When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are considering when to hire a personal injury lawyer, it is in your best interests to retain an attorney as soon as possible if you have suffered serious injuries, fault is disputed, or if the insurance company denies your claim or offers a low settlement.

Do not waste any time after an accident, and call a New Orleans personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer When You Suffer Serious Injuries

If your injuries are severe, that is your first red flag that you need a personal injury attorney by your side. Serious injuries may include broken bones, fractures, head injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal injuries.

Severe injuries lead to higher financial stakes, especially for permanent damage. Due to the potential high value of your claim, medical evidence may be under stricter scrutiny. You and your attorney may need comprehensive medical reports from various specialists to support the true value of your claim.

In addition, permanent injuries like paralysis, blindness, or brain damage may be difficult to calculate. Catastrophic injuries need an experienced personal injury lawyer to accurately estimate the future costs of your injuries so you do not underestimate them.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney if Fault is Disputed

If the negligent party denies responsibility, the insurance company may take advantage of the situation and shift blame to you. This can dramatically reduce your settlement or eliminate it altogether. When fault is disputed, it is important to hire a personal injury lawyer to protect the integrity of your claim.

Comparative Negligence Laws in New Orleans

Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault system under Louisiana Civil Code §2323. Fault in an accident can be shared between two or more parties and reflected as a percentage. If you are found to be partially at fault, your settlement or award may be reduced by your percentage of fault.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Prove Fault

Establishing negligence and proving who is at fault is the backbone of your personal injury claim. A personal injury lawyer may establish liability by:

• Conducting an independent investigation
• Utilizing reconstruction experts and reports
• Collecting witness statements
• Gathering footage of the accident or picture evidence, like dashcam recordings
• Protecting critical evidence, like GPS information, black box data, and traffic camera footage
• Police reports and accident reports

Most victims are not able to obtain electronic data or surveillance videos without legal representation. At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, we’ve handled countless cases where initial police reports seemed unfavorable at first until evidence revealed the truth. We pride ourselves on being strong advocates for Louisiana injury victims.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Louisiana if the Insurance Company Denies Your Claim or Offers a Low Settlement

Frequently, a personal injury claim denial is the result of “insufficient evidence of negligence” or “pre-existing conditions.” In other cases, the insurance company may offer a settlement before you’ve completed your medical treatment. Usually, that initial offer is for far lower than what your claim is worth.

A New Orleans insurance claims lawyer has experience dealing with any unsavory tactics used by claims adjusters. We can counter by writing demand letters backed by medical records, lost wage documents, and other relevant evidence.

In addition, our highly skilled trial attorneys prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This approach ensures our file is accurate and extensive, forcing the insurance company to take your claim seriously.

How the Statute of Limitations Affects Your Personal Injury Claim

In Louisiana, there is no time to wait when it comes to filing a claim with the help of a lawyer. According to Louisiana Revised Statutes §23:1209, you only have 2 years to hire a personal injury attorney and file your claim.

The statute of limitations can be confusing, but it is important to know that the clock starts the day of the accident. It is understandable to want to focus on healing and recovery after an accident. However, the strict deadline makes hiring a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible imperative to your claim.

Missing the limit means the court will likely dismiss your case, despite the strength of your evidence. A personal injury lawyer can take the burden from you, tracking deadlines, gathering evidence early, and filing your claim and any other additional evidence requested within the timeline.

Third-Party Liability Can Complicate a Personal Injury Case

Your claim may involve multiple parties who all share a portion of fault. Depending on the circumstances of your case, there may be multiple drivers, contractors, municipalities, or manufacturers involved. For example, if you were hit by a commercial vehicle, the company and driver may be to blame. However, if the truck crashed due to a faulty tire, the tire manufacturers may hold some liability as well.

A personal injury lawyer can investigate the full chain of responsibility. This may include dash cams, electronic data from the truck, employee records, and maintenance logs. Without experienced legal help, you may miss the opportunity to hold all negligent parties accountable.

Play It Safe and Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer When You Need to File a Claim

Knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer is about recognizing that your case is too complex or important to handle on your own. Being injured is already a lot to handle, so get legal help immediately after an accident to make the best use of your time.

We are ready to take on your case, serve as your personal legal guide, and represent you in court to secure your compensation. Call Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today.