If you’ve been in a car accident caused by low road lighting, it may be possible to figure out who is legally responsible for those conditions and file a claim to recover your losses. A Lafayette accident caused by poor lighting lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm may be able to represent you in a claim or civil suit, depending on the specific details of your case.
To learn how we may be able to help you with a car accident case, call the Morris Bart law firm serving Lafayette today at (337) 446-4571. We offer free case consultations for victims.
Road Lighting Plays a Role in Preventing Accidents
Studies show that poor street lighting can lead to accidents. According to a study from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), many deaths from intersection collisions happen late at night or early in the morning, mainly because of visibility issues on the roads.
The agencies responsible for road design, construction, and maintenance of streets and street lighting must design and build roadways so that drivers can use them safely. If they fail to do so, they may be held accountable for their faulty design, construction, or maintenance. However, there are special regulations to keep in mind when you’re thinking about suing a government agency.
While your accident may have been partly caused by poor street lighting, a lawyer may also be able to help you if another dangerous road condition played a role in your Lafayette Parish car accident. Other conditions might include:
- Insufficient warning signs
- Uneven pavement or potholes
- Poor drainage and standing water
- Poor design
- Insufficient or absent guardrails
- Overgrowth blocking signs or signals
- Objects on or close to the road
- Blocked shoulder
- Pavement drop off at the shoulder
If you believe your car accident may have been caused by one or more of these problems with the roadways, you can talk to a lawyer to learn how to proceed with your case. If you believe your accident may have been caused by some other form of neglect by the city of New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, or a federal agency, we can also talk with you about your situation.
For a free legal consultation with a Poor Lighting Accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call 800-537-8185
Legal Responsibility in a Lafayette Parish Poor Lighting Collision
If we work on your case, a Lafayette accident caused by poor lighting lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm can look at the evidence of your case and determine who may be responsible for your accident. If your accident occurred on a public road, there is likely a government agency that is tasked with ensuring the road is safe to use and free from hazards. This may be a municipal government, parish government, state government, or federal agency.
In some cases, more than one agency may be in charge of managing dangerous conditions on a road. For example, one agency may fill potholes while another designed and built the road. One of these agencies may have been the one that installed poor lighting. As you can see, liability is not always easy to sort out in these cases, but our lawyers can help you sort out these details.
Keep in mind that there may be restrictions on the amount that you could try to claim. According to Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §13:5106, you cannot claim more than $500,000 in losses for any one victim.
Call the Morris Bart law firm in Lafayette today at (337) 446-4571 to learn more.
Time Limits for Taking Action Against a Government Agency
In most traffic accident cases, Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §3492 states that you have one year from the date of an accident to file a suit. There are also limits on which agencies you can file suit against, why you can sue them, and the process for doing so.
Often, there are short deadlines for notifying the agency about the potential legal challenge. For this reason, and because of the expert witnesses who may play a key role in proving your inadequate lighting case, we recommend contacting us as soon as possible after this type of accident.
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Recovering Current and Future Damages
It may be possible to recover current and future expenses and losses following a Lafayette accident caused by poor lighting. If you were injured after an accident, you may have medical bills that you would like to claim in a suit. You may also have lost income from time spent on recovery from your injuries. If we handle your claim or civil case, we will seek a payout based on the documented losses you suffered. These losses could include:
Financial Losses
- Current and future medical attention, treatment, and care
- Current and future lost pay and reduced ability to earn
- Lost benefits and other wage-linked losses
- Loss of services
- Property damages
- Miscellaneous costs, such as your rental car
Non-Financial Losses
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-financial damages
Wrongful Death Losses
- Loss of a companion’s support
- Loss of a companion’s services
- Loss of inheritance
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
Our team documents our clients’ losses as a part of preparing their case for an insurance claim or civil lawsuit. This will help us understand the fair value of your claim before we approach the agency and request fair compensation.
Call Us for Your Free Consultation
A Lafayette accident caused by poor lighting lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm helps car accident victims hold those who are liable for their accidents and injuries legally responsible. We cannot represent every victim who calls us, but we can talk to you about the details of your case to determine how we may be able to help. We can discuss the details of your accident, your injuries, police records of the accident, and other key information and explain if we can file a claim.
You can schedule a free consultation with someone from the Morris Bart law firm by calling (337) 446-4571 today. The Morris Bart law firm has 15 offices to serve accident victims.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.