Rear-End Collision Lawyer Lafayette
Rear-end collision lawyer in Lafayette
With help from a rear-end collision lawyer in Lafayette, you can request damages from anyone who caused your accident. You may be able to claim compensation to pay your medical bills, make up for lost income while you were out of work, and more.
Our rear-end collision lawyer in Lafayette is dedicated to getting the compensation you deserve. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation.
A Lafayette rear-end accident lawyer serves as your legal advocate. They handle a wide range of legal tasks on your behalf. These include the following.
Filing your claim
Your lawyer will make sure that your lawsuit is submitted in alignment with Louisiana’s statute of limitations (deadline) of one year.
Investigating your case
Your attorney will conduct a thorough review of your claim and look for the best ways to present your case to a judge or jury.
Collecting evidence
Your lawyer will gather photos, videos, medical records, and other pieces of evidence to support your request for compensation.
Negotiating a settlement
Your lawyer can work with the defendant and their attorney to negotiate a settlement that gives you an adequate amount of compensation.
Completing the discovery process
Your attorney will question the defendant and other witnesses during depositions and take other measures to help you gather evidence and testimony during the discovery phase of your litigation.
Representing you during your trial
Your lawyer argues your case to a judge or jury and disputes claims from the defendant and their attorney.
When you work with us, you don’t owe a dime unless and until we win your case. This structure is called paying “on contingency.” Because we don’t get paid unless we win your case, you can rest assured we’ll do everything in our power to get you the compensation you deserve. When we do win your case, you’ll simply owe a mutually agreed-upon amount. There are no hidden costs and no surprises with us.
Rear-end crashes can take place on any road in Lafayette. Drivers may be more prone to rear-end collisions on certain Lafayette roads than others. Roads where rear-end collisions tend to happen in the city include:
- US-90
- US-167
- LA-182
- LA-339
- LA-3073
- I-10
- Louisiana Avenue
- Johnston Street
- Main Street
A rear-end collision happens when one or more motorists are negligent. There are many reasons cited for these types of collisions. These reasons include the following.
What are the leading causes of rear-end collisions?
A motorist may look down at their GPS or cell phone without realizing the risk that they are taking. When a motorist engages in distracted driving, they can cause an accident that injures or kills other drivers or pedestrians. This motorist can be held financially responsible for the collision, too.
Drunk driving
Louisiana has strict laws in place for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. If a driver chooses to get behind the wheel while intoxicated and causes an accident, the consequences can be severe. This individual will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Dangerous driving behaviors
When a motorist speeds, ignores stop signs and red lights, or violates other rules of the road, they are reckless and dangerous. This driver may be unable to stop in enough time to prevent a crash. The motorist is subject to personal injury lawsuits from anyone harmed during the crash.
Poor road or weather conditions
Bumpy roads, rainy weather, and other road or weather issues are not excuses for causing an auto accident. If a motorist blames the road or weather conditions for their crash, they can still be held accountable for the incident. With the help of a rear-end auto crash lawyer, you can request compensation from a motorist, even if they say the road or weather conditions contributed to your accident.
Car defects
It can be expensive to bring a car in for regular maintenance and repairs. Regardless, it is a car owner’s responsibility to make sure that their vehicle is free of safety defects. If a car has defective brakes or other performance issues that make it unsafe to drive, the owner must fix them — otherwise, a vehicle defect can lead to a rear-end collision.
Lafayette Car Accident Lawyer can help you submit a claim if you are involved in a rear-end collision for any of these reasons and many others. Our attorney allocates the time, energy, and resources required to help you get a fair settlement. To find out more, please reach out to us.
In a rear-end crash, you may experience a minor injury. Or, you may suffer an injury that affects you long into the future. Ultimately, there are many types of injuries that you can suffer in a rear-end crash, and these include the following.
Head injuries
If you slam your vehicle into the car in front of you, your head can jerk forward and hit the steering wheel. Comparatively, a driver can hit your vehicle from behind, which can lead to a head injury. In either of these incidents, you can suffer a concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other head injury that affects your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Neck injuries
In the initial moments after your back-end collision, you may experience pain in your neck. This pain may go away on its own in the days after your accident or linger for weeks or months. Along with neck pain, tail-end car crash victims are susceptible to whiplash, neck stiffness, and other neck injuries.
Back injuries
Motorists and passengers can suffer back sprains and strains following rear-end collisions. These back injuries can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and people may start to notice the symptoms associated with them days or weeks after an auto crash. If you are dealing with a back injury relating to your tail-end accident, a personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation to cover the costs of treating it.
Psychological distress
If you are driving a car or traveling with someone else when a rear-end collision happens, the incident can be traumatic. You may suffer psychological distress that hampers your ability to work, go to school, and enjoy life in the same way you did before your crash. At this point, you can connect with an attorney who can help you pursue compensation for your psychological pain and suffering.
In most instances, the trailing driver is at fault in rear-end collisions – but that’s not always the case. Examples of instances when the driver in front may be found partly or completely responsible for a back-end collision include:
- The tail lights of the driver’s car were defective
- The driver swerves or makes another sudden maneuver that the motorist behind them would not be expected to reasonably anticipate
- The driver is constantly braking
- The driver is backing their vehicle up in a parking lot
To prove fault, it is critical to show that a driver was negligent. Your lawyer can put together an argument that shows that the four elements of negligence were present when your tail-end crash occurred.
Duty of care
The driver had a duty of care to act responsibly behind the wheel.
Breach of duty of care
The driver did not act responsibly, which represented a breach of their duty of care to you.
Causation
Because the driver violated their duty of care, they caused your accident.
Damages
The accident resulted in economic or non-economic damages.
Proving fault is key. If you cannot show that another driver was responsible for your tail-end collision, you may be forced to pay the costs associated with it. Fortunately, an attorney can work with you to confirm that the elements of negligence were present and prepare your argument accordingly.
Louisiana is a pure comparative fault state. If you get into a back-end collision, you may be found partly responsible for the crash. A judge or jury can reduce the amount of damages that it awards based on your percentage of fault.
For example, you may request $10,000 in a tail-end collision lawsuit. A judge or jury may find you to be 20% responsible for your accident. If this happens, you will be awarded $8,000.
You can still request compensation in an auto crash if you are primarily responsible for it. With an experienced auto crash lawyer at your side, you can present a compelling argument that proves you are in no way responsible for your collision. If your argument resonates with a judge or jury, you may be awarded 100% of the damages that you request.
Hit from behind? Our Lafayette rear-end accident lawyers are ready to help.
Our skilled rear-end collision lawyers in Lafayette will do everything we can to help you get compensation from anyone responsible for your rear-end collision. Please contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.
