Were you in a car accident in Slidell, Louisiana? You might be entitled to receive compensation from the negligent driver who caused your accident or another liable party.
There are many aspects to consider when building a car accident case, whether you are filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit. You can get free legal advice if you call us at (504) 777-7777. One of our team members can review your case at no charge and let you know where it might stand if you intend to pursue compensation.
Determining What Caused the Accident May Lead to Who Is Liable
When you call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, one of the first things your lawyer may do is request to view the crash report about your accident. If you do not have this readily available, you can retrieve a copy of this report from the Slidell police center later. In the meantime, you can briefly describe what led to the accident to the call representative.
The reason we ask is because knowing what caused the car accident can help us begin strategizing how to prove the other party behaved negligently or recklessly. Some common causes of car accidents include:
- Alcohol or drug use before driving
- Speeding and weaving between lanes
- Aggressive driving, such as tailgating or cutting other drivers off on purpose
- Improper lane changes or merging
- Improper turns
- Distractions, such as cell phone use, GPS devices, food and drink, or other passengers in the vehicle
- Poor weather conditions, such as snow or rain
- Poor road conditions, such as potholes or uneven roads
- Objects or animals in the road
With any of these situations, your lawyer may have to consider what kind of evidence you need to prove how someone else’s negligence led to the accident, especially if these observations were not written in the accident report.
The Type of Accident You Were in Can Determine the Outcome of Your Lawsuit
How you might approach your car accident case might also depend on the specific type of accident you were in, as it can influence how you need to argue your points, what evidence you need to focus on, and how you need to prepare for the opposing party’s counterarguments.
Here are some things to consider if you were involved in one of the following accidents:
- Side-impact collisions. These cases often involve proving who had the right of way in an intersection or turn. Whether you were struck on the side or ended up hitting another vehicle that turned in front of you, your argument may focus on who made the improper turn or entered the intersection when it was not their turn.
- Rear-end collisions. The rear vehicle is often presumed to be at fault. However, Louisiana does have a comparative fault rule, per Civil Code (CC) §2323, which allows the rear vehicle driver to claim that the front vehicle driver contributed to the accident. If you were in front, you might have to anticipate this type of defense argument and prove how you contributed no fault to the accident.
- Head-on collisions. Like rear-end collisions, the vehicle opposing traffic is often considered at fault in head-on collisions. However, if the driver swerved into opposite traffic to avoid getting into an accident in their lane, then one thing you might need to consider is holding a third party liable for your injuries. If another driver’s negligence or road conditions caused the at-fault driver to hit you, then you may be able to pursue compensation from that third party.
Your lawyer can discuss what kind of counterarguments to anticipate in your case as well as potentially other parties to pursue.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Slidell, call 337-221-9907
An Attorney Can Help You Calculate Your Damages
Another factor in building your car accident case involves totaling the value of your compensable damages, which are expenses or general losses you experienced during or after the accident. There are laws that dictate what kind of damages a victim may claim and how much compensation they may receive for certain damages. Our team can explain this in more detail to you in a consultation.
Certain damages are easier to calculate because they may be proven with receipts, invoices, and other financial documents. These damages are referred to as “economic losses” and may include:
- Medical treatment costs
- Loss of wages
- Property damage
- Mileage costs for traveling to and from doctor’s appointments
- Other out-of-pocket costs
Other damages do not necessarily have a financial value and are known as “non-economic losses.” These damages may require legal formulas to calculate their value and generally represent an overall exacerbation of the damages the victim suffered after the car accident. These losses may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Permanent disability or loss of body part or function
- Reduced quality of life
Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations
Louisiana has a statute of limitations of one year for personal injury cases, according to CC §3492. This is a general deadline and may vary if other factors are involved in your case, such as whether you are suing a municipality or if a minor is involved.
Your lawyer can inform you about how long you have to file your car accident lawsuit. However, due to the short length of time given, you may want to take action as soon as possible rather than wait to decide. If you fail to file your lawsuit on time, you may be stripped of your right to pursue compensation.
Slidell Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 337-221-9907
Hire a Slidell Car Accident Lawyer Today for Help with Your Case
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we have developed a robust portfolio of car accident cases, which is why we are confident about leading our clients’ cases. If you would like legal assistance with your car accident case, let us have a look at your crash report and other available evidence to determine how we may be able to help you. Call for a free case review at (504) 777-7777.
Call or text 337-221-9907 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
