If you have never been involved in a motor vehicle accident before or filed a personal injury claim, you might not be all that familiar with Louisiana auto accident laws or how to go about obtaining compensation for your injuries and property damage. To ensure you do not make any unnecessary mistakes during this process, you should familiarize yourself with the car accident laws in Louisiana. It would also be wise to hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to handle your case.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations
Every state has a statute of limitations, which is essentially the timeframe within which a lawsuit must be brought to court. If you miss out on the statute of limitations, you will no longer be able to pursue compensation. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim after being injured in a car accident is usually one year (if the accident occurred before July 1, 2024 but is now two years for accidents that occurred on or after July 1, 2024) starting on the date of the crash. If you attempt to file a personal injury claim after a year has passed, you can expect the court to dismiss your case.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to file a lawsuit. You do not want to risk passing the deadline and jeopardizing your ability to secure compensation for your injuries.
The Role of Comparative Negligence in a Car Accident Case
Some car accident cases are straightforward, and liability can easily be assigned to one party. However, in some cases, blame might be assigned to both parties. How does this affect an injured person’s ability to obtain compensation? Louisiana is a comparative fault state, which means your damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault you are assigned for causing the crash. If you were responsible for the accident by 25%, then you would have to deduct that from your total sum of damages.
Rules for Reporting an Accident
In Louisiana, you must report a car accident if it caused injuries or death or if the property damage exceeds $500. Those involved must report the incident to local law enforcement if it occurred in an incorporated town or city. Otherwise, it should be reported to the nearest sheriff’s office.
Speak to One of Our Skilled Personal Injury Lawyers
If you were injured in an accident, contact the knowledgeable legal team at Joseph A. Gregorio, A Professional Law Firm for the experienced legal help you need. We will aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve, relieving the financial burden of this overwhelming situation.
Contact our office today at (318) 719-7515 to request a complimentary consultation with one of our compassionate attorneys.