No one expects to get into a car wreck. But when it happens, the overwhelming aftermath can leave you injured with mounting bills. If you are unsure where to turn or how to get the money you need to move forward, an Alexandria auto accident lawyer can help you seek money for loss of income, rehab, and more.
Our experienced legal team can assist you in pursuing financial compensation if you were injured in a car accident in Rapides Parish. We have over 350 years of combined legal experience and have won over $600 million for clients.
If car accident injuries directly impact your everyday life, take steps to bring all legally liable parties to justice. Connect with an Alexandria personal injury lawyer today and learn more during a free consultation.
Is Hiring an Alexandria Car Accident Lawyer Required?
Insurers don’t want to pay more than necessary after an accident. They may try to lowball your settlement by:
- Interpreting evidence against you to reduce payouts
- Scrutinizing your statement for anything minimizes your claim.
- Pressuring you to accept an insufficient offer quickly.
- Using their lawyers to intimidate you into accepting less.
You don’t have to hire a car accident lawyer after a wreck. However, our Alexandria car wreck lawyers can handle insurers for you. We’ll protect you from their shady tactics and fight to get you a maximum settlement offer. With us in your corner, you can focus on recovering, not dealing with aggressive insurers. We can also help after rideshare accidents. You can work with an Alexandria Uber accident lawyer or an Alexandria Lyft accident lawyer for professional help.
We can also help after rideshare accidents. You can work with an Alexandria Uber accident lawyer or an Alexandria Lyft accident lawyer for professional help.
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.
ClientHow Louisiana Car Insurance Coverage Applies to Your Claim
If you are a Louisiana driver, RS Art. 32:863.1 states you must have automobile insurance. If pulled over in a place like Rapides Parish, be ready to provide proof of the following coverage, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s Consumer’s Guide:
- Coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury to one person.
- Coverage of $30,000 for total bodily injury.
- Coverage of $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Driving uninsured can lead to fines and leave you on the hook for wreckage costs. Don’t take the risk; make sure you’ve got the state-required amounts of liability insurance at the very least before hitting Louisiana’s roads.
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 | ClientFactors Eligible for Compensation in Your Alexandria Car Accident Claim
Your personal injury attorney may also help you determine what damages you could recover due to your accident. The maximum compensation will depend on various factors, including the severity of your injuries and any property damage.
If a civil court finds the defendant liable for damages, the judge will order them or their insurance company to pay the plaintiff. The types and amounts of damages vary by case.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those with a specific monetary value. These are common, and you can receive them even in minor car accidents.
Examples of economic damages include:
- The costs of replacing or repairing damaged property, including your vehicle
- Present and future medical bills for hospital stays, surgical procedures, medications, and physical therapy
- Lost income, including wages, benefits, and retirement contributions
- Reduced earning potential
Economic damages are quantified using documents like pay stubs, tax returns, invoices, and bills. Your lawyer will gather documentation to prove your economic losses and may also seek analysis and testimony from economic experts who can substantiate the value of future income loss or an adjusted career path.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are often challenging to determine without an attorney’s assistance. These damages are subjective and may be worth different amounts depending on the circumstances. Our qualified auto accident attorney in Alexandria, LA, can calculate these damages for you.
Common non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Physical injuries or impairment
- Shortened life expectancy
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientSteps to Winning Non-Economic Damages for Your Injuries
To establish non-economic damages, a car accident attorney in Alexandria, LA, will gather evidence to prove them. They’ll need to prove the following:
- The accident severity
- The type of injuries sustained and the extent to which they impact you
- The physical, psychological, and financial impact of the accident
They may use photos or videos from the accident scene, images and X-rays of your injuries, and testimony from surgeons, physicians, and psychological therapists. An experienced attorney can calculate your non-economic and economic damages to give you a precise estimate of the case’s worth.
We have handled many cases in Alexandria, including a $1,400,000 settlement for an Alexandria woman who was in a car accident. Read about her story here.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientAdditional Settlement Money Recovered from a Car Wreck
In addition to the damages mentioned above, other forms of compensation may be recovered from a car accident settlement.
Eligible Wrongful Death Damages
You could recover damages for wrongful death if your loved one passed away from injuries resulting from a car accident in the Alexandria area. If we pursue your case and win these damages on your behalf, you could receive payment for:
- Your family member’s burial, funeral, or cremation costs.
- Final medical expenses.
- Lost income if they supported your family financially.
- Pain and suffering they endured before passing away.
- Loss of companionship and emotional support.
Speak to a wrongful death lawyer in Alexandria about the options available to your family.
Punitive Damages
When the negligent party intentionally ignores the duty of care and injures you, you could be eligible for punitive damages. These damages are special because they are neither economic nor non-economic but designed to punish the defendant, discouraging them from repeating the actions.
Usually, a judge, jury, or both decide whether you can receive punitive damages. A crucial part of receiving the damages is proving that the negligent party intentionally hurt you. In these cases, your Alexandria, LA, vehicle accident lawyer must prove the party acted with gross negligence.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Like other states, Louisiana has a prescriptive period that applies to personal injury claims arising from any injury accident, including car crashes. According to Louisiana’s statute of limitations, injury victims only have one year following a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses.
While it may seem like plenty of time, a year can pass quickly when recovering from a vehicle accident injury. The statute of limitations can also vary depending on your accident’s circumstances. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this time frame, you will lose the right to do so.
Therefore, we recommend hiring a car accident lawyer in Alexandria as quickly as possible. We can explain this deadline and answer questions about legal issues during a free case review.
Does Louisiana Have Limits on Car Accident Settlements?
Our attorneys are able to seek the full value of the losses you’ve incurred because plaintiffs are not subject to damage caps or limits for car accident awards 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.
Although we cannot guarantee a specific result, our attorneys will fight for your right to fair compensation for all the losses you incurred, both economic and non-economic. We have the knowledge and resources to establish a substantial claim for your Alexandria vehicle crash injuries and plan to represent you aggressively.
The Most Successful Way to Prove Liability for Your Alexandria Accident
Proving who was at fault for your Alexandria car accident is mandatory to receive any form of compensation. Negligent drivers who fail to act reasonably behind the wheel, such as drunk driving, texting while driving, failing to obey traffic laws, etc., provide irrefutable evidence that they are to blame for the collision.
Your lawyer will compile evidence to prove the other party was mostly or fully responsible for the accident. The evidence used to prove fault includes photos, videos, witness statements, and expert accident reconstruction. Since Louisiana bases settlement value on the extent of fault, evidence is critical for your claim.
Comparative Negligence
Even if you were partially at fault for the accident that led to your injuries, you could recover compensation from other parties who also share in the blame. Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence statute decreases the compensation injury victims can recover by a percentage equal to their degree of negligence.
Therefore, if injury victims qualify for damages but are 25% at fault for an accident, they would recover only 75% of their total damage award. However, unlike other states, there is no upper limit to how much responsibility an Alexandria plaintiff may bear before being barred from recovering entirely.
An Alexandria car collision lawyer will thoroughly understand the calculations for comparative negligence. We will help you obtain the evidence to defend your right to a fair settlement.
How Working With a Car Accident Lawyer From Our Alexandria Team Can Help
Recovering from a car accident can take considerable time as victims heal. As a result, you may feel overwhelmed by the stress of physical recovery, mental distress, and financial hardship. Seeking legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for an accident adds unnecessary weight on your shoulders.
Our experienced car accident attorneys in Alexandria can take your case on, giving you the space to care for yourself while we handle your legal matters. In addition, our car accident attorneys can save you time, which could be one of the most significant benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer.
When you become our client, we will:
- Investigate your case and collect evidence that supports your claims of the other party’s liability for your accident.
- Represent you at meetings, including negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance companies and legal representatives.
- Handle negotiations to secure a fair settlement that meets your needs.
- Complete necessary legal filings and take your case to court if needed.
We can help with all collisions involving motor vehicles, including bicycle and pedestrian accidents. You can learn more from an Alexandria pedestrian accident lawyer.
Timeline and Payment Method for Car Accident Settlements
The amount of compensation automobile accident victims can recover 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 in Alexandria, LA, plaintiffs in Rapides Parish could recover compensation for all their losses related to an accident.
How Long Does It Take to Get Paid Damages From Accident Settlements?
It is natural to wonder how long it will take to get your money, especially as you struggle to pay bills or support your family following your crash. The length of time it takes to secure a car accident settlement or jury award depends on factors such as:
- The insurer’s willingness to cooperate
- How long it takes to identify the at-fault party
- If we find multiple liable parties
Method of Payment for Car Accident Settlement Checks
You will receive damages in one of two ways: a pretrial settlement or a jury award.
- A pretrial settlement is often the faster and easier way to get money following an accident. You can get a settlement by allowing us to sit down and negotiate with the liable party’s insurer. Then, once we reach an agreement and you sign it, you get your compensation.
- A jury award is money a car accident victim receives from a jury of their peers in a court trial.
We generally only take a case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement. However, insurers readily negotiate in most cases, as it is less expensive than going through a trial.
Our Louisiana Auto Accident Lawyers Differ From the Competition
Suppose you’ve spent time searching for a successful car accident lawyer in Alexandria. In that case, you’ve come across a lot of personal injury lawyers who promise to win you a big settlement before knowing your case details. Our firm doesn’t overpromise and underdeliver. We will evaluate your case in a free consultation.
We don’t want to waste your time with false promises or your money with hidden charges or large retainer fees. We wish to provide legal support in the following ways:
- Collect evidence alongside the insurance adjuster to ensure a fair investigation
- Discuss case details, the claims process, and long-term care options with you before speaking with the insurance company
- Evaluate all aspects of the submitted insurance claim and negotiate the terms of your settlement with insurers on your behalf
- Communicate any case updates or delays in a timely manner
- Employ experts to uncover additional evidence and testify in your defense
- Be readily available to answer any of your questions
- Prepare you for all legal proceedings or represent you in court if needed
- Provide additional resources to help you establish and maintain stability after an automobile accident
Successful Accident Law Firm With a Track Record to Prove It
We’ve recovered notable settlements in our years of experience. We’re proud to say we’ve recovered:
- An auto accident settlement resulted in a brain injury worth $5,250,000
- An auto accident settlement resulting in spinal cord injuries worth $2,000,000
- A settlement for an auto accident victim worth $1,000,000
- A settlement for an auto accident at an intersection causing back injury worth $375,000.
Affordable Legal Help Starts Here
We are a contingency law firm, meaning you pay no upfront fees for us to start work on your case. However, our payment is contingent on the outcome of your case.
If you receive compensation, payment for our services will come from your settlement or court award. In short, if you do not get paid, we do not get paid.
Avoid Dangerous Louisiana Car Accident Routes Going Forward
According to the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS), over 1,000 Louisianans were injured in a car accident last year. Unfortunately, that only counts for about 2.6% of all crashes in Louisiana.
The most dangerous and high-risk roads for Louisiana drivers include interstates like I-10 E, I-12 W, US-190, and US-90. Knowing where the most auto collisions in Louisiana occur and being mindful while driving can help anyone avoid becoming a 2023 crash statistic.
Get an Alexandria, LA Car Accident Attorney with Experience To Help
Get advice about any potential personal injury claims you have following a crash by contacting a lawyer from Laborde Earles for help. An experienced car accident lawyer in Alexandria, LA, will review your case and explain your legal options.
Our law office has extensive experience with auto accidents and will pinpoint who is at fault in a crash, calculate your damages, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation with a lawyer at our Alexandria, LA, office.
