The time period immediately following a serious accident can be chaotic. Not only are you likely dealing with the physical pain and suffering of your injuries, but you’ll also have household responsibilities that need attention, and steadily be accruing medical bills and other expenses while you recuperate. This leaves many injury victims wondering, “What’s next?”
When someone else is to blame for causing your injuries, you may be able to bring them to justice by pursuing civil action against them. We understand how overwhelming filing a lawsuit can seem, which is why we’ve described the timeline of a standard Louisiana personal injury claim below, so you can better prepare yourself for what to expect if you choose to seek repayment of your losses.
Establishing Fault
Once you have made the decision to file a civil claim, and have retained legal representation, the first step in the timeline of your claim is to establish fault.
This is where we will investigate the cause of the accident you were involved in and gather evidence against the culpable party that will show, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the named party is responsible for causing your injuries.
Damages You Can Recover
After fault has been determined, we move on to calculating the value of your claim. This is done by taking into consideration not just your medical expenses and lost wages, but also lost quality of life, pain and suffering, emotional distress, the loss of companionship and love, and many other economic and non-economic damages.
Negotiating with the Insurer
From there, we file an insurance claim and prepare to negotiate with the insurance adjuster. The insurer isn’t likely to simply settle your claim and pay out the amount that you may be entitled to. Insurance companies are known for employing underhanded tactics to reduce the settlement amount they need to pay you.
Going so far as to manipulate provided statements and issue lowball settlement offers, your attorney will be well-prepared for negotiations and do everything possible to ensure you aren’t taken advantage by a profit-driven insurance company.
When to Head to Court
If the negotiations with the insurance company are successful, and we are able to obtain a settlement that adequately meets your needs, then heading to court might not be necessary. But if the amount the insurer settles for doesn’t cover your losses in their entirety, or if we are unable to get the insurer to see reason, then going to court may be the best way to obtain full compensation for your losses.
Meet with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Louisiana
If you are ready to regain control of your life after an accident but aren’t sure where to begin, reach out to an experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Braud & Gallagher. You can give our firm a call at 1-800-256-5674 or fill out the quick contact form we have included at the bottom of this page to schedule your free, no-obligation claim review.
