According to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 38,800 people lost their lives in fatal road accidents in 2019. An additional 4.4 million people sustained serious injuries that needed medical attention. If you have lost a loved one due to a fatal accident, you could seek to recover compensation by filing a wrongful death claim against the liable party.
On the other hand, if you have sustained serious injuries, you could pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit. If you choose to hire legal representation, an Abbeville fatal accident lawyer can help you manage the legal process as you and your family recover and grieve the loss of one of your loved one.
A lawyer can help you establish liability in the accident, which could give you closure as a family and help the recovery process. It will also make it clear who should be held responsible for the accident.
Injuries from an accident involving fatalities are quite serious. Surviving victims might have to spend a lot of time in the hospital, which could mean lost wages from not being able to work. It could also mean reduced earning ability, which puts financial futures in jeopardy. And, in some cases, some victims might not return to work at all if their injuries become permanent disabilities.
If any of these scenarios fit your situation, an Abbeville fatal accident lawyer can review your situation and possibly help you and your family seek compensation to recover economic and noneconomic damages suffered in a fatal accident.
If you are interested in examining your options for legal recourse, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 today to set up a free case evaluation with a team member.
Possibly Recoverable Economic and Noneconomic Benefits
An attorney might be able to help you recover economic and noneconomic damages after a fatal accident.
These include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capability
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of benefits from a close relationship
- Loss of future income if decedent helped pay household expenses
Medical expenses you incur due to the accident can be recovered if you win a settlement. These expenses include the costs of surgery, medications, physical therapy, and other medical treatment. You are advised to get medical attention after an accident. This will help you prove that your injuries and losses are due to the accident.
Medical records could also help determine the compensation you get. Damages will also factor in any reduced earning capabilities, such as having to work fewer hours or take a lower-paying job. The amount awarded should reimburse you for any wages you lose while recovering from the accident.
If you have lost a relative after a fatal accident, the compensation you receive could recover funeral and burial expenses. This payment could also factor in your family’s pain and suffering. The loss of benefits from a close relationship, such as companionship, is also important, and that, too, could be factored into the payment.
Quantifying noneconomic benefits can be challenging. A fatal accident lawyer’s knowledge and experience will be useful in determining the appropriate value of the noneconomic benefits you and your family deserve. The lawyer will also look at any long-term expenses that you will incur due to the injuries and include them while negotiating the compensation amount with the liable party’s insurance company.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientNext Steps After Suffering a Fatal Accident
The steps you take after suffering after a fatal accident could affect your personal injury case. You might not want to:
- Apologize or make small talk with the other parties
- Settle your claim without getting full treatment for your injuries
- Go home without seeking medical attention
Apologizing or making small talk with other parties can go against you if you decide to file a claim or a lawsuit later. This is because the liable party’s insurance company could twist your words and claim your admission of fault. You should exchange contact information and let the police conduct their investigation.
After going to the hospital, you might not want to agree to settle before completing medical treatment. This is because you might incur additional expenses you might be able to recover from the liable party. Consult your doctor and find out if there are any follow-up treatments you might need for your injuries.
You must get medical attention even if you feel fine. Not feeling pain after an accident is normal due to the adrenaline flowing within your body. When the adrenaline subsides, you may realize that you have severe injuries you had not noticed before. Getting medical care will help you find and treat all injuries. You also will want to continue checkups with a doctor in case symptoms of another condition occur later.
You could receive a settlement offer from the other party’s insurance company after the accident. You do not have to hire an attorney to start negotiations with the company. However, many people do not know what their personal injury claim is worth, which makes it challenging to assess if an insurer’s offer is fair.
Insurance companies often take advantage of this fact and offer parties smaller settlements. Securing a lawyer who can look over settlement agreements you receive can help you avoid accepting an offer that falls short of meeting your needs.
A fatal accident lawyer could seek the total value of the economic and noneconomic losses you have incurred on your behalf. If you are interested in a free case evaluation where you can tell us the details of your accident, you can contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientCompensation and Partial Liability in an Accident
Many victims of fatal accidents avoid filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit because they think they are partly liable. However, being partly at-fault does not mean you have no chance of pursuing compensation.
Louisiana follows a comparative negligence principle, according to LA Civ Code, art. 2323. This means the compensation you receive will reduce by your percentage of fault in the accident.
A fatal accident lawyer can help you determine the extent of your fault in the accident. This could help you receive payment, even if your percentage of fault in the accident is 50%. If that is the case, then you will get 50% of the compensation awarded.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientConsult with a Laborde Earles Lawyer Today
Seeking legal representation could help you win your personal injury case. If you or your loved one has sustained injuries in a fatal accident and are interested in working with an Abbeville fatal accident lawyer on your case, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 today.
