When Can You Seek Financial Compensation for a Car Accident in Louisiana?

When Can You Seek Financial Compensation for a Car Accident in Louisiana?

Recovering from a car accident is not easy. It also is not cheap. If you were injured in the accident, your medical bills would add up quickly, and you could fall behind on your other bills if you are unable to work. Fortunately, if someone else was at fault in the accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation under Louisiana law.

To recover the financial compensation you deserve, you need to be able to prove that someone else was at fault. In most cases, this “someone” is the other driver. But, there are also other possibilities, and it will be important for you to work with an experienced auto accident lawyer to explore all options you have available.

12 Reasons You Might Be Entitled to Compensation for Your Car Accident

So, when can you seek financial compensation for a car accident in Louisiana? Here are 12 of the most common grounds for seeking insurance coverage or filing a lawsuit:

1. Distracted Driving

Thanks to cell phones, distracted driving is currently among the leading causes of car accidents in the United States. Talking on the phone, texting, using social media, reading the news, and checking emails are all common factors in car accidents. More-traditional forms of distracted driving such as rubbernecking, attempting to follow directions and eating while driving remain significant concerns as well.

2. Drunk Driving

There is no excuse for getting drunk and then getting behind the wheel. Yet, according to Alcohol.org, close to half of all fatal accidents in Louisiana involve alcohol-impaired driving.

When a drunk driver causes a car accident, he or she deserves to be held fully accountable. While the crash might result in a DUI, a DUI charge does not compensate the victim or the victim’s family. Instead, victims and families must file insurance claims. In many cases, they must also determine if a “third party” (i.e., a bar or restaurant) shares legal responsibility for the crash.

3. Drugged Driving

Drugged driving is also a significant concern in Louisiana. Driving under the influence of legal and illegal drugs can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. This includes driving under the influence of prescription medications, over-the-counter sleeping pills, marijuana, and other controlled substances.

4. Drowsy Driving

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “studies have shown that going too long without sleep can impair your ability to drive the same way as drinking too much alcohol.” Drowsy driving can also be particularly dangerous because most people don’t realize that they are too tired to drive. But, this is not an excuse; and, if you or a loved one was involved in an accident involving a drowsy driver, you deserve to recover full compensation for your accident-related losses.

5. Speeding

Speed limits exist for a reason. Driving above the speed limit increases the risk for everyone on the road, as drivers who are speeding have less time to react to hazards and unexpected events. Like many of the other issues covered in this article, while speeding may result in a ticket, accident victims must separately assert their legal rights to recover financial compensation.

6. Tailgating

People tailgate for different reasons. Some people just follow more closely than they should, while others do it in an attempt to intimidate the drivers in front of them. Whatever the case may be, tailgating is dangerous, and it is a form of negligence that frequently leads to serious collisions.

7. Running a Stop Sign or Red Light

Drivers who choose to run stop signs and red lights also choose to put others in harm’s way. Unfortunately, it only takes one bad decision to cause a lifetime of pain and suffering. These days, many accidents at intersections are recorded; and, if there is video footage of your accident, this could serve as key evidence in your claim for financial compensation.

8. Merging or Lane-Change Error

Merging without signaling, without looking, or without looking enough can lead to serious accidents on highways and local roads. The same goes for changing lanes without first surveying a driver’s surroundings. If you got sideswiped, clipped, or forced off of the road by a careless driver, an experienced attorney can help you seek just compensation.

9. Road Rage

Drivers who are yelling, making gestures, tailgating, and cutting off other drivers are not paying attention to the task at hand. This makes them extremely dangerous to those around them. Just like everything else on this list, road rage should never lead to an accident. Yet, road rage accidents happen all the time; and, when they do, the drivers who cause they deserve to be held accountable.

10. Other Forms of Driver Negligence

From turning in front of oncoming traffic to driving the wrong way on a one-way street, numerous other forms of driver negligence can also lead to car accidents. No matter what happened, if you believe that another driver is to blame for your (or your loved one’s) accident, you should consult with an Alexandria car accident attorney promptly.

11. Vehicle Defect or Maintenance Issue

Beyond driver negligence, there are many other factors that can lead to accidents as well. For example, vehicle defects and maintenance issues can cause drivers to lose control unexpectedly. Airbag and seatbelt malfunctions can also lead to severe injuries, and these are also issues for which victims and families can seek financial compensation.

12. Road Defect or Maintenance Issue

Just as issues with vehicles can lead to accidents, so can issues with the roads. Faulty design, poor construction, and inadequate maintenance are just a few examples of the numerous road-related issues that can cause and contribute to serious collisions.

Are You Entitled to Compensation? Talk to an Alexandria, LA Car Accident Lawyer for Free

If you need to seek financial compensation for a car accident, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Alexandria, LA car accident lawyer Chris J. Roy, Jr., call 318-487-9537 or tell us how we can reach you online now.