Shreveport Car Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to financial compensation. However, getting it can be challenging. A Shreveport car accident lawyer can assist in ensuring that your claim is settled quickly and accurately.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION

Motor vehicle accidents can have long-lasting implications on the lives of those involved and it is important to be aware of them. Gaining insight on auto accidents and understanding the role that a Shreveport car accident lawyer plays can help you make educated decisions.

The United States experiences a high rate of car accidents. Statistics from Injury Facts suggest that motor vehicle accidents, poisoning and falls account for 83% of all avoidable fatalities. People in Shreveport, Louisiana suffer from traffic accidents quite frequently and these lead to injuries of varying severity, sometimes requiring an accident injury claim.

Filing for an injury claim in Louisiana is possible since the state follows the at-fault accident compensation system. This means that the individual responsible for causing the accident has to shoulder the cost of compensating the victim. However, seeking financial settlement from accident injuries can be an arduous task and one may need legal assistance throughout.

When filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, the steps you should take and the hurdles you must overcome are difficult to manage alone. Injury accident lawyers can help guide you and maximize your compensation in these cases. If you’ve been in an accident, it’s essential that you contact Wright & Gray to ensure the best outcome. We can help you understand your rights and the compensation options that are available to you. Our experienced Accident Law Firm will work with you to increase your chances of success.

Don’t take chances with your claim. Give our attorneys a call as soon as you can to get your claim handled with the attention you deserve.

What Causes Motor Vehicle Accidents?

During 2019, Louisiana experienced a total of 681 fatal car accidents causing 727 fatalities. These crashes were mostly a result of poor or reckless conduct from drivers other individuals using the roads. Here are some of the common causes that were seen in Shreveport’ traffic collisions:

Driving Under the Influence

Every day, 29 innocent lives are lost in the US due to car accidents resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol. The legal drinking limit set by Louisiana state law is 0.08% BAC or higher. When someone drives under the influence of alcohol and gets into an accident, they can expect to face criminal charges and civil lawsuits.

Distracted Driving

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving causes about 8 fatalities in the U.S. daily. When a driver takes their attention away from the road and directs it toward something else, they are considered to be ‘distracted’. Even a few moments of distraction can cause severe damage and impair the ability to drive safely. The National Safety Council further identifies three kinds of distractions – manual, visual or cognitive that can lead to hazardous consequences. It is essential for drivers to pay full attention to the road and refrain from any type of distraction.

Speeding

Every road legally dictates the speed limit that must be followed, however this rule is often broken. Speeding endangers both the driver and those around them as it decreases their reaction time significantly, making it harder to react quickly to situations on the road. When drivers speed, it tends to reduce their reaction time and this can be extremely dangerous. It also means that if there is an impending collision, they cannot stop in time to avoid it. Unfortunately, most crashes caused by reckless speeding usually end up being fatal accidents.

Inclement Weather

Motor vehicle collisions can be a common occurrence during bad weather conditions in Shreveport. Driving in heavy rainfall or foggy weather can be especially perilous, as it significantly reduces visibility and increases the risk of an incident. When weather conditions are poor – such as snow, fog, high winds or heavy rain – the risk of road accidents increases significantly due to reduced traction and visibility. It is better to stay off the roads under these circumstances as it can be dangerous to drive.

Other causes of car accidents can include, but are not limited to; reckless driving, distractions, adverse road or weather conditions, and mechanical faults. 

• Tailgating
• Running red lights and stops signs
• Bad roads 
• Aggressive driving
• Reckless driving
• Drowsy driving
• Road rage 

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

Automobile accidents come in all shapes and sizes, with the type of crash being determined largely by position of the vehicle and point of contact. Common types include rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, side-impact collisions, rollovers, single vehicle accidents and more: 

• Head-on collisions 
• Rear-end collisions
• Side-swipe accidents 
• Rollover accidents
• T-bone collisions

In the event of a car accident, it could involve one or more vehicles. If it is a single-vehicle crash, then the victim would have to take care of their injury treatment property damage on their own due to their negligence resulting in the incident. In such cases, there’s no other party responsible for the responsibility. Hence, if someone is wounded in an accident then they can rely on their auto or health insurance for the medical expenses. If more than one person is involved in the crash, it may be possible to make a claim or take legal action to get financial compensation.

What Types of Injuries Can You Sustain in a Car Accident?

Traffic collisions may involve cars, pedestrians, motorcycles and lorries. Injuries sustained range from slight to catastrophic and will usually determine how much you’ll be able to claim in compensation. Car crashes are known to cause a range of injuries, such as whiplash, fractured bones, head trauma, and internal organ damage. All of these can be incredibly serious and require medical attention.

• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Broken bones/fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head injuries
• Back and neck injuries 
• Internal injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Cuts and lacerations
• Soft tissue injuries 

Connect with a Shreveport Car Accident Attorney

Wright & Gray prioritize getting their clients the compensation they deserve to get back on track after a traumatic accident. We understand how overwhelming this experience can be, so we provide support and guidance needed in your time of need. We are here to help you recover and move forward. We offer complimentary consultations so you can ascertain that we’ll be able to help you settle your case before committing.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION

What Step Should You Take After a Car Accident?

The decisions you make immediately following a crash can have an immense impact on your chances of a successful accident claim. That’s why our auto accident attorneys strongly recommend taking the following steps when involved in such a traffic collision:

Make a Report

Being involved in a crash and then fleeing the scene is considered a hit-and-run, which is strictly illegal. It does not matter if you caused the accident or not, it is imperative that you stay on the spot and report it to the local authorities. Doing so will keep both you and other road users safe. 

Get Medical Treatment

If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s crucial to seek medical attention right away. Paramedics often transport severely injured people to the nearest hospital. But even if your injuries are minor, it’s still important to get treated by a professional and not just ignore them. Although you might not be experiencing any medical issues, it is paramount that you undergo a comprehensive medical checkup regularly.

It’s important to get checked out for any internal injuries as these can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Additionally, having a detailed medical report is an essential part of your injury claim process. This document is essential to get an accurate assessment of the severity of your injury and the cost incurred in treating it. Having this information proves invaluable when claiming compensation.

Gather Evidence

Documentation of the accident is an important step in the aftermath of a crash. This includes taking pictures, requesting videos, and getting witness testimonies. However, those who have been severely injured may not be able to do this for themselves. You can always request a copy of the police report which would provide you with some of the proof necessary to back up your case.

Contact an Auto Accident Attorney Today

An injury lawyer plays a critical role in fighting for accident victims and helps ensure their claim is successful. It’s important to contact an experienced accident attorney quickly after an incident, as it could otherwise adversely affect the case and result in time-consuming discussions with the other driver’s insurance company. In order to safeguard your rights and best interests, it is a good idea to hire an attorney from a reliable personal injury law firm right after the accident.

What Damages Can I Collect for a Car Accident?

Under Louisiana legislation, a person injured in a car crash can gain two kinds of compensatory damages and punitive damages from the at-fault party. Compensatory damages are an award for the distress, suffering property damage endured due to the accident. Punitive damages offer deterrence against similar misconducts in the future. The compensatory damages are:

Economic Damages

This compensation covers losses that have a specific monetary value – such as medical bills, lost wages or repair costs. As long as proof of expenses is shown, each cent spent due to the incident will be reimbursed. Examples of economic damages are: 

• Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
• Loss of income 
• Vehicle repairs/property damage
• Out-of-pocket expenses, etc.

In the instance of a wrongful death, the legal survivors are entitled to recover not just the loss of support and services but also funeral burial expenses.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are not easily quantifiable and hence, difficult to calculate. Insurance companies use a multiplier approach to decide the amount that is due to the victim in these cases. This type of compensation covers losses which cannot be measured with a dollar amount. Of course, you should be financially rewarded for your: 

• Emotional distress/anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship
• Punitive Damages 

Punitive damages are usually not granted through accident insurance claims – they are instead awarded when the circumstances around a personal injury lawsuit suggest grossly negligent behavior from the responsible party. Punitive damages are not meant to provide any sort of compensation, but rather serve as a punishment to dissuade the guilty party from engaging in similar conduct. As such, it is a form of retribution.

How Do You Prove Fault in Car Accident Cases?

To prove that you weren’t the one responsible for the car accident, you must establish that: under the legal principle of “he who asserts must prove,” your claims resulting from the accident are civil in nature: 

• The negligent driver owed you a duty of care 
• The driver breached the duty of care by engaging in a negligent act
• The breach caused an injury 
• You suffered damages as a result of the injury 
• Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for Minor Car Accidents?

Even if you’re involved in a seemingly minor car accident, it’s usually beneficial to hire a personal injury lawyer. Contrary to popular belief, the expertise of an attorney can help protect your rights, and make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve. We highly recommend people involved in such incidents to get legal representation.

By working with experienced Shreveport personal injury lawyers, you’ll ascertain the full value of your claim. This is because sometimes, the damages incurred are more than you think. Having a lawyer can be incredibly helpful in minor car accident cases. They know the right questions to ask and will help you get the best legal solution possible. Plus, they can negotiate on your behalf to make sure you receive fair compensation from whoever was at fault in the incident.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases?

After a certain period of time, filing a lawsuit may become impossible due to the Statute of Limitations. If you try and file one after the deadline is over, chances are that the court will reject your case. Thus, it’s important to stay mindful of this legal legislation so as to not miss out on any opportunity to take legal action. According to the Louisiana Statute of Limitations, actions resulting from automobile accidents, such as a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit, must be filed within a certain period of time.

According to Article 3492 of the Louisiana Civil Code, legal action for a car accident must be taken within one year of the incident’s occurrence. You must file a lawsuit within one year from the date of the incident or from when the victim passed away in wrongful death actions. This timeline is important and should not be exceeded. Regrettably, a year passes quickly especially when you burn it up on bargaining with insurance companies. 

Insurers are well aware of the statue-of-limitations law and thus, they regularly use tactic to delay proceedings. This is done because they know that once the time passes you have no other option but to accept what is offered by them. Additionally, filing a lawsuit after this period of time isn’t possible. Steer clear of those that attempt to cheat you out of a fair settlement. Enlist the help of a reputable personal injury law firm as soon as possible to get the best outcome for your case.

What Happens If I’m Partly at Fault for an Accident?

In any case of an accident, two laws are generally applicable – contributory negligence or comparative negligence. As the participants begin to assign blame among themselves, these regulations will come into play. In case of the former, the victim is not eligible for any kind of compensation despite their share in the collision. On the contrary, if it’s the latter, then payment to the victim is restricted only to their culpability percentage.  

In Louisiana, the law of pure comparative negligence applies when calculating damages. This means that if it is determined that you were partly at fault for an accident or injury, your compensate damages would be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. So, if you are found to be 20% at fault and awarded $100,000 in compensate damages, then you would only receive $80,000 after factoring in the 20% attributable to your own negligence. Your salary would come out to be $80,000 instead of the full $100,000. This shows that the pure comparative fault rule is more advantageous when compared to contributory negligence.  

Fortunately, your Shreveport car accident lawyer can make sure the truth is heard so you have a shot at maximum compensation.

Wright Gray Trial Lawyers – Shreveport Office

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