Car Wreck Lawyer Lake Charles, LA
If you have been in a car accident, it may be a good idea to contact a car wreck lawyer Lake Charles, LA accident victims turn to for legal guidance. Car accidents range in severity and, in some cases, can result in severe losses, especially if you were severely injured. The time following a car accident can be a whirlwind, and it can be challenging to know what to do next. Our lawyers at Delphin Law Offices, PLC, know that you will have many questions surrounding your case and the process moving forward.
What should I do first following a car accident?
Your priority immediately after a car accident is to ensure that you and any passengers are safe. Move your vehicle out of traffic or off the road if you can do so. Most importantly, you should seek medical care. Medical care can ensure that you receive treatment for your injuries. Keep in mind that your adrenaline levels will be at an all-time high, which can mask injuries. Even if you are not injured, you may have underlying injuries that could have a detrimental impact on your health
What is pure comparative negligence?
Accidents occur in various ways, and in some cases, each party may be a portion at fault for the accident. Louisiana observes pure comparative negligence when it comes to car accidents. This means that if injuries were sustained, both parties could obtain some percentage of their losses. Our Lake Charles, LA car wreck lawyer shares that, if you were 40% at fault for an accident, you might obtain 60% of the damages you are entitled to. Even if you were more at fault than the other party, you might still have the ability to retain at least a portion of the damages you are facing after an accident.
When should I contact law enforcement after a car accident?
Under Louisiana law, in most situations following a car accident, law enforcement should be contacted. Accidents must be reported if the damages are more than $500 and if the accident results in injury or death. It’s essential to be aware that this should happen immediately or at the accident scene. Know that failure to do so could result in legal consequences.
What is the statute of limitations for car accidents in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations is the length of time victims have to pursue damages following an accident. Once this timeframe has passed, in most cases, the ability to seek compensation for your losses may no longer be an option. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations is one year from the accident date, so it’s critical to take action immediately.
What should I include in my account of the accident?
As your lawyer will tell you, evidence will play a critical role in proving your case and ultimately securing the damages you deserve. One essential component of this will be your account of the accident. This personal account should include as much detail as possible, including:
- Driver information, make/model of the vehicle, insurance information, drivers license number, license plate number, and contact information
- The information of any witnesses present
- Every element to the accident, time of day, road conditions weather, etc
- Details regarding your injuries, medical treatment, and the impact
What Are the Most Common Vehicle Accident Injuries?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than three million people are injured in vehicle accidents across the country each year. That is a lot of accidents that most likely involve a lot of different types of injuries resulting from those accidents. The different injuries from a car accident can be varied depending on the circumstances of each collision, with that being said, there are more common injuries than others.
If in an accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible even if you don’t think that you are injured. It is advisable that you see a medical professional so they can observe you and that there is a record of you seeing a doctor after being in a car accident in case you might have to consult with a car wreck lawyer Lake Charles, LA if you end up hurting later on after the accident. Some injuries might not be so bad and could resolve within a few days without any medical treatment, however, some injuries are more serious and that can become permanent and result in some level of physical disability. That is why it is important to always see a medical professional as soon as you can after a car wreck.
The type and severity of your injuries experienced by drivers and passengers involved in a car accident can depend on a few factors like:
- Was the person wearing a seat belt?
- Did the person’s car get hit from the rear, side, or front?
- Was the occupant facing straight ahead in the seat, or was the person’s head or body turned in a certain direction?
- What was the speed of the car during the collision?
- Did the car have airbags?
Any type of injury that you might have sustained from the car accident should be examined by a doctor. Most often you can feel and see the damage from a car accident, but not always, sometimes car accidents can cause damage to your body that might not be immediately visible like internal bleeding.
Your organs are extremely delicate and the forces of a car accident can damage them and cause them to bleed. These are serious injuries and most often occur in high-speed collisions. Internal bleeding injuries are important and need to be treated promptly to keep them from threatening your life. Another injury that you might experience after a car accident is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When your body undergoes a situation of extreme stress like a car accident there is the potential that you could develop emotional and mental conditions such as PTSD. Some of those symptoms can include being scared of driving after an accident, aversion to certain sounds or images that are associated with the collision or even sleeping problems due to anxiety or nightmares. You might need to seek treatment from either a psychologist or a therapist to help you combat PTSD so that you can return to your normal life.
After you are involved in a car accident you might believe that you are okay, but your body both mentally and physically is under a lot of stress and you are in shock. Those injuries could have a detrimental effect on your finances and health, which is why you need to seek professional help to ensure that you are covered now and for the future.
After a car accident, you need Delphin Law Offices, PLC to represent you in your case. Your time is limited, so don’t hesitate to contact our Lake Charles, LA car wreck lawyer.