Lake Charles car accident lawyers

Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyers

If you were hurt in a crash caused by someone else, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. The Johnson Firm is ready to help you recover every cent of what you deserve. Call (337) 294-0203 or contact us online to schedule your free case consultation.

lake charles car accident lawyers

What to do after a car crash

Car accidents are more frequent and dangerous than ever. Many drivers engage in distracting behaviors such as texting or talking on the phone, which can significantly increase the likelihood of a crash.

While you can’t control what other drivers do on the road, you can control what you do if you’re ever in a crash. Follow these simple tips to protect your rights and best interests post-collision.

1. Move your vehicle to a safer location

Moving your vehicle to a safer location, such as the shoulder or a nearby parking lot, can help prevent additional collisions and can reduce the risk of further injuries or damage. That being said, you should only exit or move your vehicle if it’s safe to do so.

2. Check for injuries

Even minor collisions can cause serious injuries. Checking yourself and your passengers for injuries will help you assess the need for emergency medical attention and ensure that appropriate emergency personnel are dispatched to the scene.

3. Call 911

Call 911 to inform the police of the accident and to request emergency medical personnel. Tell the dispatcher the location of the accident, the number of vehicles involved, any serious injuries, and any immediate hazards such as if any of the vehicles are on fire.

4. Tell your side of the story to the responding police officer

By providing your account of what happened, you can ensure that your version of events is accurately recorded and considered during any subsequent investigation or legal cases.

You should be honest, but it’s crucial that you don’t say anything that could ultimately work against you. This means never admitting to any responsibility. You might not know exactly how the accident happened – but that’s fine. Don’t guess that you might have done something wrong when you’re actually unsure of what happened. If you do, it could be difficult for you to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Notify your insurance company

Notifying your insurance company can help your personal injury lawsuit as it will be an additional record of the accident and damages you sustained. Your insurer might provide some coverage to pay medical expenses or repair your car while your claim against the at-fault driver is pending.

Other than stating the facts of the accident, you shouldn’t provide any more information. If you even hint that you could be at least partially to blame, that will make it much harder to obtain full compensation.

Gather evidence

You can take pictures or videos of the involved vehicles, the road, the surrounding area, and any hazards that might have played a role in causing the accident, and you can document anything in a note that you can use to build your case.

Visit Urgent Care, the ER, or your primary care physician

Some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Failure to seek medical attention could worsen injuries, potentially leading to more serious health issues down the line. For example, soft tissue injuries and head injuries might not show symptoms for a few days. If you don’t get prompt and proper medical help, your recovery could be much longer than it needs to be and you might not reach a full recovery.

Seeking medical attention after an accident can also strengthen your case as it creates an official record of your injuries, necessary treatments or therapies, and the potential need for long-term care.

Meet with a car accident attorney

It’s essential to meet with a skilled car accident lawyer to understand your legal options. Car accidents can result in severe injuries, property damage, and significant financial losses.

Speak with a Lake Charles car accident lawyer on our team to help you understand your legal rights and options, including pursuing compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Make sure you file a claim on time

The statute of limitations, or deadline, for filing a car accident lawsuit in Louisiana is only one year from the date of the wreck. Failing to file within the required timeframe can prevent you from receiving compensation for your injuries, property damage, or lost wages resulting from the accident.

What are possible damages you can claim?

The word “damages” in personal injury cases means the financial losses you’ve suffered due to the wreck. Damages typically fall into one of two categories – economic and non-economic.

Economic damages

These damages are meant to compensate an injured person for financial losses resulting from the accident, such as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages

Non-economic damages

Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages are meant to compensate for losses that don’t necessarily come with a bill attached. These damages, which include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, are more difficult to calculate because they vary based on the facts of each individual case. A skilled Lake Charles car accident lawyer can help you calculate what these damages should be based on your specific case.

Lake Charles car accident lawyer

Parties who may be liable for your injury

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, one or more parties may be liable (responsible) for your injuries.

The other driver involved in the accident may be responsible if they were driving negligently or violating traffic laws. If the accident was caused by a defective vehicle or part, the manufacturer or distributor could be held responsible.

How our Lake Charles car accident lawyers prove negligence

In order to receive compensation for your car accident, there are four elements that must be established to prove negligence. Here are the ways an experienced Lake Charles car accident attorney on our team can prove negligence.

Duty of care

All those who occupy a road must adhere to local traffic laws created for the safety measures of everyone on the road. Failure to meet the duty of care for another driver is proven when establishing that the driver did not follow the laws and regulations of the road which resulted in the accident.

Duty of care breached

After it has been proven that you were owed a duty of care, our lawyers will prove that the actions caused by the driver violated that duty. Common actions that can result in violation:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Running through a red light
  • Road rage
  • Driving under the influence
  • Fatigued driving
  • Tailgating

Causation

Causation is the link between the accident and the injuries. To prove causation, the following are considered:

  • The person’s medical condition before the injury
  • The person’s medical condition after the injury
  • The mechanics of how the accident occurred, and
  • The connection between the injuries and the mechanism of the accident, both in time and medical likelihood

Damages

To receive compensation to recover the costs caused by the crash, our lawyers will help prove that they were caused by the accident.

We fight the insurance company to get you full compensation

Our team will build a strong case to prove liability and damages. We’ll handle the negotiations with the insurance company and will take your case to court if they refuse to settle for the amount you deserve. Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you – work with an attorney who will fight for your rights.

Common car accident injuries

Car accidents can be devastating and impactful, causing injuries of many severities. A car accident injury can be “hidden,” such as a concussion or internal bleeding. Other injuries are more obvious, such as a broken bone, wound, bruising, and more.

Here are some of the common injuries seen in car accidents that we’ve helped our clients receive compensation for:

  1. Head, neck, and brain injuries
  2. Chest, knee, and shoulder injuries
  3. Broken bones, cuts, bruises, and scarring
  4. Amputations, including those that were caused by the accident or which required surgical amputation due to severe injuries
  5. Internal bleeding
  6. Mental suffering and anguish

Cost of hiring a  Lake Charles car accident lawyer with The Johnson Firm

When you work with us on your car accident lawsuit, you won’t have to pay a dime out of pocket because we work on a contingency basis. We’ll only receive compensation if your case is successful.

Why you should visit a doctor as soon as possible

It is important to seek medical attention immediately after you’ve been involved in a car accident to determine a proper diagnosis. If you think you’re okay, still make an appointment to speak with a doctor. Some injuries may not be noticeable initially.

Not seeing a healthcare professional can lessen the chances to receive compensation to cover the medical costs of your injuries. It can also impact the recovery time for your injuries and possibly make them worse. With insurance claims, many insurance providers require that you go to a hospital or urgent care within a specific time frame in order to be eligible for coverage

Speak with a Lake Charles car accident lawyer today

You won’t find a team of Lake Charles car accident lawyers who are more passionate – or more effective – than those with The Johnson Firm. Our track record of success speaks for itself, so get in touch with us as soon as you can so we can get to work on your behalf.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (337) 433-1414.

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An injury can impact your life tremendously. Every type of injury that happens as a result of someone else’s negligence requires the attention of an experienced attorney.