The loss of a family member affects every aspect of a family’s emotional and financial stability. Grief and anger are common, but the financial toll adds up as well. You need help as the victim’s family, and we can offer it.
At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, our goal is to seek full and fair compensation for all of the losses you are facing now. Let our fatal car accident lawyer in Hammond become the advocate you need in these challenging moments. Our Hammond car accident lawyers have recovered over $100 million.
The Most Common Fatal Car Accident Causes
Fatal car accidents happen for numerous reasons, and any type of car accident can cause them. As your attorney, we make it our goal to fully investigate what happened in your case, allowing us to seek fair compensation under the law. Some of the most common causes of fatal car accidents in Hammond include:
- Head-on collisions involving two vehicles colliding at the hood and engine often result in significant force and fire risk
- T-bone accidents often occur at intersections when drivers run the light or fail to yield the right of way
- Rollover accidents, often the result of SUVs or trucks that roll over after tripping on the curb or debris, or as a result of taking turns at too fast a pace
- Fatigued drivers often cause accidents because they have no ability to stop the vehicle or try to stop it from striking the other party head-on
- Driving under the influence: Drunk drivers account for a large number of fatal accidents, often due to their inability to gauge distance or avoid swerving into oncoming traffic.
Any type of accident can result in the loss of life. When it happens to your family, take a step back to focus on your specific care needs. Then, contact our personal injury lawyer in Hammond at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers for immediate help.
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(504) 500-1111Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Car Accident
Fatal car accidents result in people suffering for many years to come, both with their grief and the financial strain that comes with it. If your family member lost their life at the hands of someone else, you may be able to file a claim for your losses. You may find a wrongful death lawsuit if you are:
- The spouse of the person who died
- The children of the person who died
- If neither of those is available, then the parents, followed by siblings, can seek legal action
It can be incredibly hard to make the decision to contact an attorney after a fatal accident. However, the implications of not doing so are very significant. You may struggle to maintain your quality of life. With our help, you learn if you have a case, what your damages are, and what we can do to bring home fair compensation.
Filing a Claim for Wrongful Death in Louisiana
As noted, it is challenging to decide to pursue legal action against another party after such a tragedy. However, even if you are unsure if you should take action, we encourage you to speak to a Hammond fatal car accident attorney before the statute of limitations expires.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2, the family members of a person who lost their life in an accident typically have just one year from the date of death to file a claim through a lawsuit. If you wait beyond this timeframe, the court will not hear your case, and there is no way for you to recover fair damages.
Instead, we encourage you to set up a free consultation with us now. Let us learn more about what happened to you and then build a claim that holds all parties accountable. There are very few exceptions to this law, but in every case, we want and need to get started as soon as possible.
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(504) 500-1111Understand Your Losses in a Fatal Car Accident
It is up to the victim’s family or their attorney to determine the value of their claim and then to seek legal action to recover damages. If you do not know what type of damages may be owed to you, that puts you at risk of settling for far too little. In most cases, you can seek damages such as the following in these accidents:
- Medical expense costs resulting from the accident and through end-of-life care
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income and benefits that your family was relying on prior to the death
- Loss of guidance and companionship: This represents the impact the death is likely to have on you and your relationship moving forward
- Onset of mental health complications, including post-traumatic stress disorder or depression
Expect our legal team to pursue a claim that incorporates all of the losses you already have, but also the losses the law allows you to receive when your loved one loses their life. You may not know the value of your claim. That is okay because we will build an evidence-based claim you can rely on.
Punitive Damages in a Fatal Car Accident
There are situations in which a victim’s family may seek a punitive damages award. That means you believe the at-fault party engaged in extreme recklessness, malice, or intentional misconduct to cause the accident. In these cases, the law allows the judge to award you punitive damages and financial support to use as you see fit.
Punitive damages are a type of punishment and are rarely awarded. They may be awarded in cases such as reckless actions or intentional misconduct. Let your attorney help you determine if your case may apply.
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(504) 500-1111Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fatal Car Accident Attorney in Hammond Now
There is no better time than right now to find out what your case is worth. At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, we take your case seriously. We know how important it is to get real justice for your family and your lost loved one. With decades of experience, our Hammond fatal car accident lawyer is the advocate you need.