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Key Takeaways
Car accidents happen every day on Louisiana roads, including busy corridors like I-10, Johnston Street, Ambassador Caffery Parkway, and the Evangeline Thruway. When a crash occurs, what you do in the minutes and hours afterward can significantly affect both your health and your legal claim.
Insurance companies often look for ways to minimize or deny compensation. Taking the right steps early can help protect your rights and strengthen your case.
Your health comes first.
Check yourself, your passengers, and others involved. Louisiana law generally requires reporting crashes involving injuries, fatalities, or significant property damage.
Emergency responders will:
The police report becomes critical evidence in your claim. Delaying medical treatment can also allow insurers to argue your injuries were unrelated to the crash.
If the vehicles are creating a traffic hazard and it is safe to move them, relocate to the shoulder. Turn on hazard lights and remain in a safe area away from traffic until authorities arrive.
Louisiana law requires drivers to exchange:
Keep conversation minimal. Do not admit fault or downplay injuries. Even statements like “I’m fine” can be used against you later.
Evidence disappears quickly.
If you are physically able, take photographs of:
Write down what happened while the details are fresh in your memory.
Some injuries, including whiplash, concussions, and internal trauma, may not show symptoms immediately.
See a medical professional as soon as possible. Medical documentation connects your injuries directly to the crash and protects both your health and your claim.
If your injuries are severe, you may be dealing with long-term harm similar to cases involving neck and back injuries or even brain and spinal cord injuries.
Report the accident to your insurer promptly, but limit your discussion to basic facts.
Avoid giving recorded statements before speaking with a lawyer. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts.
If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may need to rely on your own coverage. You can learn more about your rights in situations involving uninsured drivers in cases similar to car accidents.
Louisiana has strict filing deadlines, known as prescriptive periods.
For most crashes occurring before July 1, 2024, the deadline is one year from the date of the accident. For certain accidents occurring after that date, some injury claims may allow up to two years. However, wrongful death claims still carry a one-year deadline.
A lawyer can:
Avoid these common mistakes:
These errors can significantly reduce the value of your claim.
Louisiana law allows injured victims to recover compensation for both financial and personal losses.
In fatal crashes, surviving family members may pursue damages through a wrongful death claim.
In cases involving intoxicated drivers, additional claims similar to drunk driving accidents may apply.
Yes, if the crash involves injury, death, or significant damage. A police report is critical documentation.
Louisiana follows comparative fault rules. You may still recover compensation, but your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
You may be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Possibly. Your compensation may be reduced if seatbelt use contributed to your injuries, but you can still pursue a claim.
At Brandt & Sherman, we have spent decades representing injured individuals and families across Louisiana. You can learn more about our attorneys and why so many clients trust our team.
We understand how insurance companies operate, and we are committed to protecting your rights from the very beginning.
The aftermath of a car accident can feel overwhelming. You do not have to navigate the legal process alone.
If you were injured in a Louisiana car accident, contact Brandt & Sherman today for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. go through the process alone. Call Brandt & Sherman for a free consultation with a Louisiana car accident lawyer. We’ll answer your questions, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve. You’ll never pay fees unless we win.
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