According to a report from The Trust for America’s Health, Louisiana has the seventh highest rate of motor vehicle accidents in the nation. When you are involved in even a minor car accident in Alexandria, you may sustain injuries that require medical care and keep you from working on at least a temporary basis.
In more serious car accidents, your injuries may rise to the level of catastrophic, which can leave you permanently impaired and unable to work. No matter the situation, you should consider contacting an Alexandria car accident lawyer for help.
With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses when your injuries result from another’s negligent actions. If these injuries have a direct impact on your everyday life, you should take the steps necessary to pursue any type of compensation to which you may be entitled from the legally liable parties.
Negligence and Car Accidents
Most personal injury claims that arise from car accidents are based on a legal theory of negligence. Drivers typically are negligent when they fail to act as a reasonably safe driver would under similar circumstances.
One commonly strong indicator of negligence is the failure to abide by traffic laws. If drivers fail to stop at a stop sign or traffic light, for instance, this may be strong evidence of negligence in a personal injury case. A qualified Alexandria car accident attorney could be well-equipped to identify evidence of negligent behavior and incorporate it into a potential client’s case.
Comparative Negligence
Even if injury victims are partially at fault for the accident that led to their injuries, they still may be able to recover compensation from other parties who are also partially at fault. Under Louisiana Civil Code §2323, which is Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence statute, the amount of compensation that injury victims can recover is decreased by a percentage equal to their degree of negligence.
In other words, if injury victims are eligible to receive damages but are 25 percent at fault for an accident, their recovery would be limited to 75 percent of their total damage award. Unlike other states, however, there is no upper limit to how much responsibility a plaintiff in Alexandria, Louisiana may bear before they are barred from recovering entirely.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 777-7777
Prescriptive Period in Car Accident Cases
Like other states, Louisiana has a prescriptive period—also known as a statute of limitations—that applies to personal injury claims arising from car accidents and any other type of accidents that cause injuries.
According to La. Civil Code §3492, injury victims have only one year following a car accident in which to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses.
If injury victims fail to file a lawsuit within this timeframe, then they lose the right to do so. Therefore, it is highly advisable to contact an Alexandria car accident lawyer as quickly as possible following an accident in which individuals have sustained injuries.
Alexandria Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (318) 777-7777
Compensation for Damages
The amount of compensation that injury victims are entitled to in car accident claims depends on the nature, severity, and expected duration of their injuries. Eligible expenses for compensation may include medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for permanent disabilities. With the assistance of a car accident lawyer, plaintiffs in Alexandria may be able to recover compensation for all their losses related to an accident.
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Rapides Parish Car Accident Lawyer
Fault in Automobile Crashes
In Louisiana, the driver who is at fault for an accident is responsible for any harm they caused. If the driver has car insurance, their insurance company may cover the losses up to their policy limits.
It may be best to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer in Rapides Parish before speaking to or settling with any insurance companies. In many cases, injured individuals may receive more compensation with legal representation than without.
Minimum Car Insurance Coverage for Drivers
As per Louisiana Civil Code 32:863.1, drivers must have automobile insurance and must provide proof of such coverage when asked by law enforcement officials. The minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage that drivers in Rapides Parish must carry are:
- $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
- $30,000 for total bodily injury or death liability
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
Drivers who do not have automobile insurance coverage may not only face tickets and fines but also could be held personally liable for the damages they cause.
Recoverable Damages in Rapides Parish
If a civil court determines that the defendant is liable for damages, they or their insurance company would be ordered to pay compensation to the plaintiff. The types and amounts of damages vary case by case.
Economic/Actual Damages
Economic damages are those with a specific monetary value. These are common and could be awarded in even minor car accidents. Examples of economic damages include:
- Costs of replacing or repairing damaged property, including a vehicle
- Present and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses for treatment including hospital stays, rehabilitation, and surgical procedures
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are often difficult to quantify without an attorney’s assistance because they are subjective and may be worth different amounts depending on the circumstances. Common non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, shortened life expectancy, disfigurement, loss of companionship, and diminished quality of life.
It is important to note that plaintiffs are not subject to damage caps or limits for car accidents in Louisiana. As such, courts are free to determine what they believe is a fair award for the plaintiff without the constraints of a damage cap.
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Consulting an Alexandria Car Accident Attorney
Any type of motor vehicle accident can be a traumatic event that causes serious physical and emotional injuries. When you suffer such injuries due to another’s negligent actions, you may be able to pursue compensation for your losses from that individual.
Get advice about any potential personal injury claims that you have by contacting an Alexandria car accident lawyer for help. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Call or text (318) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
