Do You Need a Lawyer for a Rear-End Accident in Louisiana?

Do you need a lawyer for a rear–end accident in Louisiana? While you do not need a lawyer for a rear-end accident in Louisiana, it may be in your best interests to work with one. Hiring a New Orleans rear-end accident lawyer can be a critical benefit to your case.

If You Sustained Serious Injuries in the Rear-End Accident

Accidents involving injuries nearly always benefit from legal representation because of the complexity in recovering fair damages. Injuries are expensive, and insurance companies often try to reduce the compensation they pay out, at your expense as the victim.

Some common injuries include:

• Head injuries: This includes traumatic brain injuries, concussions of all degrees, as well as skull fractures.
• Spinal injuries: Spinal cord injuries may result in nerve damage or complete or partial paralysis. Spinal column injuries may also result in chronic pain and mobility limitations.
• Broken bones: Victims with complex fractures or crushing injuries may benefit from legal guidance if their injuries involved surgical procedures or multiple bones were broken.
• Internal injuries: Victims with internal bleeding or organ damage benefit from legal representation, especially if they need surgery.
• Disfigurement–causing injuries: This may include amputations, significant scarring, and significant burns, all impacting mental health and well-being for years to come.
• Mental health complications: Emotional trauma and the onset of mental health complications such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In these cases, your Louisiana rear-end car accident lawyer will build a claim that incorporates all of your current and future losses, which may mean estimating the value of future medical care needs.

Accuracy in seeking this type of compensation is critical to protecting your rights and funding your path to maximum healing. Talk to a New Orleans car accident lawyer today.

Disputes Over Liability

Another instance in which it is imperative that you hire a rear-end accident lawyer is when there is a dispute over who is at fault. It is a common misconception that fault in rear-end collisions is always assigned to the driver behind.

When the driver in front slams on the brakes, for example, that rear-end accident may be the fault of the driver in front. 

Your attorney will work to prove who is at fault in several ways:

• Gathering police reports that indicate details to demonstrate fault
• Speaking to eyewitnesses who can verify what happened first
• Using accident reconstruction professionals and services to rebuild what happened
• Using photos and video from the crash site to verify what happened and where
• Documenting with expert testimony why the accident happened and clarifying who is at fault

Disputes over liability can complicate cases, even when the claim process seems simple. A rear-end car accident lawyer in Louisiana will have the knowledge and resources to help you build a clear case and claim that allows you to seek the best possible outcome, even when the insurance company denies your claim. A New Orleans personal injury lawyer is here to assist with your claim.

Insurance Company Denials or Delays

In serious rear–end accidents, insurance companies may take every step they can to reduce the amount of compensation they pay. Having a rear-end accident attorney helps eliminate those risks and allows your legal team to handle all communication. Some of the signs that the insurance company may not be treating you fairly include:

• Denial of your claim without explanation
• Ongoing demands for additional information or verification of your losses
• Minimizing your injuries
• Statements that seem to threaten you to settle out of court and fast
• Limiting your claim value significantly beyond what is expected
• Not allowing you to recover pain and suffering damages

In these cases, the insurance company may seem very fair and honest. In some cases, they may even seem friendly. When you hire an attorney, the process changes, and the conversations may broaden to include more of your losses.

Your Case Involves Serious and Long-Term Losses

In cases where you have serious injuries or losses, it becomes imperative that you seek extensive damage recovery. Insurance companies are not always lenient or willing to treat you fairly. If you have any of the following injuries and losses, let an attorney help you navigate your case:

• Loss of life, such as the loss of a family member in an accident
• Suffering paralysis
• Loss of vision
• Loss of hearing
• Development of chronic pain
• Onset of complex mental health matters

Your attorney becomes your advocate in proving what this incident caused to you, including the pain and suffering you have, and the emotional trauma that limits your functionality. Your attorney will seek assistance with long-term care needs, loss of quality of life, and the impact on your relationships and ability to work. 

These are critical losses that are very challenging to calculate. Under the Louisiana statute of limitations (CC 3493.1), you have just two years from the date of the accident to take legal action. Do not let them limit your recovery.

Seek the Help of a Rear-End Accident Lawyer in Louisiana

You have the right to legal support in critical situations. If you were in a rear-end car accident in Louisiana, schedule a free consultation with Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers. 

There is never any out-of-pocket cost to you, but we can tell you whether we can help you with your case. Contact us today to discuss the details of your case.