Whiplash injuries may occur when the neck is forcibly bent forward and then jolted backward. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, rear-end car collisions often cause whiplash injuries. A severe whiplash injury can potentially have long-term consequences for a car accident victim and cause chronic pain and other debilitating problems.
Negligent drivers can cause devastating accidents that leave victims with whiplash. If someone else caused your car accident and whiplash injury due to careless or reckless driving in Gretna, you might have a personal injury case against them. A Gretna whiplash injury lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can assess your case, determine your legal options, and help you fight for compensation.
Potentially Recoverable Damages In a Whiplash Injury Case
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to in a car accident case will depend on your injuries, car damage, and other expenses related to the accident. However, you could potentially seek a variety of damages, including but not limited to:
- Past, present, and future medical costs related to accident injuries
- Neck brace and other medical devices needed for recovery
- Cost of medications
- Household assistance
- Transportation costs
- Loss of wages and future loss of wages
- Pain and suffering
A Lawyer From Our Firm Can Calculate Your Damages And Collect Critical Evidence In Your Case
Knowing what to do and how to assert your rights after a car accident can be challenging. A Gretna whiplash injury lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can start to protect your legal rights immediately after you sign up for representation. We can also help you in many other ways, including:
- Accurately calculating the value of your economic and non-economic damages
- Collecting crucial evidence to prove your claim
- Communicating with the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf
- Gathering your medical reports and other proof of damages
- Fighting for your due in out-of-court settlement negotiations
- Taking your claim to trial if necessary
Our firm can also answer your questions and give you case updates so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Working With the Insurance Companies
Louisiana is an at-fault state. If you suffered injuries in an accident in Gretna, you might need to request compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
However, it is best to approach this process with caution. The insurance company may ask you for a recorded statement, for example, as a tactic to try and reduce your settlement. Whatever you say to an insurance company could potentially be used against you.
Don’t Accept a Settlement Until You Talk to a Lawyer
The insurance company might also offer you a potentially inadequate settlement. Note that accepting a settlement offer may force you to release the at-fault party from any future liability for your damages. If you agree to a low settlement offer and find out that you have additional accident-related expenses later on, you might not be able to recover them from the at-fault party.
A Gretna whiplash injury lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can manage all communications with the insurance companies for you. We can also advise you on your options, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and help you understand the pros and cons of any settlement offer you may receive. If the insurance company does not make you a fair offer, we can file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial.
Louisiana’s Deadline to Sue For a Whiplash Injury
CC §3492 outlines the deadlines for personal injury lawsuits in Louisiana. In general, victims have one year from the date of their accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time limit is also known as a “statute of limitations.”
It is crucial that those suffering from injuries after a car accident with a negligent driver take timely action, as they could potentially lose the right to sue by missing the statute of limitations. Our firm can help you understand the deadlines in your case and file your lawsuit on time.
Contact Our Attorneys For Help Today
Battling insurance companies for compensation can be exhausting and overwhelming, especially if you have not yet fully recovered from a painful whiplash injury. Let Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers take some weight off your shoulders and help you fight for adequate compensation and justice.
Call us now at (337) 777-7777 for a free case review with a member of our team.