New Orleans Car Accident Lawyer
Dealing with the consequences of a motor vehicle accident is never easy. Contact an experienced New Orleans car accident attorney who can help you bring the at-fault party to justice.
Auto accidents are known for resulting in devastating injuries. These damages often require extensive recovery times that keep accident survivors out of work for the duration of their recuperation. During this time, bills pile up and can ultimately leave you in financial ruin.
Don’t let this happen to you. At Braud & Gallagher, we are passionate about advocating for our clients’ rights during their time of need. Your New Orleans car accident lawyer will conduct a complete investigation into the cause of your collision and ensure that all of your losses are accounted for so you are awarded maximum compensation in your claim.
Most Common Injuries Associated with Auto Wrecks
The injuries accident victims endure are often catastrophic. It is not uncommon for survivors to suffer from critical injuries such as traumatic brain damage, amputations, third-degree burns, spinal cord injuries, organ failure, PTSD, broken bones, and internal bleeding.
Injuries of this nature often involve physical and occupational therapy to teach the person injured how to live with the effects of their involvement in an auto crash. You may also need to undergo mental health counseling to combat nightmares, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and other reactions to trauma. The repercussions of these injuries can be debilitating and consume your life.
Fault in Motor Vehicle Collisions
When your car accident attorney is investigating the cause of your crash, they will also establish who is liable for your damages. More often than not, the following entities are found to have some culpability in causing motor vehicle accidents:
- The other involved driver
- Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)
- Vehicle parts manufacturers
- Maintenance technicians
In some cases, more than one of the aforementioned parties may have contributed to the cause of the collision. If this is true in your case, we will be sure to bring claims against all those who played a part in the cause of the accident. That way, we can ensure that you are fully compensated for your losses.
The Problem with Insurance Companies
Many injury victims are under the impression that obtaining the compensation they’re entitled to will be easy, since they can just file a claim with the insurance company. However, the insurer is rarely, if ever, on your side, despite marketing themselves as such. For this reason, we recommend you deal with the insurance company as little possible. We’ll handle them on your behalf.
Oftentimes, you’ll get a call from the insurance adjuster asking you to give them a statement about the accident you were involved in. They’ll probably say that they need to know what happened to expedite your settlement. Unfortunately, the insurer is more than likely going to use your words against you, no matter how well-intended your statement is.
By making it seem as though you are more at fault for the cause of the auto accident than you are, they’ll be able to reduce the amount that you would otherwise be entitled to based on Louisiana negligence laws.
There are also many cases where the insurance adjuster gives you a settlement offer quickly. Though it can be tempting to accept because you need the money, keep in mind that they probably are offering to settle because your case is worth a great deal more and they aren’t willing to pay you what you’re entitled to. Your attorney will be well-versed in these unscrupulous insurance tactics, so you can rest assured that we won’t let you settle for less than you deserve.
Getting the Most out of Your Claim
It is crucial to the success of your case that we consider every way in which your life has been influenced by the injuries you’ve endured. This includes examining both economic and non-economic damages that have impacted you since the accident.
Economic damages refer to those that directly affect your finances, such as your lost wages, your medical bills and related expenses, the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, and any damage done to your future potential earnings.
When we discuss non-economic damages, we are referring to the aspects of your lifestyle and emotional state that have been affected by your injuries. These might include:
- Your pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Inconvenience
- Emotional distress
- Loss of household services
- Effects of disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of household services
We will work with your physician to determine the extent of your injuries, how they have impacted your life, and how they are expected to impact your life in the future. It is important that we look ahead when calculating the value of your claim so that any future losses are accounted for in your lawsuit against the negligent party.
Car Accident FAQ
Unless you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle collision before, you probably have no idea what to expect moving forward with your claim. We’ve answered some of the questions our car accident clients ask in regard to their car crash claim. Read on to better prepare for what’s to come.
What if I was in a single-car crash?
Being injured in a single-car crash doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to file a claim. If someone else’s negligence was responsible for causing your accident, there’s a good chance filing a claim is an option. Your attorney will investigate the cause of the wreck to determine who should be held accountable and then get your claim filed so you can secure the funds you need to move forward with your life.
The driver who hit me was uninsured; what do I do now?
If the other driver didn’t carry auto insurance, then you’ll need to bring them to court. This is because you won’t be seeking a settlement from their insurance company. We’ll need to file a personal injury claim against them and have your case heard by a judge and jury in order to recover your damages.
How long do I have to file my claim in court?
Getting your claim filed before the statute of limitations expires in your case is critical. If you miss the deadline, then the court system will not allow you to further pursue your case. With that being said, the statute of limitations for auto wreck claims is one year from the date of the accident.
If you didn’t become aware of your injury until a later date, the statute of limitations will begin running from the day you were diagnosed with your condition. Your New Orleans auto wreck lawyer can review the details of your case to determine how long we’ll have to get your claim filed in court.
Contact a New Orleans Car Accident Attorney
Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of for another moment. When someone else is responsible for causing the motor vehicle accident that you were involved in, you have a right to seek compensation for the injuries you sustained.
Reach out to a highly trained New Orleans car accident lawyer with Braud & Gallagher today. Our firm will ensure that every single loss is accounted for in your pursuit. Schedule your free consultation by filling out the contact form located at the bottom of this page or by calling our offices directly at 1-800-256-5674.
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