Automobile Accidents

Have you or someone in your family been hurt in a wreck? Do you have questions about what you need to do to make sure that a careless driver is held accountable? The knowledgeable Louisiana car accident lawyers at the Dunahoe Law Firm are here to help. We regularly represent people who have been injured or who have lost a loved one in car or truck accidents in Natchitoches, Shreveport, and Alexandria, as well as elsewhere in the state. Unlike law firms that have many “layers” of assistants between their clients and the attorneys whose names are on the door, we do not screen or filter our calls. When a client calls our firm, they talk to us.

While a car accident case may seem straightforward at the outset, complex issues often arise during the legal process. To get compensation for their damages, the plaintiff must prove that they were owed a duty of care, the defendant breached this duty, the plaintiff was injured, and the defendant’s breach of duty caused the accident in which the plaintiff was injured.

People generally understand that drivers are expected to be prudent behind the wheel and take the safety of other people around them into account. For example, they should not drive drunk or get distracted by texting while driving. Evidence that a driver violated a traffic rule, such as failing to yield at an intersection, also will provide strong support for a victim’s case. Our car accident attorneys can help Louisiana residents investigate the specific sequence of events that led to their crash.

Causation is often a critical issue in car crash cases. The plaintiff needs to show that they likely would not have been injured if the defendant had taken the proper precautions. In some cases, a defendant will argue that another party bore at least part of the fault for the crash. For example, a road hazard might have been the responsibility of the government responsible for maintaining the highway. It is important to investigate a case thoroughly so that you can sue all of the defendants that may have contributed to your injuries. Even if you were partly responsible as well, you can still obtain compensation from defendants in proportion to their degree of fault.

Damages available in car crash cases may cover both economic and non-economic forms of harm. Our Louisiana car accident attorneys can help you gather evidence to show the full scope of the accident’s impact on your life. Victims typically can obtain compensation for their medical expenses, both those that they have already sustained and those that they are reasonably likely to incur in the future. They also can be compensated for lost wages and earning capacity. Medical and vocational experts may be useful in proving the extent of a victim’s losses in these categories. Also, a victim may be awarded damages for the pain and suffering that arose from the crash, as well as other forms of harm that are more subjective.

The most devastating accidents can result in a needless loss of life. When this happens, a victim’s family can bring a wrongful death claim against the people or entities responsible for the loss of their loved one. These cases are often procedurally complicated and fiercely contested, so you should make sure to retain an attorney as soon as possible if you are considering bringing this type of claim.

If you have been hurt by someone else’s careless actions behind the wheel, now is the time to contact an attorney about your case. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to recover fair compensation later. At the Dunahoe Law Firm, we can help you anticipate complications and take steps designed to help you recover every dollar to which you are entitled for your costs and losses. To schedule a free consultation to discuss a crash in Natchitoches, Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, or elsewhere in Louisiana, call us toll-free at 800-259-4460 or contact us online.