New Orleans Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident can change everything in an instant. One minute you are driving through New Orleans, and the next, you are dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, and lawyers. You do not have to go through it alone if you have been injured in a New Orleans car accident. Let an experienced car accident lawyer help you recover your damages while you recover from your injuries.

At the Law Office of Heather C. Ford, we represent accident victims throughout New Orleans and all of Louisiana. Our goals are to take as much stress off the legal process as possible and to maximize your compensation. Whether you have been involved in a multi-vehicle accident, a rear-end collision, or a T-bone incident, we are here to protect your rights.

Why You Need a New Orleans Car Accident Lawyer

Car accident claims are not always straightforward. The insurance company is going to attempt to minimize the amount that you receive, and proving fault is not always so easy. Here is where a seasoned car accident attorney comes into play. The lawyer can assist by:

• Investigating the cause of the accident
• Gathering police reports, medical records, and witness statements
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary
• Helping you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering

The sooner you contact a New Orleans personal injury attorney, the better. Evidence fades, and deadlines matter—Louisiana law only gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a claim.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in New Orleans

In New Orleans, the cause of auto accidents can be careless driving, hazardous road conditions, or defective auto parts. Some cases the New Orleans auto accident attorneys commonly take include:

• Distracted Driving – Distractions that involve texting, eating, or fiddling with one’s GPS can also lead to a collision. Against the law in Louisiana, texting and driving do not stop many drivers from weaving through the congested streets of Louisiana.
• Careless Driving and Speeding – Aggressive driving and at high speeds slow down reaction times, which worsens collisions, especially in high-traffic areas such as the French Quarter and I-10.
• Drunk Driving and DUIs – New Orleans has a very active nightlife, which adds to the number of accidents involving alcohol. Severe penalties for DUI under Louisiana law have not seemed to stop drunk drivers from putting lives in danger.
• Running Red Lights or Failure to Yield – Running traffic signals at intersections can result in T-bone collisions, which often lead to severe injuries.
• Poor Road and Weather Conditions – Potholes, flooding, and heavy rainfall are some factors that can raise the risk of hydroplaning and loss of control. Motorists who operate a vehicle too fast for the road conditions in hazardous situations could be found negligent.
• Defective Parts of the Vehicle – In the case of defective airbags and brakes, the driver will not be held liable. Instead, the manufacturers or repair shops will take the responsibility.

Types of Compensation You Can Recover

If you have been hurt in a car accident in New Orleans, the following are the damages you could be entitled to recover:

• Medical expenses – All expenses for treatments at the hospital, doctor consultations, rehabilitation processes, and every future treatment program concerning your sustained injury.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity – This compensates for lost income because of days off from work and potential long-term effects on earning.
• Pain and suffering damages – This considers physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in life due to the accident.
• Property damage compensation – Compensation for property damage will help cover the repairs of your car and/or other personal belongings damaged.
• Wrongful death damages – This may be available to families who have lost a loved one, covering funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.

Each case is different, and the amount you can recover is based on the severity of your injuries and circumstances of the crash.

Average Settlement for a Car Accident in New Orleans, LA

In New Orleans, the average settlement for an automobile accident can range from $10,000 to more than $100,000, in cases if more serious injuries are involved. A victim will sometimes receive $500,000 or more depending upon the situation in truly catastrophic injury cases.

Here are the key factors that influence settlement amounts:

• Severity of Injuries – Injuries can range in severity from minor, such as whiplash, resulting in $10,000 to $30,000 settlements, up to and including more serious injuries such as broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injury, possibly increasing the settlement into the six or seven-figure range.
• Medical Expenses – Damages cover emergency treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitation, surgery, and future medical procedures and may run to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime of long-term care.
• Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity – In case you remain absent from work on account of your injuries, lost wages for weeks or even months can be recovered, while settlements increase many times over if the injury permanently affects your earning capacity.
• Liability and Fault Percentage – The state of Louisiana follows the rule of comparative fault. This means that if you are partially at fault, then your compensation is reduced by your percentage of liability.
• Pain and Suffering – In most cases, emotional distress and physical pain are calculated by a multiplier method, ranging from 1.5 to five times the total economic damages. If your case allows it, this may be considered.
• Insurance Policy Limits – Louisiana’s law requires that drivers have a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, but if the at-fault party has higher coverage or assets, you may recover more.