There were thousands of car accidents in Louisiana in 2021. While many people encountered injuries from these, 997 fatalities also occurred.
When you’re in a car accident, you might face injuries and other losses. You can settle your accident with the insurance company handling it, but that’s not always enough.
Some car accident victims need a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, LA. But, unfortunately, you might wonder if you need one. If you need help deciding, read this guide to learn how to decide if you need one.
To Determine Fault
Determining fault is a crucial aspect of every car collision. It controls the case outcome and affects which party’s insurance company pays the damages.
Some accident situations are cut and dry. As a result, determining fault is simple, but this is only sometimes the case. There are times when it’s unclear who caused the accident.
If your case is like this, a personal injury lawyer in Lafayette can help. A car wreck attorney can analyze the evidence to determine who caused it.
Settling a car accident case requires proof of fault. So you’ll receive a higher settlement if your lawyer can prove the other driver caused the accident.
You Have Serious Injuries
You can walk away from a car accident without injuries. However, accidents can also cause serious injuries. In some cases, these are injuries that will affect you for the rest of your life.
You can talk to a car wreck attorney in either case. The lawyer might tell you to settle without a lawyer and receive a fair settlement. This is often the case when a victim doesn’t have lifelong injuries.
Conversely, settling a personal injury case with major injuries requires a lawyer’s help.
Lawyers recommend seeking medical help after an accident, even if you don’t feel injured. After all, some injuries, including whiplash, might not show up right away.
It Caused Damages
Car accidents lead to injuries and death but also result in other damages. For example, is your car totaled? If so, your insurance company might offer to give you the vehicle’s fair market value (FMV).
Unfortunately, the FMV might be less than your car loan balance. If this happens, you’ll owe money on a totaled car. This difference is an example of a common damage car accident victims experience.
You can also experience other damages. For example, did the accident cause you to miss work? Lost wages are another example of damages you can request compensation for in a personal injury case.
An attorney’s job is to calculate all your damages from the accident and request compensation for them.
Get Legal Advice From a Car Accident Lawyer in Lafayette, LA
Do you need to hire a car accident lawyer in Lafayette, LA? After reading this, you might know the answer.
However, talking to a lawyer is always a smart move after a car collision. After all, a lawyer can review your case and offer legal advice.
Contact us if you’d like legal advice. We help car accident victims in Lafayette, LA, and can help you with your case.