Find Out What An Accident Attorney In New Orleans Advises For After An Auto Crash

A terrifying, unexpected event that can occur in our daily lives is a car accident. This is a stressful event, but it is important to stay calm throughout the whole process and not to do anything that could affect your insurance claim or court case. There are more steps below that will be beneficial to your accident attorney in New Orleans.

Don't Say it Your Fault

One crucial thing to remember is to never admit fault to anyone involved in the accident. It's also important not to admit fault to insurance companies or a policeman. Your mind can distort the events that occurred, since an automobile accident is a traumatic incident. The best thing to do, is contact an accident attorney in the New Orleans area and to remain in a stable emotional state.

Acquire Medical Attention

Even if you don't seem to have any symptoms, you should always seek medical attention immediately after an automobile accident. Sometimes you will have delayed onset soreness, which means symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, or pain won't occur until a couple days after your accident. It is important to get medical attention as quickly as possible, because the longer you wait, the harder it is to prove the injuries are a result of the accident. Get treatment for the incident as soon as you possibly can.

Get Pictures Taken

A New Orleans auto accident attorney will find it very useful if you take pictures of the accident and any injuries that came from it. Time is critical, because minor wounds can heal in a matter of days. Pictures can even be taken with a mobile phone, if there is no one around to help you with this procedure.

Take Detailed Notes

Making notes regarding any medical treatment will be helpful in getting the best insurance reimbursement. The person should also keep any receipts that pertain to medical expenses and devices, and get the personal information of the doctors, physical therapists or chiropractors who were involved with the case.

Make a Police Report

If no officers come to the scene of your accident, you should still report it to the police. Go over the report thoroughly, make sure that the details such as names, facts and dates are correct. Present this police report to your New Orleans personal injury attorney when you consult with him.

Consult With an Attorney

It is common practice of insurance carriers to try to get a car crash victim to settle right after an accident. This usually happens by telling the person to sign forms that they are unsure about. This can lead to bad short- and long-term effects. The best way to protect your rights is by contacting an accident attorney in New Orleans immediately. It will also be wise to hire an attorney if there was significant damage or injuries and the other driver was the cause.

An accident can happen out of the blue, taking you by surprise and quickly turning life upside-down. By remaining calm and hiring an accident attorney in New Orleans, you can avoid being blindsided by legal and medical problems and quickly resume a normal life. 

Talk to an auto injury attorney in New Orleans today by contacting The Lambert Firm and scheduling a free consultation.

Advantages To Utilizing A New Orleans Accident Attorney

There are many reasons New Orleans injury victims are reluctant to consider hiring a personal injury lawyer, such as not wanting to file a lawsuit, thinking it will be to expensive, or believing they can take care of everything on their own.

In many cases, they realize too late that they should have sought the services of a New Orleans personal injury attorney and the statute of limitations to bring a claim has expired.

Insurance Companies' Motives

Another thing that accident victims fail to realize is that insurance companies are a business. Insurance agents are not there to ensure that the victim's needs are provided for on a long-term basis. It is their job to settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible.

It's not uncommon for insurers to pressure an accident victim into accepting a less than ideal settlement offer. However, a New Orleans personal injury attorney understands the rights of accident victims and knows the ins and outs of negotiating with insurance companies. Having their education, skills and experience on your side will offer you the best chance at getting fair compensation.

Investigating the Accident

If you're considering representing yourself in a lawsuit, consider what must go into it. Do you have the time and resources to investigate the claim? Are you physically up to the task, considering your injuries? It is the responsibility of the person filing a lawsuit to prove their claim, and a thorough investigation is needed to achieve this.

A New Orleans personal injury attorney has the tools necessary to successfully investigate your claim, including speaking with witnesses, getting the insights of reconstruction experts, and gather evidence. Exhaustive investigation is the best recourse to convince a judge and jury to award you the compensation you deserve.

Negotiating A Settlement

If you've been injured in an accident, the ideal scenario is that the responsible party offers fair compensation to settle the claim. They may even have legal representation to assist in this.

Even if you feel that the settlement offer is fair, it's vital to have an attorney experienced in negotiations to be on your side. While the settlement may seem reasonable, a New Orleans personal injury attorney will be able to tell you if the offer is sufficient to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and more.

Contingency Fee

One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a New Orleans personal injury attorney is that it will be expensive. In reality, injured people typically don't pay anything unless they win the lawsuit.

Typically, your lawyer will offer you a free initial consultation to review your case and determine whether filing a claim is the right option for you. If it is a viable option, your attorney will work the case with no cost until a settlement is paid or jury award received. Then, your legal fees will be deducted from the compensation you received, with no up-front or out-of-pocket costs.

Get help from New Orleans personal injury attorneys today by scheduling a free consultation with The Lambert Firm. Their experienced New Orleans accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you're entitled to.

New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyers Offer Tips On What To Expect From A Lawsuit

If you have been involved a trucking accident it is important to have a clear understanding of how a trucking accident case will play out. A case truly begins immediately after an accident and continues until the final resolution and awarding of damages, if any.

It is nearly impossible to win a trucking accident case without an attorney to guide you through the filing process and the possibility of a trial. You should look for someone familiar with local laws who can explain the steps that will see your case through from start to finish. Meeting with a New Orleans truck accident lawyer will alleviate the stress involved with a lawsuit and raise the chances of your case being a success.

Commercial Trucking Companies

Unlike other auto accidents, a trucking accident is not usually between individuals and their insurance companies. A commercial trucker should not simply be viewed as a private entity when drafting a claim if there is a larger company involved.

Your New Orleans truck accident lawyer will suggest if it is best to file suit against the company, the driver or both. It may also be possible to sue the driver's insurance company or include them as a party in the lawsuit. A lawsuit against the company is usually preferred because this opens up a higher possibility of damages.

Discovery

Evidence is gathered to support a claim in a process known as discovery. This is the first thing a lawyer will do before filing a lawsuit, as the evidence is used to determine whether damages should be awarded.

An attorney will conduct the investigation and make sure that the evidence is available by the time your case goes to court. They will conduct interviews, check the trucking company records, including the driver's personnel file and qualifications, and gather police reports and accident photos.

Submitting a Letter of Demands and Going through Mediation

After a New Orleans truck accident lawyer collects the evidence, they will submit a letter of demands, which will initiate the process of the lawsuit. The letter will inform the opposing party or parties of the intention to sue and will detail the injuries and losses incurred because of the accident and the amount of compensatory damage the client is seeking.

Once they've received the letter, the opposing party can accept the amount your attorney has submitted and choose to settle the case quickly or they can attempt to negotiate for a reduced amount.

If a settlement is not reached through the letter of demands, then the parties may agree to mediation. If this also fails, then there is a trial. Even if the case does go to trial, it is possible for either party to settle before the trial's completion.

The Trial

Your New Orleans truck accident lawyer will prepare you carefully for your trial. You will probably be required to testify your case.

These cases are usually decided by a jury, who will decide who is at fault and the percentage of their fault. It is possible for both parties to be considered partially at fault, and damages are adjusted accordingly. For example, if you are considered to be 15 percent at fault, then your damages will be lowered by that amount.

Having a New Orleans 18 wheeler accident lawyer on your side will provide you with expert guidance throughout the entire trial process. The Lambert Firm's injury attorneys in New Orleans, Louisiana can help. Call today for a free consultation.

New Orleans Motorcycle Accident Attorney Provides Ideas On Errors To Avoid After A Crash

As with any vehicular collision, a motorcycle accident can be a frightening, traumatic, and tragic event. Riders can be burdened with expensive medical bills for injuries to their bodies as well as having to pay the costs of repairing the damage to their motorcycles. That is why it is important to seek a qualified New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer after you are involved in an accident.

Oftentimes motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcycle rider, and the victims of the accident may legally be entitled to reparations from the individual that caused the accident. If your motorcycle is damaged in a crash or you've received physical injuries that require expensive medical care, contact a New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer who will help you get the compensation that you deserve.

Here are a few tips that will help you avoid making mistakes after your motorcycle accident:

What You Should NOT Do

DO NOT Say It Was Your Fault: Never admit fault for an accident until you speak with a lawyer. Involvement in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation can lead to a person becoming emotional, which can result in a victimized motorcycle driver erroneously apologizing to the other party or parties involved in the crash.

It's difficult to correctly assess the circumstances of a crash, and you don't want to give anyone the impression that you caused the accident. Even if you believe that both parties were equally at fault, the first thing you should do is consult a lawyer. It can be detrimental to your case if you take the blame for the accident. Your lawyer will advise you on what to do.

DO NOT Talk to Insurance Adjusters: Insurance adjusters will try to talk to you immediately after the accident in order to obtain any information that they can to undermine your case. They are trained to ask you questions that don't seem threatening, while they are really attempting to get you to incriminate yourself.

Let them know that you won't talk to them until you've consulted with a lawyer. This will get them to back off while your New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer advises you on what you should do. Most importantly, unless your lawyer is present, do not sign anything from insurance companies.

Things You SHOULD Do

Do Document Everything: You may have a hard time remembering things clearly after you've been involved in a motorcycle accident. That's why it's very important that you document anything and everything you can. You want to provide an accurate description of events, damages, and injuries to your New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer.

Photograph your injuries and keep your medical reports, but do not share descriptions or pictures on social media websites. It is important not to allow the opposition to scrutinize any possible discrepancies.

Do Help Yourself: Make sure to attend your doctor appointments and follow medical advice. You want to show the court that you are honestly doing your best to recover after the accident. You don't want them to think that you're attempting to garner pity by delaying the healing process--the last thing the court wants to see is someone looking for free compensation. Also, if you don't seek proper medical treatment, insurance companies will blame you for the worsening of medical conditions you are trying to get them to pay for.

It can be inconvenient and frighteningly traumatic to be involved in a motorcycle accident. Getting the proper damages can help you recover the cost of medical bills and motorcycle repairs. Following the above advice and contacting a qualified New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer can help get you the compensation that you deserve.

The New Orleans motorcycle accident attorneys at The Lambert Firm provide experienced assistance to those in need. If you were injured in an accident, schedule a free consultation with one of our New Orleans injury lawyers today.

5 Actions To Execute Prior To Consulting A New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney

If you've been injured in an accident, having an experienced attorney assist you is vital to recovering compensation for your medical treatment, property damage and more. When you schedule a consultation with a New Orleans personal injury lawyer, these five steps can help you be prepared for a productive first meeting.

Get the Other Party's Insurance Information

When someone has caused injuries to you or damages to your property in an accident, especially a car accident, getting their insurance information is the first step to take in getting compensation later.

If the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident attempts to run and speed away, be sure to write down as many details as possible related to their vehicle as well as their license plate if it is visible.

Gather Evidence From Surroundings

Gather evidence from surroundings where the personal injury incident occurred. Take photos of the surroundings, your injuries and any other pieces of evidence you deem worthy for your case. The more evidence you present to an attorney and a judge, the more likely you are to receive the compensation you deserve.

Ask for Witness Reports

Often when an accident occurs, people will see what happened and stop to help. Ask any witnesses for statements about what they saw, as this will lend your side of the story greater credibility when seeking compensation. When you set out to speak with your New Orleans personal injury lawyer, have in hand testimony from as many witnesses as possible.

Get a Police Report

Requesting the police report on your accident is another important piece of evidence to gather before meeting your New Orleans personal injury lawyer.

This report can help you demonstrate the facts of the accident and show that negligence of another party caused or contributed to your injuries. If no police are at the scene, you can also call afterwards to make a report to have official documentation about the incident.

Get Organized With Evidence and Medical Records Before Meeting With an Attorney

It is imperative to organize all of the evidence you have related to your case before you meet with a New Orleans personal injury lawyer at any time. Organizing medical bills, hospital records, police reports, eyewitness statements and even video or photographic evidence helps to speed the process of building your case.

Being as organized as possible will save you and your attorney time, and will in the end save on the amount that you spend for legal services, so have as much evidence ready before going to your consultation. More evidence means more proof of the other party's negligence, which increases your chances of recovering compensation and can also increase how much you receive.

Working together with a New Orleans personal injury lawyer is a way to improve your chances of winning compensation for any injuries and damage you have experienced due to the incident. The more closely you work with your attorney, the easier it is to build a stronger case in your defense, helping you to win the money you deserve to rebuild your life without financial strain or debt.

If you were injured in an accident and need help from New Orleans injury lawyers, The Lambert Firm can help. Schedule a consultation today to get experienced legal assistance from an accident attorney in New Orleans.