Shreveport Car Accident Lawyer

The intersection of Spring Street and Lake Street is hands down the most dangerous in all of Shreveport, with nearly double the number of wrecks compared to any other part of town. But that doesn’t exclude the rest of Shreveport from car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Caddo Parish saw 40 traffic fatalities last year—an 11 percent increase from the previous year.

If you suffered injuries in a Shreveport car accident, contact a Shreveport car accident lawyer from Wright Gray Law Firm. We can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other damages.

Why Choose Wright Gray Law Firm?

Two trusted personal injury attorneys from Louisiana with over six decades of experience between them established Wright Gray Law Firm to provide accident victims with strong legal representation and fight for fair compensation on their behalf against negligent parties and their insurance companies.

The firm’s track record speaks for itself. The legal team at Wright Gray Law Firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation through settlements and verdicts for their clients, and they can help you, too. Contact an experienced Shreveport personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation and case evaluation to hear your legal options.

Do I Need to Contact a Shreveport Auto Accident Attorney?

According to the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts, car accidents are a leading cause of serious injury and preventable deaths in the United States. In Shreveport, Louisiana, the story is no different. Car accidents can result in injuries that require extensive medical treatment. Medical bills can add up quickly, especially if you cannot work during your recovery due to your injuries. More serious accidents may prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity, if at all. If you are the main breadwinner in your household, the repercussions of the accident could send your entire family into a financial crisis.

You may recover compensation for your accident-related losses, including medical bills, lost income and benefits, and pain and suffering, even if you are partly to blame for the accident. This compensation can cushion the financial blow to you and your family not just now, but in the future.

Research shows that accident victims who retain legal representation recover significantly more compensation than those who do not. Contact the Shreveport car accident lawyers at Wright Gray to learn how we can help you with your car accident claim.

What Damages Can I Collect in a Motor Vehicle Accident?

In a car accident case involving negligence or recklessness by another driver, you may collect damages to compensate you for the losses and expenses you incurred.

The specific damages you can collect can include:

• Medical expenses: This includes current and future medical bills related to your injuries, such as hospitalization, surgeries, doctor’s visits, medication, rehabilitation, and therapy.
• Property damage: Compensation for the repair or replacement of your damaged vehicle and any other property that the accident damaged.
• Lost income: If the accident resulted in you missing work due to injuries, you can claim compensation for the earnings you lost during that period. This can include both current and future lost income if your injuries lead to a long-term or permanent inability to work.
• Pain and suffering: Noneconomic damages compensate for physical pain, emotional distress, and suffering caused by the accident and your injuries.
• Emotional distress: Compensation for psychological and emotional trauma resulting from the accident, which might include anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Loss of consortium: Damages awarded to a spouse or family member due to the harm the accident and resulting injuries have on the victim’s relationship or ability to provide companionship and support.
• Loss of enjoyment: Compensation for the loss of ability to enjoy life’s pleasures or engage in activities you once enjoyed due to your injuries.
• Scarring or disfigurement: Compensation for any visible scars or disfigurement resulting from the accident or medical treatments.
• Wrongful death: If a loved one died in the accident, their surviving family members might recover damages for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional impact of their loss through a wrongful death claim.

Who Can You Hold Liable for a Car Accident?

Liability in a car accident depends on the specific circumstances of the accident and the laws of the jurisdiction where the accident occurred.

Generally, you can hold the following parties liable for a car accident:

• Driver: You can hold the driver who was at fault for causing the accident due to negligent or reckless behavior liable. This could include actions like distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, or violating traffic laws.
• Vehicle owner: If the driver was operating a vehicle owned by someone else, you can hold the owner liable if they allowed an incompetent or reckless driver to use their vehicle, or if they did not properly maintain the vehicle.
• Employer: If the driver was on the job at the time of the accident, you can hold the employer responsible under the principle of “vicarious liability.” This often applies to commercial drivers and cases where the accident occurred during work-related activities.
• Government entities: Poor road conditions, inadequate signage, and other road-related issues can lead to accidents. In some cases, you can hold government entities responsible for road maintenance and safety liable if their negligence contributed to the accident.
• Manufacturers: If a vehicle’s mechanical failure or a defective part contributed to the accident, you can hold the manufacturer or distributor of the vehicle or component liable through a product liability claim.
• Passengers: In some cases, passengers might contribute to an accident by distracting the driver or other actions. While passengers are generally not liable for accidents, their behavior might be considered in certain circumstances.
• Pedestrians and cyclists: If a pedestrian or cyclist’s actions led to a collision with a vehicle, you can hold them partially liable for the accident.

How Do You Prove Fault in Car Accident Cases?

Proving negligence in a car accident case involves demonstrating that the at-fault party failed to uphold a reasonable standard of care while driving, which directly led to the accident and resulted in injuries or damages.

To establish negligence, you generally need to establish four key elements:

1. Duty of care: The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care to act reasonably and responsibly while driving. All drivers have a duty to obey traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely.
2. Breach of duty: The at-fault party breached their duty of care by acting negligently, recklessly, or irresponsibly. This can include actions like speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, or violating traffic rules.
3. Causation: The breach of duty directly caused the accident. You need to show that the at-fault party’s actions or negligence brought about the accident and resulting harm.
4. Damages: You suffered actual damages in the accident. These damages can include medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

What Happens if I’m Partly at Fault for My Car Accident?

Louisiana is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that the person responsible for causing the accident pays compensation to the accident victim. However, under Louisiana law, you may recover compensation for your accident-related injuries and other losses even if you partially caused the accident.

Louisiana follows a pure comparative negligence rule when it comes to determining liability and awarding damages in personal injury cases, including car accident cases. Pure comparative negligence allows a court to assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in an accident, including the injured party. The amount of compensation the injured party can recover then decreases by their assigned percentage of fault.

For example, if the court awards $100,000 in compensation to the injured party but finds that they are 20% at fault for their injuries, their compensation will decrease by 20%, so they will only recover $80,000 of the compensation award.

Consult our car accident lawyers to explain how Louisiana’s confusing comparative negligence laws can apply to your claim.

What Are the Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents?

Louisiana recorded 887 fatal crashes with 972 deaths last year. These accidents happened for several reasons, mostly due to the negligence of drivers and other road users. Below are some of the top causes of car accidents in Shreveport.

Car accidents can occur due to human behavior, environmental conditions, and technical failures.

Some common causes of car accidents include:

• Distracted driving: This is one of the leading causes of accidents. Activities such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or using in-car entertainment systems can divert a driver’s attention from the road and lead to an accident.
• Speeding: Driving above the speed limit or too fast for road conditions reduces a driver’s ability to react to unexpected situations and increases the severity of accidents.
• Fatigue: Driving while tired or drowsy impairs a driver’s attention, reflexes, and decision-making abilities.
• Drunk driving/driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs a driver’s reaction time, judgment, and coordination.
• Reckless driving: Aggressivebehaviors like tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and ignoring traffic signals increase the risk of accidents.
• Weather conditions: Rain, snow, fog, and other adverse weather reduce visibility and road traction, making accidents more likely, especially if the driver has little or no experience driving in inclement weather or fails to adjust for it.  
• Poor road conditions: Potholes, uneven surfaces, and lack of proper road signage can contribute to accidents.
• Poor visibility: Inadequate lighting, obscured road signs, or glare from the sun can impair a driver’s ability to see.
• Inexperienced drivers: New and inexperienced drivers may struggle to handle unexpected situations.
• Mechanical failures: Faulty brakes, tire blowouts, and other technical failures can cause accidents if drivers lose control of their vehicles.
• Construction zones: Reduced lanes, changing traffic patterns, and construction equipment can create hazards if drivers don’t adjust their driving behavior accordingly.

What Is the Statute of a Shreveport Car Accident Case?

Each state has its own statute of limitations, or deadline, for filing personal injury lawsuits based on negligence in civil court. Louisiana has one of the shortest in the nation—one year from the date of the injury. If you fail to meet this deadline, you will lose the opportunity to seek compensation through the court system.

A few circumstances may shorten or extend this deadline, so contact our lawyers as soon as possible after a car accident to ensure you don’t miss any important deadlines.

Insurance providers know Louisiana’s short statute of limitations for car wrecks and often delay negotiations to the point that you run out of time to file a legal claim. Again, retaining the legal services of an experienced personal injury attorney protects your right to seek compensation through all means available.

Contact the Shreveport Car Accident Lawyers at Wright Gray Law Firm Today

Shreveport residents see their fair share of motor vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries and death. If you or a loved one were in a car accident, you may recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Don’t take on the insurance company alone. Call an experienced car accident attorney at Wright Gray Law Firm and let’s discuss your case. Contact us now at 888.912.4944 or fill out our online form for your free consultation and case evaluation.

Wright Gray Trial Lawyers – Shreveport Office

520 N Market St Suite A
Shreveport, LA 71107
P: (318) 524-7122