Highway Accident Lawyer in Hammond

Highway accidents can be devastating, leaving you with long-lasting injuries that may affect your day-to-day life. If you have been injured in an accident, you deserve justice, and a highway accident lawyer in Hammond may be able to help.

At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, we have helped our clients recover over $100 million, and as your Hammond car accident lawyer, we are prepared to put that experience to work for you. If you have been injured, we are here to fight for the compensation you are owed.

Highway Accidents Often Cause More Severe Injuries

Crashes on highways usually happen at much higher speeds than in city and residential areas. The force of these accidents, especially in head-on collisions, rollover accidents, or multi-vehicle pile-ups, can be deadly. Common injuries in highway accident cases include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Severe neck and back injuries

Many highway accident victims require long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation. A Hammond personal injury lawyer may be able to help you secure compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

Heavy Traffic Around Hammond Can Increase Crash Risks

Highways often have different traffic conditions than smaller, residential streets. Traffic congestion, along with distracted or aggressive drivers, often contributes to the likelihood of a collision, particularly on a busy highway.

Heavy traffic times, such as rush hour and holiday travel, often lead to an increase in highway collisions. Additional cars on the road can increase the risk of multi-vehicle crashes and pile-ups, which can be catastrophic.

Severe weather may also contribute to an increase in crashes. Drivers must take extra precautions during storms and severe weather, and when they do not, the results can be devastating. A highway accident attorney in Hammond may be able to help you recover damages that you are owed.

Speeding Often Plays a Major Role in Many Highway Crashes

Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases stopping distance. On highways, even small increases in speed can make accidents much more dangerous.

Drivers traveling too fast may lose control, fail to react to traffic changes, or cause more severe impacts in the event of a collision. Speed-related crashes may involve:

• Loss of vehicle control
• Unsafe lane changes
• Rear-end collisions
• Tire blowouts
• Rollover accidents

Higher speeds also tend to increase the severity of injuries, adding to the danger of highway collisions. If you were hit on the highway by a driver who was speeding, you could be entitled to compensation. At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, our team can review your case to help determine what you may be owed.

Distracted Driving Is a Common Cause of Highway Accidents

Drivers traveling at highway speeds cover a large amount of distance in just a few seconds. Looking away from the road, even briefly, can lead to devastating results. While many know how texting and driving contributes to distracted driving accidents, there are many other scenarios that can result in a crash.

GPS usage, even hands-free, can distract drivers and take their attention away from the road in front of them. Similarly, adjusting music or other controls can cause distraction and be dangerous at high speeds. While these actions may be necessary at times while driving, it is important to take special care to ensure they are done safely.

Conversations with passengers may also be a distraction while driving. It is important for those operating a motor vehicle to prioritize focus on the road above any potential distraction to ensure the safety of those in the vehicle and around them.

Determining Fault in a Highway Accident Can Be Complicated

Some highway crashes involve clear liability, while others are not so clear-cut. Determining who is liable can be complex and often requires evidence and an experienced professional who can put that evidence together in a way that demonstrates clear fault to the courts.

Louisiana follows a modified comparative fault rule. This means that as long as you are less than 51% at fault, you may be entitled to compensation. The compensation you are owed would be reduced by the percentage of fault you are found to be responsible for (Art. 2323).

For example, if you are owed $100,000 but it is determined that you are 30% at fault, you would only be entitled to $70,000. This is one of the key reasons having an experienced Hammond highway accident attorney is so beneficial.

Highway Accidents Frequently Lead to Large Insurance Claims

Due to the fact that highway crashes often involve serious injuries, medical costs can become extremely expensive, along with other costs and lost income related to the accident. Victims often seek compensation for:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Surgeries and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Future medical care
• Pain and suffering

Cases involving permanent injuries or disabilities may involve significantly larger financial claims. To better understand what damages you may be owed for your specific circumstance, it can be beneficial to speak with a lawyer.

Insurance Companies Often Move Quickly After Serious Crashes

After a highway accident, insurance adjusters may contact injured people soon after the crash. They may try to encourage you to accept a low-ball settlement offer before you fully understand your rights. This is why it is important to avoid giving a statement before obtaining legal counsel.

Insurance adjusters may also try to minimize your injuries, stating that they aren’t as severe or are not related to the accident. To avoid this, it is essential that you receive medical evaluation as soon as possible after the accident, even if injuries seem minor. This helps create a paper trail as well as ensure you do not have any hidden injuries.

Shifting blame is another way insurance companies often attempt to avoid paying you the full compensation you are owed. This is where having detailed police reports, well-documented witness statements, and photos and video from the accident and aftermath can help.

Our Highway Accident Attorney in Hammond is Here to Fight For You

If you have been injured in a highway accident, you deserve an attorney who will fight tirelessly to get the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Hammond highway accident lawyer from Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free consultation to see how much your case may be worth.