Why Would a Car Accident Lawyer in Louisiana Turn Down Your Case?

When you get hurt in a car accident, people tell you that lawyers will fight to handle your case. And, this may be true. If you suffer serious injuries and the other driver has assets, most lawyers would love to handle your case. However, there are times when a competent car accident lawyer in Louisiana will turn down your case.

It’s hard to imagine that a personal injury lawyer would ever turn down a case. You see television and movies and they make it seem like lawyer will take any case that walks through their door. This isn’t really the case.

Any honest lawyer who knows how to truly estimate the value of a case will tell you the truth. If your case isn’t winnable, they’ll let you know. Or, if they don’t think your case is worth more than a couple of thousand bucks, they’ll tell you that too.

Personal injury lawyers in Louisiana work on a contingency basis. This means, for the most part, they only get paid when you win your case. This is why they have to be careful when choosing which cases to accept and which to turn down.

If your car accident case is turned down by a car accident lawyer in Louisiana, it’s probably for a good reason. This is why you want to have an experienced attorney review your case before you make any decisions.

Your Case May Not Be Winnable

You may suffer some pretty serious injuries in your car accident. And, if the accident was the other driver’s fault, it may be worth a lot of money. However, there is a chance that the accident was your fault.

When you meet with your car accident lawyer in Louisiana, they’ll look to see what kind of evidence there is to prove fault. If they believe the other driver was at fault, there’s a good chance they’ll want to handle your case. But if the accident was clearly your fault, they may have to turn it down.

Let’s say you were the rear driver in a car accident. You smashed into the back of the other driver’s car. You did suffer whiplash and some back injuries. The general rule is that the rear driver is almost always at fault. Since this is the case, your lawyer may not think your case is winnable.

Since Louisiana injury attorneys only recover if you win, they can’t take cases they don’t think are winnable.

You Weren’t Injured

In order to be compensated in a car accident case, you have to prove you were injured. This means you’ll need medical documentation proving your injuries. If you weren’t actually injured, you won’t have a case.

This is why it’s so important to go to the hospital immediately following your crash. The doctors will perform the tests necessary to determine your injuries. If you didn’t suffer any injuries, there’s nothing you can demand from the defendant.

Even if you have very minor injuries, it may not be worth filing a claim. If your lawyer doesn’t think your case will settle for more than what it’ll cost to cover your medical bills, they won’t accept it.

They May Turn It Down for Personal Reasons

There are times when a personal injury lawyer in Louisiana has to turn your case down for personal reasons. Usually, this has to do with ethical issues. The attorney may have a relationship with the defendant or their attorney that forces them to turn down your case.

Some of these relationships may include:

  • They used to work at the firm representing the defendant
  • They may be related to the defendant or their lawyer
  • They may be friends or neighbors with the insurance adjuster

If this is the case, they may offer to refer you to another personal injury lawyer. Don’t take it personally. They’re doing the right thing. It wouldn’t be fair for them to represent you if they have a personal relationship with the other side.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Louisiana Today

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you need to call an experienced car accident lawyer in Louisiana. They can review your case and let you know what it’s worth. They can also answer any questions you may have.

Call Stephen Babcock today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.