Why Do I Need A Lawyer If I Have Been In A Car Accident?
Our goal is to get you the compensation you deserve so that you can cover your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. We work in the New Orleans metropolitan area and throughout the Gulf South in Louisiana. Because of that, we are experienced in working with people injured due to drunk drivers, drugged drivers, distracted drivers, and more. Here are the typical phases of a personal injury case when you have been harmed from someone else’s negligence.
File a Claim with Insurance
After a car accident, you can either file a claim with insurance on your own or reach out to an attorney to assist you with this process. It is important to remember that despite what the insurance company says to you, you do not have to talk to the insurance company. Working with an attorney will ensure that you provide the proper information to insurance, while not providing any information that could ultimately hurt your case.
Evidence Collection
Evidence is critical in a personal injury case as it will help prove who was negligent in the car accident. As your lawyers, we would investigate the case to ensure we have all the evidence possible. This can vary case to case but could include collecting and examining photos, reconstructing the crash, and interviewing witnesses.
Negotiating a Settlement
Typically, prior to filing a lawsuit and going to trial, parties and their respective insurance companies will attempt to work things out. Again, while you can do this without representation, having an attorney navigate these negotiations could take some of the stress off of you and make sure you receive proper compensation. We take great care to calculate damages and assist you in conversations with insurance companies, opposing counsel, and the party who negligently caused the accident.
Filing a Lawsuit
Where a settlement amount cannot be reached, we can represent you at trial. Louisiana has a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit, if you miss the deadline, you may be unable to recover compensation for damages. At trial, a judge or jury will determine who was the negligent party, the amount of fault each party is liable for, and damages. Louisiana is a comparative fault state, so if you (the injured party) is found to be 10% at fault, your damages will be reduced by 10%. Therefore, it is crucial to have an attorney who can help you gather evidence and build a strong case to prove the other driver was at fault.
Contact Us Today For Help
If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, the sooner you enlist an experienced lawyer to bring a personal injury claim, the better. Call 504-433-1442 for a free consultation with one of our aggressive and talented New Orleans car wreck attorneys today. At this consultation, we will listen to your story, identify potential legal arguments, and educate you about your rights. The Louisiana personal injury lawyers at the Palazzo Law Firm will formulate and implement a winning strategy that meets your needs.
Source:
legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110515
