Mansfield Melancon is a Louisiana personal injury law firm whose attorneys represent people injured in car crashes and a wide range of other accidents. Our representation includes vehicle passengers injured in everything from seemingly minor fender benders to high speed and multivehicle pileups.
Being injured in a car accident can be a painful and stressful experience, especially for passengers involved in a crash through no fault of their own. Passengers often do not expect to be injured when simply taking a ride with a friend or loved one. Passengers are often injured even more than the driver because the passenger does not see the impending and approaching accident, thus, they are unable to brace themselves for impact or avoid impact as a driver would. We work aggressively to ensure that those responsible for an accident are held liable for their actions.
At Mansfield Melancon, our attorneys take pride in having a personalized approach to legal services. That means that we take the time to understand our clients’ unique situations and needs and make ourselves directly available to the people we represent. You will not have to navigate a maze of administrative assistants, case managers and paralegals to speak with your lawyer at our firm.
Proving Negligence in Car Accident Cases
A person who is injured in a car crash in Louisiana has the right to seek compensation from those responsible. Recovery includes seeking money damages for past and future medical bills, property damage, lost wages while recuperating and pain and suffering, including physical, emotional, and psychological damages, as well as loss of enjoyment of some of life’s greatest gifts (playing with your children, coaching your kids’ sports teams, spending time with grandkids and loved ones, etc.).
Negligence is a legal term that generally means that a person or entity did not live up to what courts call a “duty of care” prescribed by law. Doctors, for example, owe patients a duty to provide a certain level of care based on their training and experience, while property owners owe visitors a duty to keep the premises in a generally safe condition.
Drivers also owe a duty of care to everyone else on the road. Drivers also owe a duty of care to ALL of their passengers. By allowing a passenger to ride in their vehicle, drivers assume a duty of care to not expose their passengers to injury. They are required to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner, including by obeying traffic laws, maintaining safe speeds and using turn signals when changing lanes. They’re also expected to refrain from dangerous activities like texting and driving or getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.
A driver who does not live up to this duty of care is likely to be considered negligent and legally responsible for any injuries that happen as a result of this negligence. In some cases, multiple drivers may be negligent and responsible for the same crash. Louisiana law makes negligent drivers liable based on a proportion of fault. Contact us today to figure out who should be held responsible.
Speak with a Louisiana Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash Louisiana, an experienced Louisiana car accident attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options. We can help you today.
At Mansfield Melancon, we work with people across Louisiana to get back on their feet after an accident with the full compensation they deserve. Our attorneys guide clients through the legal process with experience and personal attention.
Our offices are conveniently located in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Call us or contact us online to schedule a consultation with a Louisiana car accident attorney. You can reach us at our New Orleans location at 504-500-1108, our Baton Rouge location at 225-612-0800, or our Lafayette location at 337-409-0003.