A car accident can transform a regular day into a disaster. It takes only a few seconds for an auto wreck to cause life-threatening and fatal injuries to motorists. But the tragic consequences of a crash can devastate families forever.
Hundreds of people lose their lives on Louisiana roads each year, and many thousands more are seriously injured. When a car accident occurs due to someone else’s recklessness, the at-fault party can – and should – be held legally responsible for their negligence.
Contact the New Orleans car accident attorneys at Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or by using our online contact form for a free consultation.
The skilled legal team at Braud & Gallagher is committed to protecting the rights of victims who have sustained catastrophic injuries in Louisiana auto accidents. Our attorneys combine years of legal expertise with innovative technology and aggressive trial techniques so that clients receive the maximum amount of compensation in the shortest amount of time possible.
We have a philosophy at Braud & Gallagher: Our job is not done until you have won.
Braud & Gallagher represents car accident victims in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish and throughout Louisiana.
A Winning History
Braud & Gallagher has a record of success in obtaining top-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients, such as a $1 million verdict/settlement for a driver hit by an 18-wheeler and a $690,000 verdict/settlement for a motorist who suffered a back injury after being rear-ended by a dump truck; $700,000 for a woman with a back injury; $800,000 for a man with multiple injuries; $250,000 for a man with IDET procedure in his back; $190,000 for a woman with a neck injury; $190,000 for a woman with a disc in her neck.
Car Accidents in Louisiana
According to the LSU Highway Safety Research Group, 720 people died and more than 68,000 others were injured in Louisiana car crashes in 2010. That’s actually positive news, representing a 12.6% decrease in auto accident fatalities and 6.9% decline in injuries compared to the previous year.
However, Louisiana motorists do not have a stellar reputation for safety in other nationwide surveys. The 2011 Allstate America Best Driver’s report, which ranks the country’s 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency, found that drivers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport ranked near the bottom of the list for safety at Nos. 156, 159 and 120 respectively.
There are many types of car accidents, such as rear-end collisions, rollovers, sideswipes, head-on collisions or T-bone crashes. But no matter how different the accidents look, they share one thing in common – they all have the potential to cause catastrophic harm to another person.
The vast majority of car accidents are caused by some form of driver error. Common causes of deadly crashes include:
- Speeding;
- Reckless driving;
- Drunk driving;
- Running a red light or stop sign;
- Aggressive driving;
- Failure to yield to other vehicles, pedestrians or bicyclists;
- Misjudging another vehicle’s speed or distance while making left turns;
- Failure to use turn signals;
- Unsafe lane changes;
- Tailgating;
- Fatigue;
- Distracted driving;
- Texting while driving;
- Faulty car parts;
- Poor road conditions;
- Weather.
Oftentimes a combination of factors leads to serious car accidents. Speaking with an experienced car crash attorney can help you identify all of the possible contributing factors and determine their relevance to your claim.
Catastrophic Injuries in Car Crashes
Despite modern safety features in automobiles, many people sustain severe and crippling injuries in Louisiana car accidents. Even accidents that occur at relatively low speeds can cause serious injuries to others, such as:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Brain injuries happen when the head violently strikes another object, such as a dashboard or windshield. The impact can result in severe bleeding and brain damage and possibly cause coma, permanent disabilities and death.
- Spinal cord injury: The sudden impact of a collision can cause vertebrae in the neck to fracture or shatter, injuring or severing the spinal cord. The long-term consequences of a spinal cord injury can include partial or total paralysis, quadriplegia, paraplegia and hemiplegia.
- Amputation: In car accidents when body parts are crushed, smashed or trapped, sometimes the only way to save a victim’s life may be to remove the injured limb.
- Broken bones: The sudden, violent impact of a car wreck can easily fracture bones, particularly the neck, legs, arms and ribs. Some fractures may require reconstructive surgery or placement of pins, plates or screws to stay in place.
- Burns: Burns can happen in car wrecks if an auto part malfunctions and causes a fire. That could lead to a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the faulty part.
- Internal organ damage: Blunt trauma to the body can damage internal organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys and lungs, which can lead to impaired or total loss of function.
Damages in Louisiana Car Wrecks
Catastrophic injuries can throw families into serious financial debt, which is why seeking compensation through the Louisiana courts is so important. In general, you may be able to receive money to cover:
- Medical bills;
- Rehabilitation;
- Physical and occupational therapy;
- Costs for adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of productivity;
- Scars and disfigurement;
- Pain and suffering;
- Punitive damages.
What Do I Do If I’m in a Louisiana Car Crash?
If you’ve been involved in a Louisiana wreck, the most important thing to do is to seek medical help for your injuries. Even if you feel fine, it’s probably a good idea to get checked by your doctor anyway. Some serious injuries take a few days, or even weeks, to develop into visible symptoms.
Once you’re stable, you should contact your insurance company. Not filing a timely accident report could damage your claim. It is likely an insurance adjustor will ask you to provide a recorded statement before settling your claim. Do not speak to them until you have consulted with an experienced car accident attorney like the ones at Braud & Gallagher.
Other things to remember:
- Do not admit that you are at fault for the car accident. Your perception may be wrong or further investigation will show that someone else is to blame.
- Keep a record of all medical bills, receipts or other expenses related to your car accident.
- Take photographs of your injuries.
- Photograph the accident scene from all angles, if possible.
- Keep a journal about your injuries during the recovery process.
It is important for you to contact a lawyer if you believe you have a serious car accident injury claim. Evidence is crucial – and the longer you wait, the greater the chance that it will be lost.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Louisiana car accident, call Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a free case evaluation. Our Louisiana accident attorneys represent injury clients in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist and throughout Louisiana.
Remember, our job is not done until you have won.
