Louisiana Car Accident Attorney

How a Louisiana Car Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Case

After an accident, you’re likely dealing with many new stresses. In addition to physical pain, you may be juggling unexpected medical expenses and car repairs alongside your daily expenses. A personal injury claim can help you recover financial compensation, but it may also add another thing to deal with and worry about. That’s where a personal injury lawyer comes in.

A Louisiana car crash attorney can take over the complicated legal process of your accident claim. They will:

• File paperwork, ensuring correctness and completeness
• Communicate with insurance adjusters
• Investigate your accident
• Gather supporting evidence for your claim
• Negotiate with insurers
• Represent your case in court, if necessary

Personal injury attorneys work on contingency fees, meaning you don’t have to worry about upfront expenses when hiring legal representation. Instead, you only pay their fees if they recover compensation for you.

For over 20 years, The Goldwater Law Firm has been helping injury victims seek justice. We know that big insurance companies often try to take advantage of victims, offering them lower settlements than they deserve; our law firm partners won’t let this happen. Our co-counsels will fight for the compensation you need and treat you with the compassion you deserve.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Louisiana?

Car accidents can cause many losses, from medical bills to lost wages. Fair compensation covers the losses you’re facing now and the ones you will face in the future due to your injuries. A Louisiana car accident lawyer will fight for the maximum compensation you are eligible for.

Recoverable compensation after a car accident may include:

Medical Expenses

Car accidents cause serious, expensive injuries. You may be able to recover the following losses:

• Emergency room care
• Surgeries
• Physical therapy
• Doctor and medical specialist appointments
• Medications

Job-Related Losses

These could include:

• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Loss of possible job benefits, such as PTO and salary increases

Property Damage

If your vehicle is damaged, you can recover the repair or replacement costs.

Physical Pain and Emotional Distress

Car accidents cause more than financial losses; the physical and emotional toll can affect every aspect of your life. Non-economic damages awarded in an accident claim can help you recover compensation for these losses, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Scars and disfigurement

Other Expenses Connected to Your Car Accident

Severe injuries from a car accident may require modifications to your home, long-term care, or mobility devices. These losses can also be recovered.

Wrongful Death Damages

If your loved one passed away due to a car accident, please accept our deepest condolences for your loss. A Louisiana car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for this tragic event. Wrongful death damages could include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship

A dedicated advocate will fight for the fair compensation you need and deserve. While the liable party for your accident is likely another driver, if your motor vehicle accident involved a commercial vehicle, it can be more complex. A Louisiana truck accident attorney can help clear up the confusion and fight for your needs.

Contact The Goldwater Law Firm today to be connected with a Louisiana car crash attorney near you.

How a Louisiana Car Accident Lawyer Can Support Your Case by Proving Negligence

Recovering compensation in a car accident claim requires proving that your injuries resulted from someone else’s negligence. However, proving negligence can be challenging. There may be more than one liable party, or the cause of the accident may not be immediately apparent.

Negligent actions that could cause an accident include:

• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Failing to yield
• Running a red light

We must prove the following to hold a negligent party liable for your injuries:

• Duty of Care: The liable party owed you a duty of care. For example, drivers have a duty of care to act as safely as possible and avoid accidents whenever possible.
• Breach: The liable party breached their duty of care towards you, e.g., failing to follow traffic laws designed with motorists’ safety in mind.
• Causation: The liable party’s action was directly responsible for your accident. For example, they ran a red light and t-boned your vehicle.
• Damage: You have provable losses from their action—for example, medical records showing your injury or a mechanic’s report of damage to your vehicle.

Additionally, proving negligence is vital due to Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence law. Under this law, you can recover financial compensation if you are less than fully at fault for your injuries. However, your percentage of fault reduces your recoverable compensation. Insurers may try to argue that you are more at fault so that they can offer lower settlements.

This is very common if you were riding a motorcycle during the collision. Riders often encounter bias after motorcycle accidents, making it challenging to defend their rights without legal representation.

A Louisiana motor vehicle accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident and use their available resources to prove who was at fault. They may:

• Interview witnesses
• Review surveillance footage, such as from dashcams and traffic cameras
• Analyze physical evidence and photographs from the accident scene
• Obtain police reports and other important documentation
• Consult with experts, such as an accident reconstructionist

A Louisiana car accident attorney will move quickly to secure evidence in a timely manner. Contact The Goldwater Law Firm to get started right away.

How the Statute of Limitations Affects Your Louisiana Car Accident Case

In addition to gathering timely evidence, there are other legal reasons to move quickly. In Louisiana, you generally have two years to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Typically, the two-year countdown begins on the date of your accident.

A Louisiana auto accident attorney will ensure your case is filed within legal deadlines and adheres to all federal and state laws.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Louisiana

Once you’ve received medical attention and are safely away from an accident scene, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You may be unsure how to navigate your next steps and protect your legal rights.

Below are some critical steps to take:

• Follow up with your doctor. This is a crucial step in your recovery journey. If you did not receive emergency medical care at the scene, go to an ER or urgent care to get treatment for your injuries. Early treatment of spinal cord injuries, for example, can significantly improve your recovery chances.
• Continue any prescribed medical treatments. Stopping medical care can harm your chances of a full recovery. Additionally, an insurance company may use this against you. It may claim it is a sign your injuries are not as severe as claimed.
• Document your injuries and expenses. This is a key step to ensure you have a clear record of your injuries and associated losses. Take photographs of your visible injuries, get copies of your medical records, and collect receipts for any medical bills you’ve already paid.
• Avoid talking to insurers. Insurance adjusters may attempt to shift blame for the accident onto you, so if you must speak with them, stick strictly to the facts and avoid speculation. Don’t apologize, and don’t say you are okay or uninjured. If you have a Louisiana car accident lawyer, refer the insurance adjuster to them instead.