East Baton Rouge | West Baton Rouge | Ascension | Livingston | Iberville | Pointe Coupee | West Feliciana | East Feliciana | St. Helena
Severe injuries require attorneys who understand what’s truly at stake. At Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, we represent clients facing traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and other life-altering harm. Our partners personally manage every catastrophic injury case from start to finish.
Combined legal experience
Trial Lost in Over 20 Years
A catastrophic injury affects every part of your life. Beyond the physical pain and medical treatment, you’re likely dealing with financial uncertainty and concerns about your future independence and quality of life.
You deserve legal representation that accounts for your full range of current and future needs.
Catastrophic injury cases demand a fundamentally different approach than standard personal injury claims, whether they result from car accidents, workplace incidents, or medical negligence. The damages are higher, the medical evidence is more complex, and insurance companies assign their most aggressive adjusters and defense attorneys to limit their exposure. These cases require thorough preparation and a willingness to go to trial when necessary.
At Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, we work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to document the complete impact of your injuries. We calculate not just your current medical expenses, but the cost of future surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, adaptive equipment, and home modifications you may need for decades.
We represent Clinton residents in a wide range of personal injury matters. Our experience includes:
Rear-end collisions, hit-and-runs, and drunk driving accidents are causing serious injuries
Commercial truck crashes, including cases involving defective equipment and driver negligence
Animal attacks resulting in facial injuries, scarring, and emotional trauma
Premises liability cases involving unsafe property conditions
Industrial accidents, machinery incidents, and exposure to hazardous materials
Injuries from manufacturing flaws, design defects, and inadequate warnings
Fatal accidents caused by negligence, providing families with compensation for their loss
Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and nursing home negligence
Severe burns requiring specialized treatment and long-term care
Abuse or inadequate care in nursing facilities
Traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive and physical effects
Crashes involving motorcyclists struck by negligent drivers
Whether your injury happened on Clinton’s roads, at a local business, or at work, we evaluate your case and pursue full compensation for your losses.
Our firm has secured recoveries exceeding $1 million for clients with spinal injuries and other serious harm requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care.
Your case is handled by an experienced partner attorney from consultation through resolution, not passed to junior associates or paralegals.
We build your case as if it's going to trial. Insurance companies know we don't bluff, which strengthens our negotiating position significantly.
You communicate directly with your attorney by phone, text, or email. We provide regular updates and respond promptly to your questions.
When you hire one of our attorneys, you gain access to the collective knowledge and experience of our entire legal team.
We handle all legal aspects of your catastrophic injury claim so you can direct your energy toward treatment and recovery.
Catastrophic injury cases typically take 2-3 years to resolve due to their complexity, the need to establish maximum medical improvement, and potential litigation.
We listen carefully to understand what happened, review any documentation you have, and provide an honest assessment of your legal options.
Our team gathers medical records, accident reports, and witness statements while retaining qualified experts to analyze and support your claim.
We work with medical professionals and economists to calculate current expenses, future care costs, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages.
We pursue maximum compensation through negotiation first. If the insurance company won't offer fair value, we're fully prepared to take your case to trial.
Once we secure a settlement or verdict, we ensure you receive your funds promptly so you can address your medical and financial needs.
We advance all expenses including court filing fees, expert witness costs, medical record fees, and deposition expenses.
We retain medical experts and life care planners to ensure every current and future need is accounted for in your claim.
We don't rush to settle. Our focus is securing compensation that truly covers your lifetime needs, not just immediate bills.
We handle all communication with insurers, protecting you from recorded statements and lowball settlement pressure tactics.
Our attorneys have secured substantial recoveries for clients who suffered severe, life-changing injuries in accidents caused by others’ negligence.
Client required lumbar fusion surgery after rear-end collision caused herniated disc
Husband and wife both sustained serious neck and back injuries requiring extensive treatment
Family of victim killed by speeding dump truck that ran red light on Airline Highway
Each case is unique. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases. Results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.
Let us help you!
Your initial consultation with our firm is completely free and comes with no obligation. We’ll review your situation, answer your questions about the legal process, and give you an honest evaluation of your potential claim and its strengths.
We handle all catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is one-third of the recovery if your case settles without filing a lawsuit, or 40% if litigation becomes necessary. We also advance all case expenses, including expert witness fees, court costs, medical record charges, and deposition costs. You owe nothing out of pocket.
"Great experience. They were very professional and were there whenever I called or needed them. My settlement was well worth the wait. I recommend them to anyone needing legal services. They will fight for you and get you what you deserve for your injuries. I didn't just gain good legal representation, I also gained friends and a law firm that cared."
"Great people who really care about your situation. They did everything possible to take care of my family. I would highly recommend Jason, Robert, and the whole team. Top notch."
"I couldn't be more pleased with choosing Jason and all of the associates at Melancon & Rimes. I was told by several people throughout the duration of my litigation that I was in good hands with one of the best attorneys in Louisiana, and the results did not disappoint. A very efficient group that worked diligently to win my case and keep me well informed along the way."
"Lee was prompt and kept me informed at every step. I would recommend him to anyone seeking legal help. Lee went above and beyond for me and I am extremely grateful for him during my time of need."
The majority of our clients come to us through referrals from people who’ve worked with us before and trust us to handle serious cases.
Our three partners bring over 50 years of combined legal experience and have handled catastrophic injury cases resulting in multi-million dollar recoveries. Unlike many larger firms, our partners personally manage every case rather than delegating to junior associates. When you work with Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, an experienced trial attorney reviews your medical evidence, communicates with experts, develops case strategy, and handles negotiations or trial preparation directly.
Graduated from LSU Law School where he served as Senior Associate with Louisiana Law Review. He’s been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2013-2015) and Super Lawyer (2018-2021).
Earned his law degree from Loyola University School of Law where he was a member of the Moot Court Staff. He leads our personal injury section with extensive trial experience.
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Partner since 2022, graduated magna cum laude from Southern University Law Center and served as senior editor of Southern University Law Review.
All Louisiana state courts, U.S. District Courts (Middle, Eastern, Western Districts), Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court
Super Lawyers designations (2018-2021), Rising Star recognition (2013-2015), Louisiana Law Review
Louisiana Association for Justice, Baton Rouge Bar Association, active trial practice
Our attorneys have successfully tried cases and handled appeals in federal courts across Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, California, and New York.
Catastrophic injuries are severe, often permanent injuries that significantly impact your ability to live and work normally. These include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, amputations, and multiple fractures requiring extensive surgery. The defining characteristic is that these injuries typically require long-term or lifelong medical care and may prevent you from returning to your previous occupation or quality of life. If your injury will require ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, or has permanently changed your physical or cognitive abilities, it likely qualifies as catastrophic.
Louisiana law generally requires personal injury claims to be filed within one year of the date of injury. This is called the statute of limitations. However, some circumstances may affect this deadline, such as when injuries aren’t immediately apparent or when the responsible party is a government entity. Because catastrophic injuries often involve complex medical situations, it’s important to consult with an attorney promptly. We can evaluate your specific situation and ensure all deadlines are met while you focus on treatment and recovery.
Calculating damages for catastrophic injuries goes far beyond adding up current medical bills. We work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to project future medical costs, including surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and equipment you may need for years or decades. We also calculate lost earning capacity if you can no longer work in your previous field, as well as compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact on your family relationships. Every element of how your injury affects your present and future is documented and valued.
Louisiana follows a comparative fault system, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault and your damages total $1 million, you could recover $800,000. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto injury victims to reduce payouts. We investigate thoroughly to establish accurate fault allocation and counter any attempts to unfairly minimize your claim.
Catastrophic injury cases typically take longer than standard personal injury claims because of their complexity. Most cases resolve within 2-3 years, though some take longer depending on factors like the severity of your injuries, whether you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, the number of parties involved, and whether litigation is required. We never rush to settle a case just to close it quickly. Our goal is securing compensation that truly reflects your long-term needs, even if that requires patience and thorough preparation.
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize payouts. In catastrophic injury cases, the stakes are especially high, and insurers will scrutinize every aspect of your claim. An experienced attorney knows how to document the full extent of your damages, counter defense tactics, and negotiate from a position of strength. We handle all communication with insurance companies, gather evidence, work with medical experts, and prepare your case for trial if necessary. This allows you to focus on your recovery while we fight for fair compensation.
We represent clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries throughout the greater Baton Rouge metropolitan area. Our office location on Jefferson Highway provides convenient access for clients across south Louisiana, and we’re available to meet at alternative locations when your injuries make travel difficult.
East Baton Rouge | West Baton Rouge | Ascension | Livingston | Iberville | Pointe Coupee | West Feliciana | East Feliciana | St. Helena
If you or a family member has suffered a catastrophic injury anywhere in our service area, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM