In this article, you will discover:
- The importance of seeking medical attention immediately following a car accident.
- Key reasons to contact an attorney as soon as possible following a car accident.
- The most common mistakes clients make when filing a claim after an accident.
What Is The Importance Of Seeking Immediate Medical Attention After A Car Accident?
Most people, when badly injured, want medical treatment right away. If you wait even a few days after your accident to first seek medical treatment, the insurance company for the other driver who injured you is going to assume you may not be as severely injured as you claim. Otherwise, they will claim, you would have sought immediate treatment.
What Evidence Should I Gather After A Car Accident?
There are two forms of evidence I would recommend gathering after an accident if you’re able to do so. Take photos of the cars, the accident scene and anything else you feel is important at the accident site. Also, try to identify and speak with any potential eyewitnesses.
How Soon Should I Contact My Insurance Company After A Car Accident In Louisiana?
If your car is totaled in the accident and you need a rental car, it’s going to be a lot slower to do that through the other driver’s insurance company. In that case, I would instead contact your own insurance company right after the accident to get that process started. Otherwise, you may be waiting for weeks without any mode of transportation.
What Does The Investigation Process Look Like In Louisiana?
It depends on the accident. If it’s a severe accident, a lawyer will generally get in touch with an expert called an accident reconstruction expert. They are qualified and have expertise in examining accident scenes, determining scientifically how the accident occurred and offering opinions as to who was at fault for the accident.
If the accident is not severe enough to justify retaining an accident reconstruction expert, you should take photos on your phone, identify possible eyewitnesses and get their contact information.
Is It Ever Too Early Or Late To Consult A Personal Injury Attorney In St. Charles Parish?
It definitely can be too late to consult an attorney. In Louisiana, up until very recently, we have what’s called a one-year prescriptive period. In other states, they refer to this as a statute of limitations. Basically, you have one year to file a lawsuit in Louisiana from the date of the accident in which you were injured.
The prescriptive period was recently changed in Louisiana to two years, but that hasn’t been tested yet. Most lawyers are still trying to get their cases filed one year from the day of the accident.
You want to contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you wait until after the prescriptive period to consult a personal injury attorney or file a lawsuit, you may be out of luck. Ideally, you want your attorney to have time to investigate your accident properly.
You also want to contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident to protect your rights. Often, the opposing insurance company will reach out and take statements from drivers involved in the accident. They’ll frequently get drivers or injured persons to say things that they’ll ultimately use against them.
What Is The Most Common Mistake Clients Make When Filing A Claim After An Accident, And How Do You Help Prevent It?
The most common mistake is people failing to reach out to attorneys as soon as possible after the accident to protect their rights fully.
Another common mistake is when people handle the claim themselves with the opposing insurance company. This strategy could hurt their ability to prosecute their case in the future and often the opposing insurance company will take advantage of the fact that most people are not knowledgeable about the applicable laws affecting them.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?
For more information on Filing A Personal Injury Claim After A Car Accident In St. Charles Parish, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (504) 527-8767 today.
