Car Accident Attorneys Serving Greater New Orleans, Louisiana

A car accident can be a shocking and traumatic experience. If you have been involved in a car accident in New Orleans or other parts of Louisiana, you might need help in pursuing compensation for your injuries and losses.  

The car accident attorneys at Arthur W. Landry and Jeanne Andry Landry, Attorneys at Law, LLC understand how disruptive a crash can be. The law firm is committed to providing clients with the support and direction they need after a car accident. From her office in New Orleans, Jeanne Andry Landry also serves clients in Mandeville, Chalmette, Metairie, and Slidell.  

Common Car Accident Injuries 

A car accident can cause injuries to virtually any part of the body. Some of the most common types of injuries suffered by car accident victims are: 

• spinal cord injuries 

• neck injuries, including whiplash 

• traumatic brain injuries 

• internal injuries 

• bruises and lacerations 

• broken bones and fractures 

• knee injuries 

• hand and wrist injuries 

• shoulder injuries 

• foot and ankle injuries 

• crush injuries 

• soft tissue injuries 

• paralysis 

• loss of limb 

• burns 

• disfigurement 

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 

After a car accident, it can be challenging to estimate your expenses and losses, especially if you are still undergoing medical treatment. A skilled personal injury attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana, can help you calculate the full value of your claim so you can understand what kind of compensation you should receive.  

Common Causes of Car Accidents 

While there can be numerous causes of car accidents, some of them are more common than others. Many accidents on the road occur due to: 

• speeding 

• drunk driving 

• distracted driving 

• tailgating (failing to maintain a safe following distance) 

• driving in adverse weather conditions 

• running red lights or stop signs 

• failure to yield the right of way 

• reckless driving 

• performing unsafe lane changes 

• making improper turns 

• driving at night 

• vehicle defects 

• vehicle maintenance issues 

• bad road conditions (potholes, road cracks, uneven road surfaces, etc.) 

When an accident occurs, you need to be able to prove the other driver’s fault in order to obtain compensation for your medical bills and other damages. A skilled attorney can investigate your accident and help you gather the evidence you need to fight for the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.   

Determining Fault After a Car Accident 

When a car accident occurs, calling the police is one of the best things you can do because responding police officers will most likely be able to determine fault at the scene. They will prepare a report that you can later use to support your case.  

Louisiana is an at-fault – also known as “tort” – state when it comes to motor vehicle accidents. In other words, when an accident occurs, the injured victim can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance provider.  

Before you file a claim for compensation, you – or, preferably, your legal counsel – will need to identify and gather evidence to support your case and prove your losses and damages. Generally, determining fault after a car accident involves answering the following questions:  

• What happened to cause the accident? 

• Who was responsible for the crash? 

• What damages have you suffered as a result of the accident? 

Seek skilled legal guidance from a car accident attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana, when you need help in determining fault and presenting evidence of the other driver’s fault in the most convincing manner possible.  

Getting Compensation After a Car Accident in Louisiana 

Obtaining compensation after a car accident in Louisiana requires you to hold the at-fault driver responsible. This can be done by: 

• filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance provider (if they are insured); or 

• filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to ask the judge to award you damages. 

The second option may be more appropriate when (a) the at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough to cover the victim’s damages and losses, (b) the at-fault driver is not insured, or (c) the at-fault driver’s insurance company is refusing to pay your claim.  

You should be aware of two legal obstacles in your pursuit of compensation after a car accident.  

1. The first obstacle is called “comparative fault.” Louisiana follows the doctrine of pure comparative fault where injured victims can recover damages equal to the at-fault party’s percentage of fault. For example, if you were deemed 20% at fault for the car accident (you were speeding) but the other driver was deemed 80% at fault (they failed to stop at a red light), your total compensation would be reduced by 20%.  

2. The second obstacle is the statute of limitations. You have a limited amount of time to sue the at-fault driver for the accident. In Louisiana, you only have one year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.  

Jeanne Andry Landry can help you fight for the compensation you deserve and navigate the various nuances and complexities of the legal system.