Auto Accidents Attorney in Gonzales, & Southeast Louisiana

Auto Accidents Attorney in Gonzales, & Southeast Louisiana Across the country, millions are injured in motor vehicle accidents each year. Gonzales motor vehicle accidents are no exception. Vehicular accidents are the number one cause of injury in the United States for people ages 1-34.

Recent automotive safety improvements such as airbags, rollover bars, reinforced frames, and better tires, have positively affected motor vehicle accident statistics, as have more strict drunk driving laws passed in many states. Lives have been spared. However, Gonzales motor vehicle accidents are still a hazard and part and parcel of our modern transportation needs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that every 10 seconds someone in the United States is involved in a car accident.

I Was Just In A Car Accident. What Should I Do?

Get Yourself Into A Safe Place. Roads are dangerous to stand on, so be sure to pull your vehicle off to the shoulder, if possible. If your car is not operational, turn on your emergency lights and remain inside your vehicle, if you can safely do so, until emergency assistance arrives.
Call The Police. In any situation involving an auto accident, you will need to have a police investigator assess the situation ad file a police report. A report with your account of what happened is vital in determining who will be held responsible for the crash.
Get Medical Attention As Soon As Possible. Car accidents are often violent collisions that can contort the body and can cause a variety of injuries. It is common for hidden injuries from car accidents to catch victims off -guard several days later. Seek precautionary medical attention, even if you don’t feel injured.
Contact An Experienced Auto Accident Attorney In Baton Rouge, Louisiana to advise you on how to protect your rights.

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Can I Be Compensated Even If I Was Partially At Fault For The Accident That Caused My Injuries?

Louisiana subscribes to a pure comparative negligence rule when dealing with personal injury claims. This means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident that caused your injuries, you are still entitled to recover for the damages that are attributed to the negligence of the other party or parties. Determining how much of the fault will be attributed to each party is rather technical and will be left up to the jury, if your case goes all the way to trial. An experienced Baton Rouge, LA auto accident attorney will be able to advise you on whether your claim is likely to succeed. Contact the auto accident attorneys at Gordon R. Crawford & Associates today for an evaluation of your claim.

General Information:

Uninsured & Underinsured Accidents:

What If The Person Who Caused My Injuries Doesn’t Have Insurance?

In Louisiana, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage provides protection for personal injuries that are caused by the negligence of another driver who either carries insufficient insurance to cover the costs or has no insurance at all. This type of insurance must be carried on your own policy, in order for it to cover you. If you carry this coverage and are hit by a negligent driver who is uninsured, your own policy holder will be liable for the damages you suffer.

These claims basically operate the same way as a normal accident claim would, except that you are recovering from your own insurance carrier, rather than the other party’s. It is very important to remember that the insurance representatives from your own carrier are still not looking out for your best interests. Just like every insurance company, they will only be looking to minimize the company’s loss. Consulting an experienced auto accident attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is always the best way to ensure that you’re protected.

What Are The Common Causes Of Auto Accidents In Gonzales, & Southeast Louisiana?

The driver’s inattention or distractions, such as texting, talking on cell phones, changing settings on the radio or other accessories, minding the needs of children in the vehicle, or a physical dispute or arguing with a passenger, are common causes of auto accidents in Louisiana. Another major cause of auto accident cases is driver impairment. Impairment can be caused by alcohol and this is, in particular, a bad problem in the state of Louisiana because of our cultural background in that regard. In Louisiana, the law allows daiquiri shops to be opened on the highway. You can drive by and pick up a daiquiri. Most service stations and convenient stores here sell beer and these are all right by the road where you can drive in and drive out real quick. Driver impairment is also caused by drugs, both prescription drugs and illicit drugs.

Another major cause of accidents probably nationwide is speeding. We are all busier than we should be these days and we are always in a rush. The new vehicles are so well-tuned and airtight and you do not realize how fast you are going. Another major cause is driving too closely behind the car in front of you, which is sometimes referred to as tailgating. This is when you just do not leave enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to safely stop in the event of some unexpected action by the person in front of you. Failure to give right of way is also a major cause of accidents.

What Impact Does The Cause Of The Accident Have On My Personal Injury Case, If Any?

The cause of the accident can have an impact on a personal injury case. The at-fault driver in automobile accidents has generally violated a state law. The common causes of auto accidents are generally violations of state criminal law. It is a plus for the claimant that the at-fault driver has actually already committed a crime for which he has been charged. However, if the claimant was a driver of a vehicle and he or she violated the law by being, for example, drunk or being spaced out on drugs or speeding or running a red light, then the claimant is actually at fault and a cause of the auto accident. If that is the case, then his or her recovery for injuries could be denied or reduced because of his or her actions.

If I Was Not Wearing A Seatbelt At The Time Of My Accident, Can I Still Recover Damages?

In the state of Louisiana, you can still recover damages if you are not wearing a seatbelt. Some states deny recovery to someone who is not wearing a seatbelt or they reduce the amount of recovery, but in Louisiana, the law does not penalize you for not having a seatbelt on at the time of the collision.

Should I Ever Release My Medical Records To Any Insurance Company?

Whether you should or should not release your medical records to any insurance company depends on a few factors. If you have Medical Payments coverage on your own personal automobile insurance policy, in this instance then your own insurance company would pay up to a certain limit of your medical expenses. Therefore, you would have to surrender your medical records to your own insurance company along with the bills, so they could see that the bills were justified to pay you under your policy.
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It is my recommendation as an Auto Accidents Attorney in Gonzales, & Southeast Louisiana with a lot of experience that you should not release your medical records and bills initially to the at-fault insurance company. You should never sign a general release of medical records form for them. They may find things in them that you may not want them to know. It is just not to your advantage to do that for the at-fault insurance company until they get very serious about settling your case.

If I Do Not Feel Injured After An Automobile Accident, Do I Still Have To See A Doctor?

It is not required that you see a doctor if you do not feel injured after an automobile accident. However, it is best to see your primary care doctor to get yourself checked out to make sure that there is not something going on that the doctor may see or find that you may not be aware of at the time. The defendant auto accident insurance companies generally take the position that people who are hurt see a doctor. They reason that, if you do not see a doctor, you are not hurt and you should not get any money. If you do not see a doctor then you have to work hard to overcome this presumption by the defendant’s insurance company because they believe that if you are hurt enough then you are going to see a doctor.

Can Anything That I Share With My Medical Doctor Ever Be Used Against Me?

Anything that you share with your medical doctor can be used against you. You should always be careful of what you say when talking to your doctor, but you should always be truthful with your doctor. Just stop and think first before speaking and saying something. For example, if a doctor asks you during his taking of your history if you have ever been in previous accidents, if you have then you should say yes. If you have and you say no and later on during the investigation of your claim by the insurance company they find out that you lied about this, they can certainly use that lie against you in court. This may seriously impair your claim. They will present it to the judge or to the jury that if you lied about one thing, you could be lying about some of these other things. Make sure that it is the truth and that you think a little bit before you answer some questions about how it is going to sound when it comes up later in court.

If you or a loved one is in need of Auto Accidents Attorney in Gonzales, & Southeast Louisiana, call Gordon R. Crawford at (225) 228-3450. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please contact online or call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.

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