In this article, you can discover…
- What to do immediately following a car accident in Louisiana.
- Evidence to gather after a car accident.
- How a practiced attorney can help you after a Louisiana car accident.
What Are The First Steps I Should Take After A Car Accident In Louisiana?
First, find out if there are any eyewitnesses to the accident and get their contact information. This would include their names, addresses, and phone numbers. Do this at the scene, as witnesses tend to leave accident sites fairly quickly.
Next, take photos and video of the vehicles involved and the accident scene with your smartphone, as accident scenes can rapidly change. This documentation will be vital to your case.
You should also photograph any injuries or wounds that you have suffered as a result of the accident as soon as you’re able to do so. Seek medical attention, too, ideally on the same day or within 24 hours of the accident.
After documenting the accident site and your injuries, and seeking medical help, be sure to reach out to a trusted personal injury attorney.
Why Is It Important To Seek Medical Attention After A Car Accident, Even If I Feel Completely Fine?
Seek medical attention immediately. The longer you wait to seek care, the easier it may be for the defense or the insurance company to argue that you weren’t really hurt at all. Medical documents reflecting your injuries and pain on the date of the accident ― or soon afterward ― provide definitive proof of your injury.
Some injuries can manifest days later. But you should seek medical care as soon as these symptoms manifest. Getting this help provides evidence of the need for medical care and can help document injuries as they progress or become apparent.
How Do I Choose The Right Attorney For My Personal Injury Claim?
You want to look for an attorney who is experienced in handling auto accident claims. Not just experience in terms of settling or resolving these claims, but experience in actually trying auto accident cases in court and getting successful results.
You never want to be in a position where your attorney is desperately looking to settle your case for whatever the insurance company is willing to pay in order to avoid having to try the case in court.
Can You Describe A Memorable Case Where You Won An Auto Accident Case Despite Difficult Circumstances?
I did have a case many years ago involving a very, very serious auto accident case. My client was struck by a Federal Express delivery truck in an intersection, and he was badly injured in the accident. He was actually in a coma for a few days, and did not remember anything about the impact due to brain damage resulting from the accident.
We had to immediately get out to the accident scene with an accident reconstruction expert and begin to work on reconstructing the scene as soon as possible. This helped make up for the fact that my client could not remember anything from a few minutes before the impact to about two weeks after the impact due to his brain injury.
We were able to do this because we got out to the scene early and were able to preserve some important evidence. When we tried the case a few years later we were able to achieve a very good jury verdict.
If You Could Give Your Clients One Piece Of Advice Before They Ever Step Foot Into Your Office, What Would It Be?
Get as much evidence together as possible prior to coming to see me. That would include photos and names of any witnesses to the accident. And then when you come to see me, we can go through that evidence, and I can begin to contact those witnesses on your behalf.
If you’re injured, get medical care or as soon as possible. Do not put it off. If I can’t see you for a week or two after you call me for some reason, if I’m in trial or out of town, do not wait until you see me to get medical attention. Get the necessary medical care before we meet.
For more information on Gathering Evidence At The Scene, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (504) 581-6411 today.
