If a driver’s negligent actions caused a pedestrian accident, they might be responsible for paying the victim’s medical expenses, missed paychecks, and other accident-related damages.
Victims can request this compensation by filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Both processes can be daunting for people who are still hurt or unfamiliar with the legal system.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers offers our legal services to pedestrian accident victims in Metairie. We can assign a Metairie pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm to guide you through the personal injury process. Let us handle all the legal work and advocate for your interests. To get started, call our pedestrian accident team at (337) 777-7777 today. Your first call is free.
The Personal and Financial Toll of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are amongst the most vulnerable road users. When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, life-changing injuries can occur. Even pedestrian accident victims who are expected to make a full physical recovery may need to endure long-term medical treatments, time missed at work, and the ongoing trauma of their accident.
Proving that another party’s negligence caused your accident may entitle you to compensation for your damages. In general, these damages could include:
- The costs of all treatment you need to heal
- Your usual income for the period when you were unable to work during your recovery
- Disability or disfigurement if your accident has left you with permanent physical changes
- Pain and suffering
These are just a few basic types of personal injury damages. There may be other types of damages for you to request in your case. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you identify all your potentially recoverable damages.
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.
ClientTwo Routes to Compensation
Accident victims have two ways to pursue compensation. They can file a personal injury insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, or they can file a lawsuit and let a jury decide the outcome of their case. Many people start with an insurance claim and wait to see if they receive a fair settlement offer. If not, they may proceed with a lawsuit.
Each legal process may require:
- Figuring out who was at fault for the accident
- Collecting evidence of how they caused the accident through a negligent act, such as a violation of a traffic law
- Collecting evidence of the types of damages this accident caused and their value
- Submitting paperwork and meeting legal deadlines
If you hire a Metairie pedestrian accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we will manage this entire process for you. We can also speak with the at-fault party and their insurance representatives on your behalf.
The Deadline to Sue
It is important that you move swiftly and act within the statute of limitations for your case. This is a legal deadline on how long you have after your accident to file a lawsuit.
In Louisiana, accident victims typically have just two years from the date of their accident to submit their lawsuit, per the Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §3492. Waiting longer than this could lead to the dismissal of their lawsuit.
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 | ClientDefending Yourself Against Allegations of Fault
Per CC §2323, Louisiana is a comparative fault state. This means that a judge can split the fault for the accident between all parties involved in personal injury cases. Then, if a judge awards the plaintiff damages, the compensation can be reduced by the amount of fault they had for the accident.
For example, a pedestrian accident victim with 20% of the fault for the accident and $20,000 in damages can only receive 80% of their award, or $16,000.
The responsible party may try to use comparative fault against you after your pedestrian accident. They may claim you were jaywalking or that you did something else wrong that allowed the accident to happen.
Do not let this type of accusation intimidate you. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers defends our clients against allegations of fault by building a strong case file that shows:
- Evidence of how the accident occurred
- What negligent actions the responsible party took to cause the accident
- What rules or laws they violated with these actions
Our evidence may come from various sources, such as:
- Accident reconstruction experts
- Any available private video or security footage of the accident
- Bystanders who saw the accident
- The doctors who treated you
- Your evidence from the accident scene
- The police crash report
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers understands how comparative fault works and how to present a pedestrian accident victim’s side of the story. Do not assume that you do not deserve compensation because of your actions during the accident—our pedestrian accident team may have a different opinion once we hear the details of what happened. Call us at (337) 777-7777 for your free case review.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientFatal Pedestrian Accidents
Certain family members of fatal pedestrian accident victims also have a right to sue in Louisiana. This type of civil action is known as a wrongful death claim. The damages for a wrongful death case could include:
- Funeral, burial costs
- Medical care the decedent required after the accident
- Wages the decedent no longer provides to the family
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers also handles wrongful death cases. Contact our firm today for more information about Louisiana’s wrongful death laws and your legal options.
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.
ClientLet Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Work for You
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers strongly believes in holding negligent drivers responsible for their actions. If someone else caused your accident, allow a Metairie pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm to fight for compensation on your behalf.
You can expect our staff to answer your questions and give you the information and recommendations you need to make important legal decisions at every phase of your case. We are here to support you.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for your complimentary case review with our pedestrian accident team. We can go over your injuries, your accident, and your legal options during this call. If you decide to hire us, we operate on a contingency-fee-basis and do not charge fees for our efforts unless our clients win their case.
