Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer Near Me

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Were you or a loved one injured in a car accident in Lake Charles, LA? You may be entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault party. Contact an experienced Lake Charles car accident lawyer at Hale Injury Lawyers today at (337) 426-1071 to learn more about your legal options.

With over 61 years of combined experience, you can trust us to determine who is liable for your injuries and fight for every dollar you deserve. We’ve already recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of accident victims.
We’re ready to stand up and fight for you. Contact our law offices in Lake Charles, Louisiana for a free initial consultation.

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How Hale Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Lake Charles, LA

Our team at Hale Injury Lawyers has been serving accident victims in the Lake Charles community for decades. When it comes to accidents and injuries, we know the ropes–and we know how to help you navigate the frustrating insurance process.

Our Lake Charles personal injury attorneys have been recognized time and again for our high-quality legal services. We’ve been listed among Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars,” The Best Lawyers in America, and The National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 40 Under 40.”

Here are just some examples of how we can help with your personal injury claim:

We’ll provide sound legal advice and guidance at all stages of the process
Insurance companies often blame victims for their own injuries–we know how to fight back
We have the resources to hire trusted experts to strengthen your case
Our negotiating skills have been tested over the years–we know how to negotiate for the full compensation you deserve
We aren’t afraid to take your case to trial if the insurance company won’t settle fairly

Don’t trust your personal injury claim to just any attorney. Contact our experienced Lake Charles personal injury lawyers to learn more about our skills and experience today.

Car Accident Statistics in Lake Charles, LA

Car crashes are extremely common across the state of Louisiana.

According to Louisiana State University data, 272,004 motor vehicles were involved in accidents statewide in 2022. 1,251 of those accidents were fatal, and another 79,544 motor vehicle accidents caused injuries.

In Calcasieu Parish alone, 48 fatal car crashes were reported. 22 of those fatal accidents involved passenger cars or SUVs. Another 3,591 auto accidents caused injuries in Calcasieu Parish in 2022.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Lake Charles?

Like most other personal injury lawyers, our lawyers at Hale Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs associated with hiring our lawyers. Instead, we recover our attorneys’ fees as a percentage of your settlement or verdict. Typically, that percentage is between 30% and 40%.

In other words, you won’t be stuck with legal bills if we’re unable to recover compensation in your case.

Our attorneys can provide more information about establishing a contingency fee arrangement in a free case review. Call our law firm today to learn more.

How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth Near Lake Charles, LA?

It can be difficult to put a dollar value on a personal injury case. After all, no amount of money can make the injury go away. Still, it’s important to understand your case value before you sit down at the negotiating table.

The value of your personal injury claim will depend on the unique facts of your case, such as:

The severity of your injuries
The cost of your medical care and rehabilitation
Whether your doctor expects you to need future medical treatment
How the injury impacts your earnings during recovery
The length of your recovery period
Whether the injury will impact your future earnings, education, or lifestyle
How your quality of life was changed due to the injury
The types of physical and emotional suffering you have experienced

Insurance companies often focus on factors that could reduce your compensation. They might try to reduce your financial award by blaming you or claiming that you failed to mitigate damages.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Louisiana?

Every state limits the amount of time you have to sue for damages after an accident. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations is only two years. If you wait longer than two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, you lose your right to seek compensation for your losses.

Do I Really Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident Injury Claim in Louisiana?

Most car accident claims are resolved by negotiating with the insurance company. Even if you don’t have to go to court, it can be a smart idea to have an experienced lawyer in your corner.

In the end, many considerations are relevant to determining whether you should hire a car accident attorney after a crash.

When deciding whether to hire a lawyer, some of the most important questions to ask yourself include:

Is liability for the accident clear, or is the at-fault driver denying responsibility?
Was anyone injured or killed in the crash?
Is the insurance company or another driver blaming you for causing the accident?
Do your medical bills and other losses exceed the amount of your car insurance coverage?
Will you incur future costs for ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, or other losses?
Do you understand the paperwork the insurance company is asking you to fill out?
Are you struggling with serious pain or emotional distress after the crash?
Do you understand the questions the insurance company is asking?
Is the insurance company asking you to sign a sworn statement about what happened?

If any of these complications seem to be an issue in your case, it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney. Remember, at Hale Injury Lawyers, we offer free case reviews. There’s no risk in getting legal advice, so reach out to us today.

Who Can Be Held Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?

Any person who shares fault for your accident can be held responsible for your damages.

That includes:

An at-fault driver
Negligent pedestrians or bicyclists
Manufacturers of defective vehicle safety equipment
Government agencies
Employers of negligent parties

Where multiple parties share blame for your accident, each party can be held responsible for their share of the damage.

Most car accident claims involve holding a negligent person accountable.

Negligence means:

The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
They breached the duty of care
The breach caused your accident
You suffered damages, such as injuries, property damage, or emotional distress

To establish liability, you’ll have to locate evidence to prove your case to the insurance companies, judge, or jury. You’ll also need proof of the amount of damages you have suffered because of the accident and injuries

Our personal injury attorneys in Lake Charles will search for all available evidence to win your case, including:

Police and accident reports
Medical records
Testimony from your doctor, which can help establish the severity of your injuries
Testimony about your pain and suffering, including statements from friends, family, and co-workers
Documentation, including your medical bills, receipts for property repairs, etc.
Photos of the accident scene or video footage of the accident itself
Cell phone records
The results of drug or alcohol testing
Any other records that could be used to prove liability

In particularly complex cases, our lawyers will hire accident reconstruction specialists and other experts who can testify on your behalf. This type of expert testimony can help prove complicated aspects of your case or strengthen your case as a whole.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims in Lake Charles, Louisiana?

Under Louisiana personal injury laws, damages are classified as either economic or non-economic in nature.

Economic damages are designed to cover the financial costs of an accident, such as:

Medical expenses, both past and future
Nursing care
In-home assistance
Lost wages during your recovery
Reduced earning potential
Physical therapy
Rehabilitation
Property damage to your vehicle and belongings

Non-economic damages are your more personal and intangible losses. These costs don’t have a clear dollar value. They’re commonly referred to as “pain and suffering” damages.

Examples of these non-economic damages include:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Mental conditions, including anxiety and depression
PTSD
Diminished quality of life
Physical disfigurement and scarring
Chronic pain
Loss of consortium

In rare cases, judges may award punitive damages. Punitive damages don’t represent specific losses. Instead, they punish the responsible party for intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence.

What Should I Do After a Car Crash in Lake Charles?

A car crash can be an extremely traumatic experience. While it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed, it’s important to try and remain calm.

First and foremost, you should remain at the scene of the accident. Under Louisiana law, leaving the scene of a car crash is a criminal offense. That’s true even if no one was injured or killed in the crash. If you were severely injured, you should remain still and call for help.

If you are not severely injured, you should:

Call the police and fill out an accident report
Determine whether anyone requires immediate medical care–and call for help
Move damaged vehicles to a safe location, such as the side of the road
Use your smartphone to take photos and video of the accident scene if you can
Cooperate with the police, but avoid apologizing or admitting fault
Seek medical attention as quickly as possible
Avoid making statements to insurance adjusters without consulting a lawyer

As soon as you can, you should contact an experienced lawyer to explain what happened. An experienced Lake Charles car accident attorney can help protect you from the beginning.

FAQs

What Causes Most Car Wrecks in Lake Charles?

Accidents happen for all different reasons. It’s important to identify the cause of your accident so that you can hold the at-fault parties liable for your damages.

Some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Lake Charles include:

Distracted driving
Drunk driving
Failure to yield the right-of-way
Speeding
Racing to beat a red light
Tailgating
Aggressive driving
Unsafe passing
Dangerous turns
Running a red light or stop sign
Fatigued driving
Driving under the influence of drugs

Accidents can also occur because of hazardous road conditions, bad weather, or defective safety equipment.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Some of the most common types of car accident injuries include:

Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
Concussions, which can happen due to the force of the accident itself
Severe cuts and lacerations
Facial injuries
Broken bones
Nerve injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Head and neck injuries
Back injuries
Organ damage
Burns
Amputations
Paralysis
Catastrophic injuries

Of course, car accidents always have the potential to be fatal. If you lost a loved one, contact our team to determine whether you have a valid wrongful death case.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Lake Charles

It can be helpful for drivers to understand which roads and intersections in Louisiana are most dangerous when it comes to the risk of car crashes. Interstate 10 connects Lake Charles to other major cities in the region. Unfortunately, it also had the highest number of fatal crashes in the state.

Intersections in Lake Charles can also be dangerous for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike.

According to some reports, the five most dangerous intersections in Lake Charles include:

Lake Street and West Prien Lake Road
Nelson Road and West Prien Lake Road
I-10 East and Westbound at Mile Marker 32
Highway 14 (Gerstner Memorial Drive) and East Prien Lake Road
Gauthier Road and Big Lake Road

While you can’t always avoid these roads and intersections, you can take extra precautions while driving in these areas.

Contact a Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Do you have questions about your legal options after a car crash in Lake Charles? It’s important to seek legal advice from an experienced Lake Charles car accident lawyer. At Hale Injury Lawyers, we’re always available to discuss your case–and your initial consultation is always completely free of charge. Contact our law offices today at (337) 426-1071!

Lake Charles Car Accident Testimonial

“Taylor Hale helped me reach a settlement in my car accident case where the other driver was uninsured. Very professional and respectful the whole way through and would recommend him to anyone. If I ever need a lawyer again, my first call would be Taylor!”
– Tristan Musser
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Local Auto Repair Shops In Lake Charles, LA

Briley’s Paint & Body Shop, 4003 Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615
Keith’s Paint & Body Shop, 5603 Common St, Lake Charles, LA 70605
Grand Lake Paint & Body Shop, 10296 Gulf Hwy, Lake Charles, LA 70607
Johnnie’s Paint & Body Shop, 1103 Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70601

*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.