After getting into a car accident, you may be overwhelmed by what you have lost and feel it’s difficult to heal from your injuries. You are not the only one who finds this time uncertain and wants some help deciding what to do next. The Morris Bart law office can guide you as you explore your legal options and next steps.
Our car accident lawyer in Lafayette can protect your rights and help you hold the negligent driver responsible for causing the accident and your injuries. A personal injury attorney can pursue compensation for your losses on your behalf while you focus on your recovery.
What Our Lafayette Car Accident Attorney Can Do for You
A car accident lawyer in Lafayette will be there for you through every step of the legal process. We will use our 40-plus years of legal experience to seek the maximum compensation that can help you pay your accident-related expenses.
Accident claims and lawsuits can be difficult to manage on your own, especially if you are recovering from auto accident injuries and have little experience dealing with insurance adjusters who could offer you a lower settlement than you deserve.
In addition to giving you legal advice that can help you understand your case and next steps, our injury attorney can:
- Investigate the cause of the crash in Lafayette to determine what happened at the accident scene.
- Gather evidence to support your account of the accident (e.g., a police report, witness testimony, expert witness statements, medical records, etc.)
- Determine liable parties and determine their negligence.
- Assess your accident damages and establish the value of your case.
- Negotiate with the insurance company for fair compensation that covers financial costs and other accident losses.
If your personal injury case does not settle through negotiation with an insurance provider, your car accident lawyer can represent you in court before the judge and jury and fight to protect your rights.
For a free legal consultation with a Car Accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call 800-537-8185
Recoverable Damages in a Lafayette Car Accident Case
Every vehicle collision is different, so there is no way we can estimate the damages that you could recover in a car accident case. Some economic and non-economic damages victims could recover in an accident settlement include:
- Medical expenses, including surgical procedures, doctor’s examinations, medical treatments, prescription medications, assistive devices, and other medical care you require
- Rehabilitation costs (e.g., physical therapy and other continued care)
- Lost income from time missed away from work for recovery
- Future income if you have lost your ability to work
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement or dismemberment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Impaired quality of life
If your family member died because of the accident, you may be able to recover wrongful death damages on their behalf from the at-fault party, such as:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of support and protection
- Wages and benefits previously the deceased would have earned
Our Lafayette wrongful death attorney can inform you of any additional compensation you qualify to receive based on the specifics of your case and damages. Louisiana’s laws designate family members who can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. We can explain how these laws work during a free consultation.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Lafayette
Various negligent behaviors can cause motor vehicle accidents on Lafayette’s roads. Identifying the cause can help determine how negligence occurred in your case. Some of the more common causes include:
- Distracted driving: Behaviors such as eating, applying makeup, talking to passengers, changing the radio, and texting take the driver’s hands, focus, and eyes off the road.
- Drowsy driving: The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 91,000 police-reported accidents in 2017 were caused by drowsy driving.
- Driving under the influence: According to La. R.S§ 14:98, if the driver has a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.08% or higher, they could be looking at additional charges on top of your civil personal injury case.
- Reckless driving:Different behaviors such as tailgating, speeding, rapidly changing lanes, failing to signal, or disregarding stop signs and traffic signals can be considered reckless and aggressive driving.
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Laws in Louisiana that Could Affect Your Case
There are two laws you should be aware of regarding your personal injury case. They are the statute of limitations and the law of comparative negligence.
Statute of Limitations
Many states have a statute of limitations that allows between two and five years to pursue compensation. In Louisiana, anyone who wants to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for their losses after a car accident must file their claim within one year of the accident date, per La. Civ. Code. Art. 3492.
Comparative Negligence
This law is in place to allocate damages if multiple parties are found responsible. According to comparative negligence, if you are partially responsible for the accident, any compensation that you are awarded will be reduced by your degree of liability. For example, if you are 20% responsible, your initial compensation of $10,000 would be reduced to $8,000.
Hiring a Lafayette Car Accident Attorney: How Much does It Cost?
Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have to pay for any attorneys’ fees out of pocket unless you collect a monetary settlement or court-ordered award. You have nothing to lose by contacting a Lafayette car accident lawyer. We will serve as your legal advocates and manage your case from beginning to end. This will give you time to focus on your recovery.
Attorney’s fees are typically 33.33% or one-third of your total reward. This figure can change depending on whether your case was settled through negotiation or was taken to trial.
A Lafayette Car Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Help
The team at Morris Bart, LLC can help take some of the weight that comes with legal work off your shoulders. While you give yourself time to heal from your injuries, we can build a strong case to pursue compensation.
Our compassionate lawyers serve car accident victims across the greater Lafayette area. To find out what options you have for recovering monetary compensation, contact us for your free consultation.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
