Alexandria stays warm most of the year, making it popular for tourists and Louisiana locals to venture on foot along the town’s roadways. Unfortunately, the increased number of people may lead to more pedestrian accidents.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury after being struck by a vehicle in Rapides Parish, an Alexandria pedestrian accident lawyer could help. With the help of an experienced attorney, your family could recover financial compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Contact our Alexandria, LA, personal injury lawyers at Laborde Earles for a free case review. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for Louisiana victims like you.
Why Choose Our Alexandria Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Following a pedestrian accident in Alexandria, it is essential to have qualified legal representation. We understand the complexity of these cases and are dedicated to helping our clients get compensation for treatment bills and other expenses.
Our team of personal injury attorneys has extensive experience handling pedestrian accident cases across the state.
We also understand the laws and regulations that govern these accidents, and we are committed to providing our clients with effective representation. Our team will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive fair compensation.
Our Experience
At Laborde Earles, we have extensive experience representing clients injured in all kinds of Louisiana accidents. As a result, we have helped our clients recover over $1 billion in cash settlements and court awards.
Our experienced attorneys have successfully represented pedestrians struck by cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. We understand the complexities of these cases and work tirelessly to help our clients get maximum compensation.
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.
ClientIs it Worth Hiring a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
An experienced attorney can establish the motorist’s negligence by proving they owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries. They must also show that you incurred damages. If these four elements of negligence are absent from your case, you may not qualify for a compensation award.
Pedestrians might be eligible to recover damages from negligent drivers (or their insurance companies) in the following situations:
- The driver fails to obey a stop sign, traffic light, or other traffic control device at or near a designated pedestrian crossing.
- The driver is distracted by a GPS, a cell phone, or another device and fails to see a pedestrian.
- The driver fails to yield the right of way to a pedestrian who is in a crosswalk.
- The driver cannot safely operate their vehicle because they are impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- The driver is too tired to operate their vehicle safely and runs into a pedestrian lawfully walking in a crosswalk or parking lot.
There’s a lot of money at stake in these cases, especially after a life-altering accident that may have created the need for expensive medical treatments. So don’t let an insurance company pressure you into settling for less than your injury is worth.
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 | ClientRecoverable Damages in a Pedestrian Accident Case
Pedestrian accident victims may be able to pursue financial compensation from at-fault motor vehicle operators for the losses they incur. Potential damages in pedestrian accident cases can include:
- Medical bills and medical care
- Physical or cognitive therapy
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Inconvenience
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of spousal companionship
Compensatory Damages
Louisiana allows plaintiffs to seek compensatory damages for losses due to another party’s negligence. This may even be true for damages considered noneconomic, such as pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
Insurance companies may push you into accepting a quick settlement for your compensatory damages if they know their policyholder is at fault. Don’t sign or accept anything without talking with a pedestrian accident attorney first. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot get more later.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages intend to punish the responsible party and are not usually allowed in Louisiana, barring certain exceptions.
Drunk driving is one type of wrongdoing that could fall under the exceptions to the state’s general ban on punitive damages. For example, if a pedestrian suffered injuries after being struck by a drunk driver, they might be eligible for punitive damages that go above and beyond the standard compensatory damages.
This is because the state views drunk driving as an exclusively egregious behavior that may cause catastrophic injuries or death. Contact our firm immediately to learn if you can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Louisiana.
Louisiana’s Cap on Punitive Damages
In Louisiana, punitive damages are typically capped at ten times the amount of actual compensatory damages awarded by the court.
Your compensatory losses may be substantial, especially if you or your loved one has a permanent disability due to a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury.
A pedestrian accident lawyer in Alexandria, LA, could look into how and why the crash occurred and analyze what type of damages a victim may be eligible to receive.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWhat Must My Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Prove to Win?
We must show that the driver’s negligence caused the accident and your injuries in most cases. The evidence in your case must show that the driver caused your injuries more likely than not. This is a less strict standard than proving beyond a reasonable doubt like in criminal cases.
Put simply, we must prove that the driver took an unreasonable action that caused your accident and your injuries. Our pedestrian injury attorneys in Alexandria will gather evidence to show this. Evidence for your case can include:
- Crash reports
- Medical records
- Witness reports
- Physical evidence
- Photos and videos of the scene
Once we can show the driver was responsible, we can begin negotiating the value of your claim with their insurer. If the insurer refuses to come to a fair settlement for all of your damages, we can take them to court and have a judge and jury decide your case.
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.
ClientOur Personal Injury Lawyers Work on Contingency
If you hire us to help you during this difficult time, we won’t add to your financial burden. Understand that you do not pay upfront and nothing out of pocket when you work with us.
We take payment only when we achieve a settlement or court award on your behalf; our fee comes from that compensation. This goes for all of our case types, from pedestrian accidents to car and truck accidents. This contingency-fee payment arrangement keeps our services affordable for everyone.
The Statutes of Limitations in a Louisiana Personal Injury Case
Louisiana has a strict prescriptive period, or time limit, for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Most cases must be filed within two years of suffering an injury. So, it is important to consult an experienced accident injury lawyer as soon as possible.
If a loved one passed away after a pedestrian accident, you only have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf, as CC §2315.2 states. Through a successful wrongful death action, your family may receive money for funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, loss of financial support, and more.
Your lawyer needs as much time as possible to build a solid case against the liable party, so it is best to allow them to get to work soon after the accident. The sooner they get started, the sooner you could receive a monetary award.
Consult With an Alexandria Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
At Laborde Earles, we understand the physical and emotional toll these accidents take on injured victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Alexandria, it is important to take legal action as soon as possible.
A skilled pedestrian accident attorney in Alexandria, LA, could help you seek reimbursement for the monetary and non-monetary losses you incurred due to your injuries. You may even be eligible for punitive damages if the driver who hit you drove under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Contact us today for a free legal consultation to learn more about pursuing a pedestrian accident claim.
