Although Louisiana State University (LSU)’s Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation reported that highway fatalities dropped from 2018 to 2019, more than 71,000 people got injured nevertheless on Louisiana roads in 2019.
If you got hurt in a collision, a Lafayette car accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help by evaluating your situation and letting you know if you might have a claim for money damages.
Call us today at (337) 777-7777 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What to Do After a Lafayette Car Accident
You can take steps to protect your right to compensation if you get hurt in a collision. Here are some suggestions:
Get a Medical Evaluation Immediately
You should go straight to the doctor, urgent care, or emergency room after a car accident. Getting visible harm treated right away will minimize the likelihood of infection and other complications. In addition, having a thorough physical examination can uncover wounds that have not yet exhibited symptoms.
Significant injuries, like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), can take days or even weeks to develop signs, according to Mayo Clinic. By the time that you notice a problem, you might be in a medical crisis.
We can also use your medical records to link the harm you suffered to the car accident. If you delay in getting medical attention, the at-fault driver might accuse you of getting hurt from some event that was not the collision. The closer in time you have a physical examination and treatment after the accident, the stronger the connection is between your wounds and the crash.
Talk to a Lafayette Car Accident Attorney
Although the law does not require you to work with a lawyer on your injury claim, it can be a wise choice to do so. A Lafayette car accident lawyer can help you avoid possible mistakes that can decrease the amount of compensation you can recover. An attorney can deal directly with the claims adjuster so that you can devote your full attention to getting better.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to find out if you might be eligible for compensation for the harm you suffered. There is no charge for the initial consultation with one of our Lafayette car accident attorneys.
Focus on Rebuilding Your Life
People often feel overwhelmed when trying to battle insurance companies. Insurers do not make their profits by paying out the full value of valid claims to injured people. Rather, insurance companies gamble on being able to pay less than people deserve. To accomplish this goal, insurers hire investigators, lawyers, and claims adjusters to refute your claims. Just one slip-up on your part can doom your right to compensation.
For example, you have only a short time to take legal action against the person who harmed you under Louisiana Civil Code Art. 3492. If you miss the deadline, you can lose the right to money damages. If you work with a personal injury lawyer who can take burdensome tasks, you can focus on getting better while we take care of the rest.
The above are but a few examples of things that you can do after a car crash. The actual steps you might want to take will depend on the facts of your situation.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 777-7777
What We Must Prove to Establish Liability
Your Lafayette car accident lawyer will have to prove all four of these elements of liability before the at-fault driver can be held responsible for your losses:
Duty of Care
The defendant (the driver who caused the crash) must have owed you a legal duty. Everyone who operates a motor vehicle on public streets has an obligation to drive safely and obey traffic laws.
Breach of Duty
When a person’s conduct does not measure up to the legal standard, it is negligence. If the defendant’s blood alcohol level was higher than the legal limit, he was negligent.
Causation
The negligence must be the thing that caused the accident that hurt you. If the defendant passed out at the wheel because he was intoxicated and his car veered into your lane and caused the collision, he would be liable for your injuries.
Measurable Damages
You must have quantifiable losses from the accident. Physical injuries count as measurable damages.
When we can prove all four of these factors, we can go after the defendant for your losses.
Lafayette Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Compensation for Your Injuries
Every accident is unique. The amount of money damages you can seek will depend on the facts of your situation.
These are some examples of the types of damages we have won for our clients:
Medical Expenses
We may be able to pursue damages to cover the reasonable cost of medical treatment you needed for your injuries, such as the costs for the ambulance, emergency room, doctors, hospital, surgery, prescription drugs, x-rays, lab tests, and physical therapy.
Lost Wages
If you did not get paid for some or all of the time you missed from work because of your wounds, you can include that amount in your claim.
Decreased Earning Capacity
You might have to cut back your hours or work a lower-paying job because of the harm you suffered. The difference between your previous income and your earnings after the accident can be compensable.
Long-Term Care
After a catastrophic crash, some people need daily assistance with medical treatments and personal tasks. These costs can be astronomical. We can include them in your claim.
Non-Economic Losses
Many people experience harm that does not come with invoices or receipts, like disfigurement, loss of the enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering. We can calculate the value of these items.
Wrongful Death
We might be able to pursue additional compensation for legal beneficiaries if your close relative died from injuries sustained in a Lafayette car accident.
Click to contact our Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyers today
Iberia Parish Car Accident Lawyer
Automobile Accident Statistics and Causes
Given the nearly 2.9 million licensed car drivers in the state, accidents are not an uncommon event in Louisiana. While most accidents do not result in a fatality, there are an untold amount of injuries and property damage that occur as a result of preventable automobile wrecks.
There are many causes of car accidents, a few of which are notably pervasive. The most common causes of a car crash in Iberia Parish and New Iberia may include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distraction, especially due to cell phones
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Driver error
- Mechanical failure
- Weather conditions
- Fatigue
The reasons for automobile wrecks vary case by case. A seasoned New Iberia car wreck attorney could provide more information about car collisions.
Potential Consequences of a Car Collison
While fatalities typically remain relatively low, car accidents may result in a variety of injuries that could have life-altering consequences. Examples of potential injuries include broken bones, paralysis, internal bleeding, disfigurement, and many others.
Damage to personal property, cost of medical bills, past and future wages, pain and suffering, and other consequences may add to the financial burden for those involved in a car crash. No matter the cause of a wreck, an Iberia Parish car accident lawyer could help throughout the aftermath by cataloging all damages and crafting a comprehensive settlement demand or civil court case.
Filing a Damages Claim in New Iberia
The state of Louisiana adheres to a prescriptive period for filing personal injury claims, which sets a time limit of one year following the event, as stated by the Louisiana Civil Code §3492. It is essential to file a personal injury or property damages claim in a timely fashion in order to maximize the odds of a positive outcome. A knowledgeable car accident attorney in New Iberia could provide assistance and guidance through the legal process. This could include ensuring all the necessary deadlines are met.
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How to Get Legal Help with Your Lafayette Car Accident Injury Claim
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation about your car accident claim. Call us today to get started.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
