Have you been hurt by a negligent driver in New Orleans, LA? If so, a New Orleans car accident lawyer can help you recover compensation. This compensation can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional suffering.
The New Orleans car accident attorneys at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers have won six and seven-figure awards for our clients. Our New Orleans car accident attorneys will fight for your right to full payment after getting hurt by a negligent driver.
Contact our office by calling (504) 294-3804 to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about your legal options in New Orleans, Louisiana.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident In New Orleans
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers have helped car accident victims in New Orleans, LA, since 2018.
We provide high-quality representation so that our clients access the resources they need to heal after a car accident. Our New Orleans car accident lawyers always put the clients first, and our positive client testimonials are evidence of our dedication.
If you hire us after a car accident in New Orleans, we will:
- Explain the law and your legal rights
- Calculate your damages
- Investigate the accident and identify everyone responsible
- Protect you from unfair blame
- File insurance claims
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Consult with expert witnesses
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Prepare for trial
- Represent you in court
Hiring a New Orleans personal injury lawyer is the best way to get the money you deserve after a car crash. Call our office to learn more about how we can help.
How Common Are Car Accidents In New Orleans, LA
In New Orleans, in 2023, there were 7,687 injuries resulting from car crashes. This accounts for almost 13% of all car accidents that caused injuries in Louisiana that same year. There were also 66 fatalities in New Orleans and 826 statewide. That means 8% of traffic deaths happened in the area.
What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
Every car accident case is worth a different amount.
Some factors that may influence your case value include:
- Permanent or severe injuries
- Expensive medical bills
- The need for ongoing medical treatment or rehabilitation
- Inability to work or earn income
- Significant impact on enjoyment or quality of life
- Property damage
- Whether you are partially at fault for the crash
You should be prepared to discuss these factors with your lawyer during an initial visit. Your attorney will likely want to calculate your case value so that you have an idea of what to expect at the end of the case.
What Kind of Damages Are Available To Car Accident Victims?
Louisiana car accident victims can recover compensatory damages. This includes both economic and non-economic damages. The purpose is to compensate a victim for their losses, whether financial or emotional.
In a car accident case, these types of damages may include:
- Cost of emergency medical services
- Ongoing medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Medicine or therapeutic devices
- Lost past wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
You can also ask for damages for out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses may include losses that you incur because of the accident but aren’t directly related to treatment. For example, transportation to and from a doctor’s visit if your car is wrecked or if you need to hire a housekeeper because you are unable to clean your case due to your injury.
Our New Orleans car accident attorneys will help you calculate your damages and make sure that you ask for everything that you deserve. Many people who don’t have a lawyer don’t realize that they are entitled to more. You have a right to be fully compensated for your losses after a car accident.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Most car accident lawyers charge a contingency fee. This means that payment is contingent upon winning your case. If the lawyer loses, you don’t have to pay them at all.
Once the lawyer wins your case, they will take a percentage of your damages or the settlement. You will agree on a percentage before hiring the lawyer. The percentage may vary depending on the type of work involved in the case.
For example, a lawyer may charge a higher percentage if the case goes to a jury trial versus settling outside of court. That’s because a trial is more labor intensive.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For A Car Accident In Louisiana?
Louisiana follows pure comparative negligence rules. These rules say that as long as you are less than 100% responsible for the car accident, you can recover compensation. The amount that you recover is proportionate to the defendant’s share of responsibility. For example, if the defendant is 80% responsible, then you can recover 80% of the damages.
What is unique about pure comparative negligence is that you can recover money even if you are mostly at fault for the crash. So, if you are 95% responsible for the accident, you can still get 5% of your damages.
Even though the rule is favorable to plaintiffs, it is best to avoid getting blamed for an accident. Insurance companies will use blame as a way to pay less than you might deserve. By speaking with a lawyer early on in your case, you can protect yourself from unfair blame that will impact your total damages.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Car Accident Injuries
You need a lawyer who can represent you regardless of the type of injury that you have experienced.
Our New Orleans car accident attorneys have represented people suffering from:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Whiplash
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of eyesight
- Facial injuries
We can help you recover money for any type of injury, including complex or catastrophic injuries. Furthermore, if you have lost a loved one because of a fatal car crash, we can also help you navigate a wrongful death suit.
What Causes Most Car Accidents In New Orleans, Louisiana?
Most accidents in New Orleans are caused by:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Improper turns
- Unsafe road conditions
- Poor visibility
- Potholes or obstructions in the road
- Improper or lacking signage
- Driving the wrong way on the street
If you aren’t sure what caused the accident, our lawyers can help you investigate. This investigation may produce evidence that supports your case. It can also help us find out who is responsible for paying for your damages.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident In Louisiana?
Negligence is a legal theory that applies in most Louisiana car accident cases. Just because there is a car accident doesn’t necessarily mean someone was negligent. However, in many cases, it does.
A driver is negligent when they fail to use reasonable care and, as a result, cause an accident. Reasonable care means acting as carefully or cautiously as an ordinary person would act in a similar circumstance.
There are four elements to any negligence claim.
The elements are:
- Duty: the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
- Breach: the defendant breached that duty
- Causation: the breach caused the accident
- Damages: the plaintiff experienced damages
You must prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence. If you fail to meet this burden of proof, then you will lose your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Crash?
You typically have one year to file a lawsuit after a collision in Louisiana. If you fail to bring your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you may lose your right to recover compensation.
Contact a personal injury attorney immediately following a collision to avoid missing critical deadlines in your case.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
No one expects to get into a car accident. Many people aren’t sure what they should do after a car crash.
In our opinion, it is best to take the following steps after a car accident in New Orleans:
- Stop at the scene of the accident
- Get medical attention (either emergency medical help or a follow-up doctor’s visit)
- Take photographs of the scene and damage to the cars
- Take photographs of your injuries
- Exchange contact and insurance information
- Contact the insurance company
You should also consider speaking with a lawyer before contacting the other driver’s insurance company. You don’t want to risk making any statements that could be construed as you accepting responsibility. A lawyer can advise you on what to say and can also help you file an insurance claim.
Contact Our New Orleans Car Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
If you’re ready to get legal advice, call Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to speak with a New Orleans car accident lawyer. We will schedule a free consultation at a convenient time.
During this consultation, we will discuss your case and our law firm and chart a path forward to maximize your recovery. Don’t risk settling for less than you deserve after a car crash in New Orleans, LA.