If you were in a rear-end accident in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, you might be able to get compensation if you sustained injuries or damages as a result of the accident. Depending on the details of your case, you might be eligible to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the party you believe caused the accident.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777, and tell us about your case. If we think you have grounds to sue for compensation, we can assign a St. Charles Parish rear-end collision lawyer to investigate your accident and start putting materials together to move your case forward. The first consultation is free, and there is no obligation.
Rear-End Accidents May Occur Because of Driver Error or Negligence
The Washington Post
reported in 2015, about 1.7 million rear-end accidents occur in the United States every year, according to data by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Multiple reasons might be behind the cause of a rear-end accident. Some common causes of this type of accident include:
- The driver was distracted, such as by their cell phone or another passenger
- The driver was speeding and was not prepared to stop in time
- The driver was tailgating or performing other aggressive driving behaviors
- A vehicle part malfunctioned or was defective
- Inclement weather, causing poor visibility
In some cases, the driver from behind is not always the person at fault for a rear-end accident. Reasons why the driver in front might be held liable for a rear-end collision include:
- The driver did not signal appropriately or did not look before changing lanes or merging
- The driver suddenly stopped without warning
- The driver’s vehicle experienced a malfunction, forcing a sudden stop
- The driver purposely stopped their vehicle as an aggressive driving tactic
- The driver hit another vehicle in front of them, causing a chain reaction
Rear-End Accidents Often Cause Whiplash and Other Injuries
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
published a study on rear-end collisions that found that whiplash and other neck injuries were the top complaints after a rear-end collision. People can develop whiplash injuries days, weeks, or even months after the accident. Depending on the severity of the injury, some individuals might suffer pain for about a month, while others might endure pain longer than a month or experience relapsing bursts of pain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is a “neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.” Common symptoms of this injury include:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Inability or limited ability to move one’s neck
- Tenderness around the neck area, including the shoulders and back
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Rear-end accidents may cause other severe injuries, such as:
- Back or spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
- Cuts and abrasions
- Head and brain injuries
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
If you developed whiplash or another severe injury because of a rear-end accident caused by a negligent driver, you might be eligible to receive compensation to cover your medical expenses and other financial damages.
A St. Charles Parish rear-end collision lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to help you with your case by gathering evidence to show the extent of your injuries and arguing why your damages entitle you to compensation. Call (337) 777-7777 today to speak with a team member from our firm in a free consultation about your case.
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You Might Be Entitled to Collect Multiple Compensatory Damages
Car accident cases fall under personal injury law. As such, when pursuing compensatory damages, you may divide your losses into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages apply to any financial losses you experienced. Some losses may be as obvious as vehicle repair costs to not-so-obvious damages, like prescription medicine costs for your injuries. Other examples include:
- Medical bills
- Rental vehicle costs
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Other property damage costs
- Income loss
- Reduced earning capacity
Noneconomic damages encompass general physical, emotional, and mental losses. These losses do not have a definitive value and may be calculated based on your total loss experience. Examples of these types of damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Comparative Fault
Louisiana is a comparative fault state, which means your compensation might get affected if the negligent party can prove that you also played a role in the cause of the car accident.
According to Louisiana Civil Code (CC) § 2323, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault you hold in a car accident. For example, if you were found 25 percent at fault for an accident, your compensation may be reduced by 25 percent.
To counteract this potential move, your lawyer may collect substantive evidence that demonstrates how the other party was more or totally at fault for the accident. This may involve collecting:
- Photos of the accident scene
- Video footage of the accident, such as from traffic cameras, dash cams, or surveillance footage
- Witness testimony
- Accident reconstruction analysis
- Mechanic testimony if a vehicle parts failure is suspected as a cause
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Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations Needs You to Act Quickly
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations gives plaintiffs a short timeframe to file their lawsuits. Plaintiffs must file their personal injury lawsuits within this legal deadline. Otherwise, their case might get dismissed, which means they might have to bear the financial burden of the accident.
Per CC § 3492, the statutory deadline is generally one year from the date of the accident. Your lawyer may inform you about how this deadline may affect your case.
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Choose Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to Work on Your Case
Our team wants to help our clients get the compensation they need to recover from their losses and begin putting their life back together. If a rear-end accident uprooted your life with injuries and damages, we want to help you fight for justice.
A St. Charles Parish rear-end collision lawyer can work on your case to search for evidence that supports your side of the story and helps show how the other driver acted negligently. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers wants to help you build your case, and it can start with just one call to (337) 777-7777.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
