Contact Us337-232-1934
National Association of Distinguished Counsel
The American College of Trial Lawyers
Martindale-Hubbell® (AV Preeminent® Rating)
The American College of Trial Lawyers
The National Trial Lawyers Association
You are hurt, and the bills keep coming. You do not know if the insurance company’s offer is fair, or if they are hoping you take less just to close the file. You are missing paychecks while your body heals. You wonder if a Lafayette law firm understands Opelousas at all, or if you are just another file number to them.
None of that has to be true here.
As an Opelousas personal injury lawyer, Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy has represented injured people across Acadiana for more than 50 years. Our founding attorney became the first lawyer in Louisiana certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, in 1980, and our team serves families throughout St. Landry Parish who need someone who knows how insurers decide what to offer, and how to push past that first number toward what a claim is worth.
Reach out and walk us through what is going on. We will give you a straight answer about where things stand and what you can do next.
| AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell | Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers | Louisiana’s First Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, 1980 | 50+ Years Serving Acadiana |
Louisiana law starts from a simple idea. If someone else’s carelessness hurts you, they owe you a fair repair for what you lost (La. Civ. Code art. 2315). That rule covers most of what we see out of Opelousas and the rest of St. Landry Parish, including crashes at the interchange where Interstate 49 meets US Highway 190, one of the busiest points in the parish.
We also work with families in Sunset, Grand Coteau, Port Barre, Krotz Springs, and the smaller communities in between. Whether an accident happened on a rural parish road or right on Interstate 49, the same question matters: who was at fault, and what did that carelessness cost you. If your injury happened because of someone else’s carelessness anywhere in St. Landry Parish, tell us about it, even if your situation does not fit neatly into one of the categories above.
The Kennedy family has practiced law in Louisiana since 1871, when Lafayette was still known as Vermilionville. Richard R. Kennedy founded this firm in 1965 and went on to become the first attorney in Louisiana board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy.
Richard R. Kennedy III joined the firm in 2000 and has spent years handling injury claims for clients across Acadiana, from single vehicle wrecks to multi vehicle collisions on highways like I-49 and US 190. That is five generations of Louisiana lawyers, one law office, and decades of familiarity with exactly the kind of insurance claim an Opelousas family is facing right now.
Every case begins with a conversation. Tell us about the accident, your recovery, and what insurance adjusters have communicated so far. We then gather and review the core evidence, from medical documentation to official reports, to help outline potential paths forward.
We’ll share our practical perspective on any settlement offers on the table and discuss how we might approach your case locally in St. Landry Parish if further steps are needed. You stay in control of your decision.
Louisiana gives you two years to file most personal injury claims, counting from the day you were hurt (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1). Miss that window, and the law can bar your claim completely, no matter how clear the fault was. This information reflects Louisiana law as of August 2026.
Having an advocate on your side early in the process gives you clear guidance through every step, so you can focus on healing with confidence
“I would like to highlight the excellent service provided by attorney Kennedy. I have required his services on two occasions, and both times I received outstanding attention, professionalism, and willingness to help.”
“Attorney Richard Kennedy III was incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to my case… He fought tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome. I highly recommend him to anyone needing legal assistance.”
“I highly recommend Richard Kennedy. He was honest, thorough, realistic and prompt while handling my case. His expertise helped me receive a great settlement.”
For more than 50 years, Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy has recovered money for people hurt through no fault of their own. A few examples:
| Outcome | Case Type |
| Over $3,000,000 | Truck collision with a bicyclist, causing a traumatic brain injury |
| $1,700,000 jury verdict | Collision between two 18-wheeler trucks |
| $325,000 | Rear-end car accident with neck and back injuries |
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
Civil lawsuits filed in St. Landry Parish are heard in the 27th Judicial District Court, based at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse in Opelousas. We can walk you through what filing there looks like once we know more about your case.
Most personal injury claims settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if a jury will decide it. That preparation is often what pushes an insurance company toward a fair number.
It depends on how much fault gets assigned to you. As of January 1, 2026, Louisiana uses a modified comparative fault system (La. Civ. Code art. 2323). If you are found less than 51 percent at fault, your damages are reduced in proportion to your share, but you can still recover.
If you are found 51 percent or more at fault, the law bars you from recovering anything. That makes how fault gets divided more important than it used to be, which is why the details of your case matter.
No. We can review most personal injury cases by phone or video call, and we can meet in person in St. Landry Parish when it makes sense for your case.
Every situation is different, but there are often ways to get treatment now and address the bill later, once your claim resolves. We can talk through what options exist for your specific injury and insurance situation.
If your question is not answered here, the fastest way to get a real answer is to contact us directly.
A partner at the firm since 2000, Richard Kennedy III utilizes over 20 years of elite legal experience to fight for pedestrian accident victims. A graduate of Loyola Law School, Richard has achieved significant victories in both state and federal courts. He provides the specialized knowledge necessary to handle complex pedestrian accident claims, crosswalk injury cases, and severe vehicle-pedestrian collisions across Louisiana.
For more than 50 years, Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy has built personal injury cases across Acadiana, led by attorneys willing to take a case to trial when an insurer will not offer what it is worth, including a founding attorney who became Louisiana’s first board certified civil trial lawyer in 1980.
You do not have to figure out your claim alone, and you do not have to accept the first number an insurance company offers. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury from a defective consumer good, a product liability attorney with the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy can help. Our team will review the details of your case and hold the responsible parties accountable for your injuries and losses.
Our law firm serves the greater Lafayette and New Iberia area, and offers complimentary initial consultations. You can discuss your case for free with a product liability lawyer familiar with federal statutes as well as Louisiana consumer protection laws. This insight can give you a better idea of your various legal options.
To learn more about product liability claims and your legal options, contact our law office online. You can also request a free case evaluation by phone.
© 2026 Law Offices of Richard R Kennedy • All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy. Digital Marketing By: 
*Images are obtained under license from Canva and other third-party stock image providers, with attribution included where required.
