Auto Accident Injury in Lafayette, LA
Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Lafayette? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Lafayette, LA that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Lafayette, Louisiana
According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents and an estimated 38,000 were killed. According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Research Group, 13,267 car accidents in 2017 involved moderate to severe injuries. Additionally, Louisiana ranked 9th in the nation for accidents caused by drivers under the influence. The four main contributing factors of accidents involving fatalities were driving under the influence, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and lack of seat belts.
According to the Louisiana Office of Public Health, alcohol is involved in 11.6% of injury crashes and 47.2 % of fatal crashes in Louisiana. In comparison, alcohol is involved in 11% of injury crashes and a whopping 62.2% of fatal crashes in Lafayette Parish. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission runs the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to combat impaired driving. The Commission provides support to local law enforcement agencies to conduct sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the year.
What to Do After an Auto Accident
It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.
Receive Immediate Medical Attention
What is the most important step that you need to take after an auto accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.
File a Police Report
Even if there are no injuries, it’s important to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, note their names and badge numbers. Answer their questions honestly, but avoid sharing unnecessary details or speculating about who was at fault. Be sure to ask for the police report number and find out when and where you can obtain a copy, as well as any associated costs.
Lafayette accidents involving injuries, fatalities, and more than $500 in property damage must be reported immediately to the police. You should stay at the scene of the crash and call 911. Drivers in minor crashes that do not require police must still exchange pertinent information and file a report. You can purchase a copy of your crash report online at the Lafayette Police Department.
Gather the Appropriate Documentation
While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:
- Full name, address, phone number and email address
- Driver’s license state and number
- Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number
Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle, and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it.
Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury
After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.
Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:
- Burn injuries
- Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Brain and head injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the total cost of traffic crash deaths in Louisiana in 2018 was approximately $1.25 billion. This total cost was a result of $7 million in medical costs and $1.25 billion in work loss costs. Motor vehicle occupants represented 70% of the total cost, with pedestrians at 20%, motorcyclists at 8% and bicyclists at 1%.
Additionally, Louisiana had the second highest traffic crash death costs among surrounding states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico. An experienced Lafayette attorney can help you factor in all the costs from your accident, including property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and even reduced quality of life.
Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Laws in Louisiana
Liability Laws for Lafayette
When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process.
According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, drivers in Lafayette are required to have a minimum 15/30/25 liability coverage. Then, this coverage provides payments for $15,000 for bodily injury to one person, $30,000 for bodily injury in a single accident, and $25,000 for damage to someone else’s property. Louisiana is an at-fault state regarding auto accident liability. This means the driver who causes an accident in Lafayette uses their insurance to pay for the other driver’s bills from the collision.
Statute of Limitations in Lafayette
Each state has its tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while some others may give you up to six years. In fact, in Louisiana, the statute of limitations for auto accidents is one year. If you live in Lafayette, this means you only have one year from the date of your crash to file a claim for damages.
This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.
Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Lafayette, LA
After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct. We can even help you connect with legal help across Louisiana state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to speak with an attorney in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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