St. Tammany Parish Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents might be over in mere seconds but their negative effects could, unfortunately, persist for weeks, months, and even years. Many car accident victims suffer lacerations, sprains, and fractures from even low-speed impacts. Crashes occurring at higher speeds have the potential to cause catastrophic brain damage, paralysis, severe burns, and death.

Even if you only suffered minor injuries in a crash, a skilled personal injury attorney could potentially seek and recover compensation for the damage done and costs incurred. For more severe wrecks, a St. Tammany Parish car accident lawyer could work with you to seek restitution for lost work wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other ways your life has been changed by this car wreck.

Requirements for a Strong Car Accident Case

Most car accident cases are built around legal negligence meaning that another person was directly responsible for causing the injuries to the plaintiff. Specifically, Louisiana courts mandate that to consider a defendant negligent, the following elements must be demonstrated:

1. The defendant owed a duty of reasonable care to the plaintiff
2. The defendant breached their duty of care by their own reckless, careless, or intentional actions
3. An accident occurred directly because of the defendant’s breach of duty
4. The accident caused the plaintiff to sustain injuries

Everyone on the road owes an implicit duty of care to everyone else sharing that road with them, but the other elements of legal negligence may be difficult to prove without conclusive evidence. Photographs of the accident scene, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, testimony from witnesses and accident reconstructionists, and reports made by responding law enforcement officers could all play a crucial role in identifying liable parties.

Even if a defendant is shown to be responsible for a car crash, an injured party may still need a St. Tammany Parish attorney’s help collecting evidence of the specific losses they suffered. Medical bills and previous payslips may be necessary to demonstrate financial losses related to healthcare and missed work, while personal testimony and contemporaneous journal entries could help show non-economic losses. Legal counsel could work with an individual plaintiff to identify relevant information and present it in a compelling way.

Potential Problems an Attorney Could Help With

It is not uncommon for multiple parties to share at least some blame for an auto wreck. If a plaintiff filing suit is one of those liable parties, Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2323 allows the court overseeing their case to reduce whatever damage award they see proportionally by their percentage of fault. With help from a seasoned auto accident lawyer in St. Tammany Parish, though, a plaintiff may be able to contest allegations of fault and maximize the amount of compensation they are awarded.

A legal professional may also be able to help expedite the evidence collection and filing processes, which can be particularly important in Louisiana compared to other states. As per LA Civ. Code Art. 3492, plaintiffs only have one year from the date of their accident in which to file suit, so time is usually of the essence when pursuing civil litigation.

Get Professional Help from a St. Tammany Parish Car Accident Attorney

After getting into a serious car accident, you may be suffering from significant financial losses in addition to physical pain. Dealing with these challenges can be hard enough without also factoring in the complexities of the civil court system.

Fortunately, you have a steadfast ally available to help you through your case from start to finish. Contact a St. Tammany Parish car accident lawyer today to set up an initial consultation.