- August 20, 2022
We always tell our clients that there are three things they need to do after their auto accident. The first thing you need to do is call 911. This way, an office will come out to the scene and do a thorough investigation of the crash. The second thing you need to do is go to the hospital. Even if you think you’re fine, you still need to be checked out by a doctor. Finally, the third thing you should do after any motor vehicle accident in Louisiana is contact a Baton Rouge auto accident lawyer.
Of course, you may think it’s biased of a personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to suggest you call a lawyer right away. However, there are several reasons why you should do this. Here, we’ll discuss what those reasons are. We will also explain why it’s better to hire a lawyer sooner rather than later. If you’ve recently been in a car accident, you should contact our office. We can set up your free consultation with one of our Baton Rouge car accident lawyers.
It’s Never Too Soon to Contact a Seasoned Baton Rouge Auto Accident Lawyer
There is no law that says you must hire a lawyer to handle your case. If you want to wait until the insurance company denies your claim, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, if you want to make sure your claim is handled properly right from the start, it’s a good idea to hire a Baton Rouge auto accident lawyer sooner rather than later.
If the insurance company thinks you don’t have an attorney, they’ll try to take advantage of you. They may put your claim on the back burner. They won’t answer your calls or emails. They may deny your claim hoping you walk away without a fight. Or, if they’re like most insurance companies, they’ll offer you a low settlement and hope you accept it. They figure you’ll need money to pay any medical bills you accrued after your crash.
If this happens, you should not accept anything without consulting with a seasoned personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When they offer you a settlement, they’ll ask you to sign a settlement release. This will prevent you from pursuing the defendant from any further damages down the road. You may have no idea how much your claim is really worth. If you accept a low settlement, you may lose out on money you deserve.
Your Baton Rouge Auto Accident Lawyer Will Try to Settle Your Claim
Ideally, you won’t have to sue the other driver. In a perfect world, the insurance company would pay your claim and you won’t have any issues. However, if your claim is denied, your Baton Rouge auto accident lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company. Their goal will be to convince them to pay your claim. Even if they aren’t willing to pay the whole thing, they may agree to pay a certain amount.
If this amount is fair, then your attorney will recommend you accept it. However, if it’s too low, you can always take legal action. Your lawyer will file a lawsuit against the other driver. This means their insurance company will be required to represent them. Once this happens, your lawyer will still try to negotiate a settlement. Nobody really wants to go to trial. They’re time consuming and expensive.
If your personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is able to reach a settlement with the defendant’s lawyer, you’ll walk away with a lump sum of money. This is often a lot better than hoping to win in court.
Your Personal Injury Attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Will Gather the Evidence to Prove Your Case
If you expect to collect damages from the other driver, you’ll need to prove they were at fault. This can be difficult if you’re on your own. You may not know what kind of proof you need. You may also have no idea how to get your hands on the information. Your personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has handled many cases like yours before. They know what sort of evidence to look for. They also know what to do with it once it’s in their possession.
We mentioned above that the three things you need to do immediately after an auto accident is to call 911, go to the hospital, and call and attorney. There’s a reason why we suggest you do these things. The police report and medical records will be big sources of evidence. If you don’t follow the advice provided here, you may not have the evidence needed to prove the defendant was negligent.
What your lawyer will do is take these pieces of information and pick out the parts that will prove your case. For example, they’ll use the eyewitness information listed in the police report so they can track the witnesses down. This way, they can get their statements and see if they’re helpful for your case.
They’ll also need to search through your medical records to see if there’s documentation of your injuries. Without these records, there will be no way to prove how serious your injuries were.
Take Advantage of Your Free, Initial Consultation with a Baton Rouge Auto Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, you only have so much time before you need to file your claim. If you want it handled properly from the start, you should meet with an experienced personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our attorneys have been handling car accident cases for years. Not only do they know the law, but they also know how the insurance adjusters work. They’ll do their best to secure you a fair settlement as soon as possible.
Call our office so you can schedule your free, initial consultation. Sit down and tell your story to one of our seasoned Baton Rouge car accident lawyers. If they think your case has merit, they’ll let you know. They may even be able to give you an idea of what your case is worth. Since the consultation is free, you have nothing to lose. The other driver is going to have an experienced attorney in their corner and so should you.
