If you experienced injuries or lost a loved one due to a negligent driver in Jefferson Island, Louisiana, you may have legal options for seeking compensation. It may be possible to hold that driver accountable for their actions and secure recovery based on their auto insurance.
State laws limit the time allowed for pursuing civil action. It is essential that you seek legal representation without delay. A Jefferson Island car accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to help you file an insurance claim or lawsuit. Your first case evaluation is free.
Recoverable Damages Following a Jefferson Island, LA, Crash
While each personal injury case is different, you could recover compensation based on the harm you suffered because of your crash. This includes physical injuries, financial damages, and intangible losses.
Examples of damages related to your injuries and treatment include:
- Medical care costs
- Future medical needs for your injuries
- Ongoing care and support for lifelong injuries
- Pain and suffering
The severity of your injuries may prevent you from going back to work immediately or ever returning to a career you once loved. To this end, you can seek:
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Reduced quality of life
If the accident was fatal for a loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim and seek the recovery of your expenses and losses related to their crash.
Our Team May be Able to Identify the Liable Parties in Your Car Accident
In many cases, drivers who suffer serious injuries are unsure what caused their accident. As they undergo treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy, they have little time to contemplate how the accident occurred or gather evidence to show the other driver caused it.
Working with an attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you determine what happened and who is liable. Contacting a personal injury lawyer is an important first step toward justice and possible compensation.
Our team puts our knowledge to work investigating and reviewing key pieces of evidence, including:
- The official police report of the accident
- Witness statements
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Accident reconstruction
- Physical evidence such as the damage to each car
These and other types of evidence can help our team to identify all parties liable for your injuries. Determining liability for your car accident injuries is the first step in building a strong case for compensation, whether out of court or during a civil trial.
What Can I do if My Family Member Died in a Jefferson Island Crash?
Losing a loved one in a tragic car accident is devastating. If this has happened to you, we are sorry for your loss, and we will do everything to help you during this challenging time. Learning that your loved one’s death was most likely preventable is especially heartbreaking and frustrating. Depending upon your relationship with the decedent, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit under CC Art. 2315.2.
Pursuing civil action against the responsible party can never replace your loved one. Legal action can, however, hold the liable party accountable for your loss and possibly provide you with compensation for:
- Your loved one’s final medical expenses
- Funeral, burial, or memorial costs
- Loss of income or other job benefits
- Loss of potential future earnings
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of companionship
These are just a few examples of the types of damages possible in a wrongful death case. With legal representation from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, you can focus on your grief and leave the legal details to us. We keep all clients updated as to the progress of their cases as we seek compensation on their behalf.
You Have a Limited Time to File a Lawsuit in Iberia Parish
While there is no way to predict the behavior of drivers around you, Louisiana law does offer legal options when someone causes you harm. However, there are specific time requirements for filing a lawsuit in a personal injury or wrongful death case. This is usually two years following the crash under CC Art. 3492.
Reviewing the evidence and negotiating out of court with the insurance company takes time, too. For this reason, it is imperative that you reach out to our team as soon as possible after your crash. If the deadline for filing your case passes, you may miss your opportunity for compensation.
Protect Your Right to Pursue Compensation After Your Jefferson Island Car Accident
You have a right to seek compensation and hold the at-fault driver responsible. However, the insurance company will likely try to reduce or deny your claim. You need to be aware of the things you may do that could work against you. This includes:
- Missing the deadline for filing suit
- Saying or doing the wrong thing
- Giving the insurer a recorded statement
Friends and family may want to discuss your accident with you. It is vital that you use caution as to what information you share. If the information makes its way to an insurance company, they may try to use it against you. For example, you should never admit fault or apologize for your accident. Let the investigation run its course.
Even making statements you believe are factual could allow the insurance company to try to blame you for the accident. This could affect the compensation available to you.
Do Not Settle for Less Than You are Due
When you experience serious injuries and massive medical bills due to a drunk, distracted, or otherwise negligent driver, you can fight for justice. It is not fair for an insurance company to wrongfully delay or deny your claim. However, many try.
One tactic they use to underpay accident victims is to offer an initial lowball settlement. The initial offer may seem like a large sum, but it may not be enough to cover your future medical and care needs, lost wages, and other expenses. Should you accept an offer without legal representation, you waive your chance to pursue additional compensation later.
We Can Assign a Value to Your Case
Our Jefferson Island attorneys can help you understand how much you may need to cover your damages and take care of your future care needs. We will gather evidence and determine a fair settlement range for your claim. This allows us to ensure you do not settle for less than the facts of your case show you deserve.
Suffering injuries and losses because of a car accident is stressful and confusing. You are not alone. A Jefferson Island car accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can protect your interests so that you can focus on your recovery. We do not charge any upfront fees. We only get paid from the recovery we secure for you.
Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Case Review
You should not have to pay for your medical expenses when a car accident was another driver’s fault. A personal injury or wrongful death case may hold those responsible for the accident accountable for their actions. You may be eligible to recover compensation.
Get help from our Jefferson Island car accident lawyer today. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for your free case evaluation. You can reach our Lafayette office at (337) 777-7777.
