], Louisiana.

This firm represents Claimant in connection with all claims arising from this incident. Direct all future communications to our office. Pursuant to Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2, no contact should be made directly with our client.

Direct Action Notice

IMPORTANT: Under Louisiana's Direct Action Statute, La. R.S. 22:1269, Claimant may name the liability insurer directly only when a circumstance listed in subsection (B)(1) applies. Otherwise the claim proceeds against the insured, with insurer joinder at judgment or settlement governed by subsection (D).

This demand presents the facts, applicable Louisiana law, Claimant's injuries and damages, and a specific settlement demand.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Incident Description

On [__/__/____], at approximately [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.:

Location: [________________________________]
City/Parish: [________________________________], Louisiana
Weather Conditions: [________________________________]
Road/Surface Conditions: [________________________________]
Lighting Conditions: ☐ Daylight ☐ Dusk ☐ Dawn ☐ Darkness ☐ Artificial Lighting

Type of Incident:
☐ Motor vehicle collision
☐ Rear-end collision
☐ Intersection collision
☐ Head-on collision
☐ Side-impact / T-bone collision
☐ Pedestrian accident
☐ Bicycle accident
☐ Motorcycle accident
☐ Trucking / commercial vehicle
☐ Maritime / Jones Act / Longshore
☐ Slip and fall / Premises liability (La. R.S. 9:2800.6 — merchant liability)
☐ Dog bite / Animal attack (La. C.C. Art. 2321 — dog strict-liability paragraph; separate rules for other animals and livestock)
☐ Product liability (Louisiana Products Liability Act, La. R.S. 9:2800.51 et seq.)
☐ Medical malpractice (Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

B. Narrative of Events

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Police Report / Incident Documentation

Responding Agency: [________________________________]
Report Number: [________________________________]
Investigating Officer: [________________________________]

The official report documents:

• [________________________________]
• [________________________________]
• [________________________________]

Citations Issued to Tortfeasor: ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, specify: [________________________________]

D. Witnesses

E. Evidence

☐ Photographs of accident scene
☐ Photographs of vehicle damage / hazardous condition
☐ Photographs of Claimant's visible injuries
☐ Surveillance camera footage
☐ Dashcam / bodycam footage
☐ Other: [________________________________]

III. LIABILITY ANALYSIS UNDER LOUISIANA LAW

A. Duty-Risk Analysis (Louisiana Negligence Framework)

Louisiana uses a duty-risk analysis rather than the common law negligence framework. Under La. C.C. Art. 2315:

"Every act whatever of man that causes damage to another obliges him by whose fault it happened to repair it."

The duty-risk analysis requires proof of five elements:

1. The defendant had a duty to conform to a specific standard of care
2. The defendant breached that duty
3. The defendant's conduct was the cause-in-fact of the plaintiff's harm
4. The defendant's conduct was a legal cause (within the scope of the duty breached) of the harm
5. Damages resulted

See Lemann v. Essen Lane Daiquiris, Inc., 923 So. 2d 627 (La. 2006).

B. Tortfeasor's Breach of Duty

Your insured breached the applicable duty of care:

☐ Failure to exercise reasonable care (La. R.S. 32:58 et seq.)
☐ Failure to yield right-of-way (La. R.S. 32:121 et seq.)
☐ Following too closely (La. R.S. 32:81)
☐ Excessive speed for conditions (La. R.S. 32:64)
☐ Violation of traffic control device (La. R.S. 32:232)
☐ Prohibited use of a wireless telecommunications device (La. R.S. 32:59)
☐ Driving while intoxicated (La. R.S. 14:98)
☐ Failure to maintain safe premises (La. R.S. 9:2800.6 — merchant duty)
☐ Louisiana Products Liability Act claim (select and prove a La. R.S. 9:2800.54 route)
☐ Dog-owner strict liability under La. C.C. Art. 2321(B), if its prevention and no-provocation conditions are met
☐ Negligent entrustment
☐ Respondeat superior / vicarious liability (La. C.C. Art. 2320)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Specific breaches:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Louisiana Comparative Fault

The current version of La. C.C. Art. 2323, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 La. Act 15, applies a modified system:

• negligence attributable to the person suffering injury, death, or loss at 51% or greater bars recovery;
• negligence below 51% proportionally reduces recovery; and
• Article 2323(C) states an exception when the loss results partly from the claimant's negligence and partly from an intentional tortfeasor's fault.

For an earlier event, determine the governing version under Civil Code Article 6 and controlling temporal-law authority; do not assume the current version applies merely because this demand is sent after January 1, 2026.

Application to This Case: Your insured bears [____]% of the fault. Claimant's fault, if any, is minimal.

D. Solidary (Joint and Several) Liability — ABOLISHED

Under La. C.C. Art. 2324(B), solidary liability has been abolished for most cases (effective 1996). Each tortfeasor is liable only for their proportionate share of fault and resulting damages.

Exception: Persons who conspire or whose intentional acts combine to cause injury remain solidarily liable (La. C.C. Art. 2324(A)).

IV. INJURIES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

A. Summary of Injuries

☐ Traumatic brain injury (TBI) / Concussion
☐ Cervical spine injury (herniation, bulge, fracture)
☐ Thoracic spine injury
☐ Lumbar spine injury (herniation, bulge, fracture)
☐ Shoulder injury (rotator cuff tear, labral tear)
☐ Knee injury (meniscus tear, ligament tear, fracture)
☐ Hip injury (fracture, labral tear)
☐ Rib fractures
☐ Facial lacerations / scarring / disfigurement
☐ Dental injuries
☐ Wrist / hand / finger injuries
☐ Ankle / foot injuries
☐ Internal organ injury
☐ Soft tissue injuries
☐ PTSD / Anxiety / Depression
☐ Chronic pain syndrome
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Primary Diagnoses (ICD-10 Codes):

1. [________________________________] — [________]
2. [________________________________] — [________]
3. [________________________________] — [________]
4. [________________________________] — [________]
5. [________________________________] — [________]

B. Chronological Treatment History

Emergency / Initial Treatment

Date: [__/__/____]
Provider: [________________________________]
Facility: [________________________________]
Arrived Via: ☐ Ambulance ☐ Self ☐ Other
Treatment: [________________________________]
Findings: [________________________________]

Primary Care / Follow-Up

Specialist Treatment

Specialist: [________________________________]
Specialty: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Treatment Provided: [________________________________]
Findings/Recommendations: [________________________________]

Diagnostic Imaging

Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation

Provider: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Number of Sessions: [____]
Treatment Modalities: [________________________________]
Progress / Outcome: [________________________________]

Surgical Treatment (if applicable)

Date: [__/__/____]
Surgeon: [________________________________]
Procedure: [________________________________]
Outcome: [________________________________]

Pain Management (if applicable)

Provider: [________________________________]
Treatment Modalities:
☐ Epidural steroid injections
☐ Facet joint injections
☐ Nerve blocks
☐ Trigger point injections
☐ Radiofrequency ablation
☐ Medication management
☐ Other: [________________________________]

C. Current Condition and Prognosis

[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ Claimant has reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
☐ Claimant continues active treatment
☐ Future surgery recommended: [________________________________]
☐ Permanent impairment rating: [____]% whole person

D. Future Medical Treatment

☐ Life care plan prepared by [________________________________] — enclosed.

V. DAMAGES CALCULATION

NO DAMAGE CAPS IN LOUISIANA GENERAL TORT CASES. There are no statutory caps on compensatory or noneconomic damages in general personal injury cases. Caps apply only to medical malpractice claims (La. R.S. 40:1231.2 — $500,000 plus future medical).

A. Past Medical Expenses (Itemized)

B. Future Medical Expenses

C. Past Lost Wages / Income

Employer: [________________________________]
Position/Title: [________________________________]
Rate of Pay: $[________] per ☐ hour ☐ week ☐ month ☐ year
Period of Absence: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Total Days Missed: [____]

D. Future Lost Earning Capacity

Vocational Expert: [________________________________]
Economist: [________________________________]
Projected Loss Period: [____] years
Present Value: $[________]

E. General Damages (Pain and Suffering)

Note on Louisiana Terminology: Louisiana uses the term "general damages" rather than "noneconomic damages." General damages are those that may not be fixed with pecuniary exactitude and include pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, and other subjective elements of injury.

Claimant has suffered and continues to suffer:

☐ Physical pain and suffering (past and ongoing)
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress
☐ Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life
☐ Scarring and disfigurement
☐ Physical limitations and disability
☐ Loss of independence
☐ Inconvenience
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Narrative of Impact on Daily Life:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

General Damages Claimed: $[________]

F. Loss of Consortium / Loss of Society (La. C.C. Art. 2315)

Spouse/Family Member Name: [________________________________]
Relationship: [________________________________]
Impact: [________________________________]
Amount Claimed: $[________]

G. Property Damage

H. Out-of-Pocket Expenses (Special Damages)

I. Summary of All Damages

VI. INSURANCE COVERAGE ANALYSIS

A. Tortfeasor's Liability Coverage

Carrier: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Bodily Injury Limits: $[________] / $[________]
Property Damage Limits: $[________]
Umbrella / Excess Policy: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unknown — Limits: $[________]

Note: Louisiana requires minimum liability coverage of only $15,000/$30,000/$25,000 (La. R.S. 32:900) — among the lowest in the nation. If your insured carried only minimum limits, the available coverage is almost certainly insufficient.

Direct Action (La. R.S. 22:1269): Name the insurer directly only if a subsection (B)(1) circumstance applies.

B. Claimant's Coverage

Carrier: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]

☐ Uninsured Motorist (UM): $[________] / $[________]
☐ Underinsured Motorist (UIM): $[________] / $[________]
☐ Medical Payments (MedPay): $[________]
☐ Collision Coverage: $[________]

UM/UIM: Under La. R.S. 22:1295, UM/UIM coverage must be offered. The insured may reject or select lower limits by signed written form. Louisiana permits stacking of UM coverage in certain multi-vehicle policies unless validly waived.

C. Other Potential Coverage

☐ Homeowner's / Renter's insurance
☐ Commercial general liability
☐ Workers' compensation
☐ Health insurance subrogation / lien: $[________]
☐ Medicare / Medicaid lien: $[________]

VII. PREJUDGMENT INTEREST (LEGAL INTEREST)

Under La. R.S. 13:4203:

"Legal interest shall attach from date of judicial demand, on all judgments, sounding in damages, 'ex delicto,' which may be rendered by any of the courts."

Key Provisions:

• Rate: Legal interest rate (currently set by statute; historically approximately 4-6%)
• Accrual: From date of judicial demand (filing of lawsuit) in tort cases
• Runs until satisfaction of the judgment
• Applies to all compensatory damages

WARNING: The longer this claim remains unresolved and litigation becomes necessary, the greater the prejudgment interest exposure. Legal interest accrues from the date of filing and can add substantially to the judgment.

VIII. PUNITIVE DAMAGES

Louisiana DOES NOT generally allow punitive damages. This is a unique feature of Louisiana's civil law system. However, specific statutes authorize punitive ("exemplary") damages in limited circumstances.

☐ This case does involve statutory authorization for punitive damages
☐ This case does not involve a basis for punitive damages

Statutory Exceptions (Punitive Damages Available):

• La. C.C. Art. 2315.4 — Intoxicated tortfeasor (DWI cases): Exemplary damages available
• La. R.S. 14:403.6 — Abuse of a child or vulnerable adult
• La. C.C. Art. 2315.7 — Criminal sexual activity involving a minor
• La. C.C. Art. 2315.8 — Domestic abuse

If applicable: [________________________________]

IX. BAD FAITH INSURANCE PENALTIES

Louisiana provides statutory penalties for bad faith insurance practices.

Under La. R.S. 22:1892(B)(1)(a), an arbitrary, capricious, or without-probable-cause failure covered by that provision may expose the insurer to the greater of the statutory fifty-percent measure or $1,000, plus proven economic damages, reasonable attorney fees, and costs. Subsection I separately governs specified breaches of the insurer's good-faith duty and has different remedies and prerequisites.

NOTE — 2024 OVERHAUL: Acts 2024, No. 3 (SB 323), effective July 1, 2024, repealed La. R.S. 22:1973 in its entirety and consolidated the insurer's good-faith and fair-dealing duties into amended La. R.S. 22:1892 (including newly enacted § 22:1892(I)). For losses arising on or after July 1, 2024, cite La. R.S. 22:1892 (and § 1892(I) / § 1892.2 as applicable). For losses arising BEFORE July 1, 2024, former § 22:1973 (up to 2x damages) remains available.

SCHEDULED 2026 CHANGE: Act 932 of 2026 is scheduled to amend § 22:1892(I) effective August 1, 2026 and restrict Subsection I causes of action for personal- or bodily-injury claims in specified circumstances. Apply the version governing the claim and alleged conduct.

Should the insurer fail to reasonably evaluate and respond to this demand in a timely manner, Claimant reserves the right to seek all penalties and attorney's fees available under Louisiana law.

X. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

Based on the foregoing analysis, Claimant demands:

$[________________________________]

This demand reflects the full value of Claimant's damages under Louisiana law, including special damages, general damages, and legal interest.

Response Deadline: This demand shall remain open for [____] days, until [__/__/____].

XI. PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD WARNING (STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS)

CRITICAL WARNING — LOUISIANA PRESCRIPTIVE PERIODS WERE OVERHAULED EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024

General Tort (Delictual Actions) — Post-July 1, 2024:
La. C.C. Art. 3493.1 (enacted by Acts 2024, No. 423 / HB 315, eff. July 1, 2024): TWO (2) YEARS from the date the damage was sustained. This applies to delictual actions accruing on or after July 1, 2024.

General Tort (Delictual Actions) — Pre-July 1, 2024:
Former La. C.C. Art. 3492 (REPEALED by Acts 2024, No. 423, § 2): ONE (1) YEAR from the date the damage was sustained. This continues to govern causes of action that accrued BEFORE July 1, 2024 (substantive change applied prospectively only).

• Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
• Prescription Deadline: [__/__/____] (2 years if accrued on/after 7/1/2024; 1 year if before)

Medical Malpractice:
La. R.S. 9:5628: ONE (1) YEAR from date of discovery, but no more than THREE (3) YEARS from date of act (prescription and peremption). Act 423 did NOT extend medical malpractice prescription.

Wrongful Death:
Current La. C.C. Art. 2315.2(B): one year from death or two years from the day injury or damage was sustained, whichever is longer. Article 2315.2(F) separately gives medical-malpractice wrongful-death actions one year from death. The 2025 amendments, not Act 423 of 2024, created the current ordinary formula; analyze temporal application and special statutes.

Survival Action:
Current La. C.C. Art. 2315.1(A): one year from death or two years from the day injury or damage was sustained, whichever is longer. Medical-malpractice survival timing is governed by La. R.S. 9:5628 under Article 2315.1(F); analyze temporal application and special statutes.

Interruption: Prescription can be interrupted by filing suit, acknowledgment of the debt, or written demand under certain circumstances. However, DO NOT rely on interruption — file suit before the deadline.

If this claim is not resolved before prescription runs, suit will be filed without further notice. The insurer will be named only if La. R.S. 22:1269(B)(1) authorizes direct action.

XII. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

Claimant expressly reserves the right to:

1. File against the insurer where authorized by La. R.S. 22:1269(B)(1)
2. Seek all damages including special damages, general damages, legal interest, costs, and attorney's fees
3. Seek any supported remedies under La. R.S. 22:1892
4. Seek punitive/exemplary damages if applicable under La. C.C. Art. 2315.4 or other statutory authority
5. Pursue additional tortfeasors
6. Pursue UM/UIM benefits if the tortfeasor's coverage is insufficient
7. File survival and/or wrongful death claims if applicable
8. Claim additional damages discovered after this letter

XIII. MEDICAL RECORDS AND EXHIBITS INDEX

Medical Records and Bills

☐ Emergency room records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Hospital records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Primary care physician records — [________________________________]
☐ Specialist records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Physical therapy records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Chiropractic records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Pain management records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Surgical records — [________________________________]
☐ Diagnostic imaging reports — [________________________________]
☐ Pharmacy records — [________________________________]
☐ Mental health treatment records — [________________________________]
☐ Medical narrative / causation letter — [________________________________]
☐ Life care plan — [________________________________]

Employment and Income Documentation

☐ Employer verification letter
☐ Pay stubs / earnings statements
☐ Tax returns (prior 3 years)
☐ Vocational expert report
☐ Economist report

Incident Documentation

☐ Police report / incident report
☐ Photographs
☐ Witness statements
☐ Expert reports

Insurance Documentation

☐ Tortfeasor's declarations page
☐ Claimant's declarations page
☐ UM/UIM information and waiver forms
☐ Health insurance lien documentation

Other

☐ Prior correspondence
☐ [________________________________]

XIV. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
Attorney for Claimant
Louisiana State Bar Roll No.: [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[Law Firm Name]
[Address]
[City], Louisiana [ZIP]
Tel: [________________________________]
Fax: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

XV. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

Louisiana Civil Code

• La. C.C. Art. 2315 — Liability for Acts of Negligence
• La. C.C. Art. 2323 — Modified Comparative Fault (51% bar effective Jan. 1, 2026; temporal-law analysis required)
• La. C.C. Art. 2324 — Solidary Liability Abolished (Several Liability)
• La. C.C. Art. 2315.1 — Survival Action
• La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 — Wrongful Death Action
• La. C.C. Art. 2315.4 — Exemplary Damages for Intoxicated Defendant
• La. C.C. Art. 2321 — Animal Liability; Dog Strict Liability Under Paragraph B
• La. C.C. Art. 3493.1 — Prescriptive Period (Delictual Actions — 2 Years, enacted by Acts 2024, No. 423, eff. July 1, 2024; replaces repealed art. 3492's 1-year period)

Louisiana Revised Statutes

• La. R.S. 22:1269 — Direct Action Statute (direct suit limited to subsection (B)(1) circumstances)
• La. R.S. 22:1892 — Payment, good-faith duties, and penalties (Subsections B and I have distinct measures and prerequisites)
• La. R.S. 22:1295 — UM/UIM Rejection Requirements
• La. R.S. 32:900 — Mandatory Auto Insurance (15/30/25)
• La. R.S. 13:4203 — Prejudgment Interest (From Date of Judicial Demand)
• La. R.S. 40:1231.2 — Medical Malpractice Cap ($500,000 Plus Future Medical)
• La. R.S. 9:2800.6 — Merchant Premises Liability
• La. R.S. 9:2800.54 — Products Liability Act

Key Louisiana Cases

• Lemann v. Essen Lane Daiquiris, Inc., 923 So. 2d 627 (La. 2006) — Duty-risk analysis
• Watson v. State Farm, 469 So. 2d 967 (La. 1985) — Duty-risk elements

Official Resources

• La. R.S. 22:1892: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=509041
• 2026 La. Act 932: https://legis.la.gov/LEGIS/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1481840
• Louisiana State Legislature: https://legis.la.gov
• Louisiana Department of Insurance: https://www.ldi.la.gov
• Louisiana Supreme Court: https://www.lasc.org

This template is designed for use by licensed Louisiana attorneys. Louisiana's civil law system differs fundamentally from common law jurisdictions. It must be customized to the specific facts. All citations should be verified as current before use. This document does not constitute legal advice.