2021 was the deadliest year in more than a decade for New Orleans drivers, with 69 people dying in car crashes, the highest amount of fatalities since 2004. According to the New Orleans Health Department and the Department of Public Works, that is a 35 percent increase from 2020.
In addition to that, 338 people were severely injured in car accidents in 2021, which is the highest number reported by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission since 2013.
Now is the time more than ever for drivers in New Orleans to hire a lawyer after a car accident.
New Orleans drivers who suffer injuries or significant car damages should immediately hire an experienced personal injury attorney after a car accident.
An attorney should also be called after a car accident in these circumstances:
Unlike untrained New Orleans residents, car accident injury attorneys have years of experience practicing in the legal field. They know all of the nuances within the best strategies to help car accident victims recover maximum compensation from at-fault parties and their insurance companies, as well as top-dollar awards from juries.
There are a plethora of laws and rules that can affect when, how, and whom you can take legal action against for damages after a car accident and the amount of money someone might have to pay. An auto accident attorney is professionally trained on how to navigate those laws.
What are some other advantages to hiring a lawyer over handling a car accident claim on their own?
Experienced car accident attorneys know exactly where to look and what to look for when it comes to identifying all parties involved that potentially have a legal liability for damages. The attorney may even be able to uncover more than one party to pay part of the claim, which will recover more money in the settlement.
This can be a complicated process that requires a high-level skill set to determine all of the victim’s out-of-pocket costs from the car accident now and in the future. A skilled attorney will also be able to place a dollar value on the emotional harm the victim suffered, such as physical and emotional pain and suffering, as well as any damage to personal relationships.
Car accident attorneys are trained to gather the many intricate pieces of the puzzle that fit together as evidence of the car accident. They can then develop them into a robust, convincing argument as proof of the other party’s liability for damages.
Because most lawsuits from a car accident will settle out of court, with the insurance company for the legally liable party paying the injured party, it takes an experienced attorney to get the largest settlement possible for their client. It requires the savviness to stay ahead of the insurance adjusters’ next move and navigate through the insurance policies involved.
The victim of a car accident should never act as their own lawyer in a lawsuit taking place in or out of the courtroom. A trusted attorney, who is respected by the judicial system, should file the lawsuit and represent the victim on their behalf.
All states place time limits on a car accident victim’s right to file a lawsuit for damages. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations is one year from the date the accident occurred to claim compensation. This also applies to surviving family members of a deceased loved one filing a lawsuit after a fatal accident. After that, the right to file a claim expires.
Statutes of limitations exist so that one person cannot indefinitely sue someone else for injuries they may have caused. Drivers have a duty to seek compensation or file a lawsuit right away against the at-fault parties that caused their injuries after a car accident.
There are exceptions to the statute of limitations deadline, however, which include:
If you have been involved in a car accident in New Orleans, please contact the Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC online, or call our office at (504) 294-5094.
With over 50 years of legal experience serving families in the New Orleans area and surrounding Louisiana communities, our firm takes pride in providing clients with personalized legal services tailored to individual needs.