Though the state of Louisiana is making progress in terms of motor vehicle accident rates, according to data compiled by Louisiana State University, you can become the victim of negligence on roads in and around Estherwood at any given moment. Car accidents can result from one or more forms of negligence, such as:
- Driver error
- Preventable dangerous road conditions
- Decisions made before the accident that increased the risk of an accident occurring
If you were injured in a car accident, it is your right to speak to a lawyer about the merits of a lawsuit. You can also speak to a lawyer if you lost a loved one in a car accident. Call our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to speak about your eligibility for awards with a member of our team—the phone call is completely free.
Distracted Driving and Other Risks on Louisiana’s Roads
Louisiana State University reported that there were more than 3,400 crashes resulting in injury in Louisiana during every month of 2019. Common knowledge about how motor vehicle collisions occur tells us that the majority of those accidents were due to some form of error, whether by drivers or others responsible for road safety.
Some driver behaviors that present a direct threat of harm to others are:
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Louisiana ranks above the national average in drunk driving-related deaths across all age groups
- Driving while under the influence of drugs, including opiates
- Driving in an aggressive manner—which may lead to behaviors such as tailgating, running red lights and stop signs, and turning into oncoming traffic in an unsafe way
- Driving at dusk or in darkness without functional headlights, or without headlights illuminated
- Failing to reduce speed, distance between your car and the car in front, and taking other defensive driving measures in dangerous conditions such as rain, snow, and fog
The behaviors listed above may all be considered negligence if they caused or contributed to your accident, or an accident that claimed the life of your loved one. One of the causes of car accidents—distracted driving—is worth further inspection.
Distracted Driving Covers a Variety of Dangerous Behaviors
In Louisiana, distracted driving is any thought or behavior that diverts your attention from navigating the road safely, as reported by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. This legal threshold means that a broad spectrum of behaviors could qualify as distracted driving—and by extension negligence, if they caused your accident.
Such behaviors may include:
- Sending a text message while driving
- Reading a text message while driving
- Posting on social media while driving
- Reading or viewing social media posts while driving
- Making a phone call while driving
- Engaging with your cell phone for any other purpose while driving
- Eating food while driving (which almost always requires you to take one or more hands off of the wheel, which is dangerous)
- Drinking a beverage while driving
- Focusing your attention on humans or animals inside or outside of your vehicle
- Adjusting your car’s entertainment system, which often requires the use of one or more hands and distracts you from safe driving
Distracted driving is a true menace to the safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on and around the roads of Estherwood and greater Louisiana. A lawyer may be able to prove that the driver who caused your accident was engaged in distracted driving or another dangerous behavior, and in doing so may be liable for your losses.
Call our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation regarding your fitness for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
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.
ClientUnderstand How a Lawyer Can Help You
Many clients who reach out to a lawyer for help can pass on the responsibility of certain tasks that stand in the way of recovery—allowing them to:
- Focus completely on recovery from their injuries
- Take the necessary time to cope with the loss of a loved one
- Avoid any stress that may come from trying to handle a lawsuit without assistance from a lawyer
- Achieve peace of mind that can come from knowing they are not fighting for compensation on their own
You may come to realize that a lawyer can help in other ways. Some of the potential responsibilities of your lawyer may include:
- Deploying investigators to collect evidence relevant to your case
- Proving liability
- Drafting and filing all paperwork required to complete your case
- Speaking with lawyers for the defendant or defendants in your case, as this may lead to settlement offers that could allow you to avoid trial
- If acceptable settlement offers do not arise, guiding your case through the trial stage
- Hiring experts relevant to your case that may testify on your behalf at trial
- Aiming to prove the negligence of the defendant(s) in your case to a jury of your peers
- Protecting your rights throughout the entire legal process
Many lawyers (including the team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers) work on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that we charge nothing upfront to represent you. We only receive payment if you win a settlement.
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 | ClientCall Our Team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Speaking with a lawyer may give you a better understanding of the strength of your case, and how a lawyer could serve you in your pursuit of compensation. Call our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to discuss whether a lawsuit is a viable option for you. The consultation will cost you nothing.
