When you get into a car accident, you could sustain catastrophic injuries that require expensive medical treatment and lead to other losses. Fortunately, a personal injury attorney from New Iberia, LA, can help you pursue financial recovery through a claim or lawsuit.
If you’ve been in an accident, life can be difficult, especially if you lost a loved one. That’s why the team at Laborde Earles is here to take care of the claims process and help you get the compensation you need. Getting started quickly on your case can give your New Iberia car accident lawyer time to build your personal injury claim and comply with applicable deadlines.
Types of Auto Crash Cases We Handle
Since 2014, our personal injury law firm has helped accident victims like you recover from several different injuries and types of vehicle crashes. We can help you seek compensation if you’ve suffered injuries in an incident involving any of the following factors:
- Drunk driving: Driving under the influence is a major issue. It can cause serious injury and even death to the driver and passengers in both vehicles. One of the most dangerous aspects of drunk driving is that it impairs a person’s ability to make sound judgments and react quickly to road hazards.
- Rear-end: This type of crash occurs when one vehicle crashes into the back of another vehicle. Rear-end crashes often result from distracted driving, following too closely, or braking suddenly.
- Hit and run: When a driver causes an accident and leaves the scene without stopping to exchange information or offer help, it is considered a criminal offense known as a hit and run. Hit and runs can be devastating for the victim, as they may be left with significant injuries and no means of holding the responsible party accountable.
- Pedestrian injuries: Since pedestrians lack the protective barrier that a vehicle provides, they can suffer severe and debilitating injuries in an accident. If you’ve been involved in such an incident, a New Iberia pedestrian accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses.
- Texting and driving: Using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle can lead to a dangerous accident. Staying focused and aware of the road to prevent such incidents is essential. A texting-while-driving accident lawyer can help you seek financial recovery after such an accident.
- Fatalities: When a vehicle collision results in death, it can be devastating for the loved ones left behind. In such cases, it is important to understand your legal options for seeking compensation for the tragic loss you’ve suffered due to the fatal car accident.
If you’ve been affected by any of the personal injury accidents listed above, you’ll want to get in touch with our car accident lawyers from New Iberia ASAP. They’ll build a strong claim on your behalf and ensure all relevant deadlines are met.
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Deadlines for Filing a Lawsuit in Iberia Parish
Louisiana’s statute of limitations for filing a civil action does not give you much time to prepare a personal injury case. According to CC Art. 3492, you only have one year from your incident to file an auto accident lawsuit.
If you lost a loved one in a collision, the state’s wrongful death statute of limitations gives you one year from your loved one’s death to file a suit. A wrongful death lawyer in New Iberia can help you adhere to these deadlines and ensure your lawsuit is submitted on time.
The sooner you file your accident claim, the more likely you’ll receive fair compensation for your injuries, losses, and suffering. Whether you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, motorcycle accident, or another type of incident, our team can help you abide by Louisiana’s filing requirements.
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What To Do After an Iberia Parish Auto Accident
Our car accident attorneys in New Iberia understand how stressful the aftermath of a car collision can be. While a collision can be incredibly shocking, it’s important to remember that what you should do after a crash can impact your case significantly. No matter what type of accident you were in, you should take the following steps afterward:
- Get medical attention: Even seemingly minor injuries can be more serious than you think. A doctor can evaluate your injuries, provide treatment, and generate medical records that we can use as evidence for your case.
- Contact the police and complete a crash report: You should always call 911 after a crash, as the police will respond to the scene, conduct an investigation, and help you file an accident report, which can serve as a record of the negligent driver’s actions.
- Get the other driver’s contact information: Before you leave the accident scene, exchange information with the other driver. Their contact and insurance information can help our New Iberia car accident attorneys file a successful auto accident insurance claim.
- Gather evidence at the crash scene: If your injuries aren’t too serious, gather evidence from the collision scene. Take photos and videos of vehicle damage, your injuries, the crash scene, and other important features.
- Politely decline to speak to insurers: Insurers may try to contact you after your crash to offer a settlement. The first settlement offer is usually too low to cover the true extent of your losses and accident-related struggles. A car wreck lawyer from our firm can deal with insurance companies and persuade them to offer a fair settlement.
- Keep a daily journal after the accident: Keeping a record of how the accident and your injuries impact you during the days following the crash can help your case. Include information about your physical and mental state in your daily journal so your car crash lawyer can use it to recover compensation for the injuries, pain, and emotional trauma you’ve been burdened with.
The above actions can help your accident injury lawyer build a stronger case and recover a higher settlement. If you have any questions about what you should do during the days and weeks following your collision, an experienced car accident lawyer from Iberia Parish can provide the answers you need.
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Proving the Four Elements of Negligence in Your New Iberia Car Accident Case
To prove negligence for your auto accident, our car accident attorneys in New Iberia will need to collect information that establishes the four elements of negligence. If our team can prove the following elements, they’ll likely be able to hold the offending party liable for your injuries and losses:
- Duty of care: When drivers get behind the wheel, they must uphold a duty of care. That means they’re legally required to drive in a way that prevents others from suffering harm. Our team can establish that the offending driver owed you a duty of care at the time of the incident.
- Breach of duty of care: A motorist violates their duty of care by engaging in reckless or otherwise dangerous behavior. Violations of the duty of care include speeding, operating a vehicle while under the influence, etc. We can use evidence like traffic camera footage, police reports, and blood tests to prove that the driver breached the duty of care.
- Causation: Next, we’ll use evidence from our investigation to prove that the other driver’s actions led to your auto accident.
- Damages: Lastly, our firm must prove that you suffered injuries and other damages due to the crash. If you take action for a wrongful death, we’ll work hard to connect your loved one’s fatal injuries to the collision.
When you meet with us in our New Iberia office, we’ll examine the details of your car crash and determine if any of the parties involved were negligent. If we find that the incident was caused by the careless actions of another driver or party, we’ll fight for the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Driving Behaviors that May Qualify as Negligent
As mentioned above, many different driving behaviors may be considered negligent. Familiarizing yourself with forms of negligent driving can help you determine if you have grounds for a claim. One of the primary causes of car crashes today is distracted driving. Some examples of distracted driving include:
- Texting
- Monitoring or posting to social media
- Accepting rideshare offers
- Making a phone call
- Adjusting the car’s entertainment system
- Eating food
- Drinking a beverage
- Restraining an animal
- Addressing other passengers
If you believe distracted driving played a role in your accident, our legal team can investigate the incident and gather the evidence we need to prove fault. By examining the police report, interviewing eyewitnesses, and reviewing available traffic surveillance footage, we can pinpoint the behavior that led to your crash.
We examine all possibly negligent parties, especially in accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers. You may file a claim against one of these companies with help from a New Iberia rideshare accident lawyer.
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An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in New Iberia Can Ease Your Legal Burden
Dealing with painful and debilitating injuries from a collision can make it hard, if not impossible, to take the actions required to recover compensation. Fortunately, our New Iberia personal injury lawyers can take all the steps required to win your case. We can represent you while you focus on your recovery and well-being.
When you hire our firm for your accident case, our experienced New Iberia car accident lawyers can assist you by:
- Speaking with you to fully understand the accident and your account of events.
- Keeping you updated on the status of your case.
- Collecting and organizing evidence of the accident and the circumstances that caused it, including proof of the at-fault party’s negligence.
- Examining your medical records to determine the extent of your injuries.
- Filing your claim with the appropriate information.
- Negotiating a settlement offer from the negligent party’s insurance company.
- Representing you before a judge if an out-of-court agreement isn’t reached.
- Providing effective legal representation and advice throughout your case.
Our team is eager to offer you the above-listed services on a contingency fee basis. That means we’ll handle your case at no upfront or out-of-pocket cost. You won’t owe us anything unless we deliver compensation for your losses, and if we do, we’ll take our payment as a percentage of this award.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to for Your Injuries or Losses
Car accidents can lead to many different types of injuries, from relatively minor bruising to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). You may face growing medical bills and other losses depending on the injuries you suffer. Fortunately, our law firm can help you seek the following damages:
- Past, present, and future accident-related medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Cost of physical rehabilitation or prolonged recovery assistance
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of household benefits or income
- Emotional trauma
You may also be able to collect damages for items that we have not listed here. For example, if you’re filing a wrongful death claim, you could receive compensation for burial expenses, loss of consortium, and other losses.
You could face significant medical expenses if you’ve been diagnosed with a severe injury, like a TBI or a spinal cord injury, after a car crash. Our catastrophic injury lawyers from New Iberia can work with medical professionals to determine how much you need to manage your injury. Then, they’ll demand the compensation you need to live with your condition.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Car Accident Attorney in New Iberia
Handling legal proceedings while recovering from a serious injury can be extremely difficult. Our law firm is here to identify liable parties, collect evidence, and negotiate a large enough settlement to cover all your accident-related losses.
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, your financial recovery is our priority. We are on your side whether your collision occurred on East Main Street, Highway 90, or somewhere in between. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with a New Iberia car accident lawyer and get started on your case.
Get The HelpYou Need(337)-547-2777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
