Crashes in New Orleans are caused mainly by distracted driving, drunk driving, and aggressive driving. This article will cover the most common causes of a car accident in New Orleans.
Car accidents in New Orleans are as serious as they can get anywhere else in the USA. The medical expenses, property damage, and other economic and non-economic damages involved in such accident claims are quite staggering. Victims should seek immediate help from a qualified accident lawyer for a personal injury claim.
This article has more to do with the prevalence of one type of car accident: distracted driving accidents, which account for the highest number of crashes in New Orleans. That is not to say that other types of accidents are not as important.
Feel free to reach out to Wright & Gray for legal consultation and more if you’re ever involved in a car crash caused by someone’s negligence. In such cases, you can secure fair compensation if you get a team of experienced car accident attorneys to represent you.
For now, let’s dive back into the topic.
Past Accident Statistics For New Orleans
A brief look at the previous data for crash statistics in Louisiana will show you just how prevalent motor vehicle accidents are in New Orleans.
The Traffic Safety Data for New Orleans in 2019 indicated that:
- 6,677 drivers were injured in traffic accidents
- 3,304 passengers sustained damage in these crashes
- 426 pedestrians were hurt in these collisions
The Traffic Safety Data for 2020, January-September indicated that
- 3,242 drivers sustained damage in these crashes
- 1,467 passengers were hurt in these collisions
- 151 pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents
Despite a fall in traffic density in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the losses incurred by car accidents did not fall as much as anticipated. The underlying reason is the same as the most prevalent cause of accidents in New Orleans: distracted driving!
Police reports have indicated time and again that distracted driving is the leading threat to traffic safety. Crashes resulting from distracted driving can lead to severe injuries necessitating hospitalization (where one has to pay hefty medical bills). The only way forward is through fair financial compensation from the liable party.
Sometimes, things go as far as personal injury lawsuits. However, in most instances, a settlement for common car accident injuries is reached via negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. A personal injury lawyer can help you either way.
Why Is Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
In line with drowsy driving and reckless driving, being distracted behind the wheel is an extremely dangerous thing to do for several reasons. Experts have compared distracted driving with drunk driving in that it too compromises the reaction time leading to a crash. On the road, all drivers owe a duty of care to others. Failing to fulfill the same can lead to devastating consequences.
Distracted driving can, in most cases, lead to catastrophic injuries, especially when a negligent driver crashes with oncoming traffic (in violation of the lane division) in a head-on collision. Many fatal crashes have resulted from people being too preoccupied with their phones or GPS, and even in moderate cases, accident victims may need immediate medical treatment.
The nature of distraction varies from case to case, but even split-second negligence can be enough to cause permanent damage to an unwary victim.
Common manifestations of this negligence include:
- Texting and driving
- Calling someone on the phone while driving
- Talking with other passengers while driving
- Handling other stuff (glove compartment, seat belt, etc.) while driving
- Adjusting the music player while driving
- Petting your dog while driving
- Talking to the kids
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Focusing your eyes on the GPS while on the road
And so on.
The auto insurance policy in this regard is crystal clear: since Louisiana is an at-fault state, the negligent driver will have to compensate the victim for all their economic losses, such as medical care and non-economic ones as well. In many such cases, there may be a shared liability. However, as long as your comparative negligence does not exceed 50%, you can still claim compensation from the driver responsible and even file an accident lawsuit.
People can avoid distracted driving by just making some minor tweaks in their driving conduit: such as limiting the number of passengers, avoiding distractions in general, stopping on the side of the road to check the GPS, not taking phone calls while driving, avoiding texting-and-driving, and so on. Simple adjustments in the drivers’ behavior can prevent fatal crashes, or at least minimize the risk.
Other Major Causes Of Car Accidents In New Orleans
Fatal accidents are not only accredited to distracted driving; many factors contribute to the same. Drunk drivers often crash into other cars, and the same can also be said for aggressive driving and speeding. In essence, all of these are different forms of negligence that can lead to serious accidents.
If someone’s blood alcohol concentration exceeds .08%, they are considered drunk in the legal sense and can be charged with DUI. This does not apply in the case of teenage drivers or if the driver crashes into another vehicle. In such cases, the concentration becomes irrelevant. Even the slightest fraction of BAC is considered illegal.
Speeding and aggressive driving are also displays of disregard for the laws and regulations on the road and can lead to disastrous consequences.
In any such case, you must get legal representation for complete financial recovery.
What To Do At The Accident Scene?
Your actions at the accident scene will matter a great deal as they will allow you to claim compensation from the liable parties. Though it may not be possible in all instances, here’s a rough breakdown of what you need to do at the scene of the accident:
- Call the police immediately
- Note the car licenses plate number
- Take photos of your losses and the accident scene
- Make videos as needed
- Exchange information with the other party
- Decline to discuss fault on the spot and don’t say anything that could be taken as a sign of admission of guilt
- When the reporting officer comes, discuss the situation with them
- Talk to any eyewitnesses and request them to share their contact information
- Seek immediate medical help
- Keep track of all spending necessitated by the crash
- Get in touch with competent attorneys
- Pursue settlement negotiations or go to trial as needed
Just remember that your lawyers should be the first people with whom you discuss the whole case. Avoid talking in detail with the insurance adjuster, as that can get you in trouble. Let your lawyers handle the mess while you let the recovery process take its time.
Why Do You Need To Hire Lawyers?
You can, in theory, handle all the legal processes on your own, but doing so will expose you to greater risk with regard to your compensation. The insurance adjuster will most likely downplay your suffering or try to pin the blame (or at least part of it) on you to avoid paying as much as they should. This should not be taken personally, the adjuster is merely doing a job for the insurance company.
The company simply wants to minimize all losses.
The damages suffered on the spot include traumatic brain injuries, loss of quality of life (due to amputation, paralysis, permanent disability, etc.), fractures, broken bones, internal organ damage, loss of companionship (in case of wrongful death), and so on. Victims need maximum compensation to be able to afford hospital bills and other expenses.
For this, pursuing legal action through a personal injury law firm is imperative.
Your lawyers will pursue your case will full conviction and commitment as their own interests are closely tied with yours. Since legal firms like Wright & Gray work on a contingency fee plan, meaning that we only take a payment if we win your case, you can expect utmost dedication from the law firm.
Let Wright & Gray Handle Your Car Accident in New Orleans
If you’ve suffered due to the negligence of a distracted at-fault driver in a car accident in New Orleans, you should reach out and seek qualified and experienced legal assistance as early as you can. You can further your auto accident insurance claim on your own as well but the insurance adjuster will most likely try to find ways to get off with paying the bare minimum amount for the damages caused due to the motor vehicle accident.
This is especially true if a comparative fault was involved, in which case, your vulnerability will be exploited to the fullest. A New Orleans personal injury attorney from Wright & Gray can help you secure a strong position in such a case. Our lawyers have extensive experience dealing with cases involving automobile accidents and negligent drivers. You don’t have to inch back from your demands because they are perfectly reasonable.
With our help, you won’t have to!
You can reach out to us directly or fill out the online contact form, and we’ll get in touch with you. Either way, we’ll go through your case and help you however possible.