Just because summer is almost over, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still time to go to the beach. Louisian has some of the nicest beaches around. You can pack up your family and head out for a lazy afternoon or even a long vacation. Most beaches – especially public beaches – have lifeguards. This way, you can rest assured that your kids will be safe while swimming. You don’t want to have to watch them every second when you’re trying to have a good time. Sadly, you can’t always count on a trained lifeguard to keep them safe.

Every year, hundreds of people get hurt while swimming on the Louisiana beaches. Part of this is because they ack recklessly or don’t follow the rules. However, there are often times when a lifeguard simply doesn’t do their job. If this happens to you and your child is hurt, you need to call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Lake Charles. They can review your case and let you know if the lifeguard was negligent. And, if they were, you may have a potential legal claim against the municipality.

The only way to know for sure is to call and talk to one of our expert attorneys right away. Once you know that your child is out of the woods, your next concern should be taking legal action. You shouldn’t have to bear the expense of things like hospital bills. And, if your loved one is left permanently disabled or even passes away from their beach accident, you may be entitled to compensation.

How Can Your Lake Charles Accident Lawyer Prove a Lifeguard Was Negligent?

In order for you to have a potential claim for damages, you need to be able to prove the lifeguard was negligent. Your Lake Charles personal injury lawyer can do this in a variety of ways. It really comes down to the particulars of your case. Generally speaking, in order to prove negligence, your lawyer will have to prove the following four (4) things:

• The lifeguard owed your loved one a duty of care – this is not difficult to prove. By their very nature, lifeguards owe beachgoers a duty of care. They need to everything in their power to keep you safe. They also need to follow the rules and protocols put in place by the beach owner or city.
• They must have breached their duty of care – This is the hardest part for your Louisiana injury lawyer to prove. They need to demonstrate that the lifeguard did something that a reasonable lifeguard would not have done.
• You were injured – It is not enough that you encountered a problem at the beach. You need to show that you were actually hurt. That’s why your attorney recommends that you go to the hospital immediately after your incident.
• Your injuries were caused by the lifeguard’s breach of care – You do have to show that your injuries were actually caused by the lifeguard’s breach. For example, if you got into an accident on the way to the hospital, the beach owner may not be liable for those injuries. Your attorney would have to prove that an accident on the ambulance was foreseeable.

As long as your Lake Charles accident lawyer can prove all of these things, you may have a claim for damages.

Who Would Be Liable for Damages?

There may be more than one party responsible for your damages. Your Louisiana personal injury lawyer will name all potential defendants in your lawsuit. For example, you may have a claim against the lifeguard individually. Or, you may have to sue the beach owner. If this happens to be the city, town or municipality, then you’ll need to name them in the suit as well. The goal is to get compensation for your injuries. You don’t necessarily care where this comes from.

Call and Talk to an Expert Personal Injury Lawyer in Lake Charles Right Away

If your loved one is injured while at the beach in Louisiana, you may be entitled to compensation. Lifeguards have a duty to keep you and the other beachgoers safe. If they fail to do this, they may be liable for your injuries. Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. Choose a date and time that works for you and you can sit down with one of our skilled personal injury lawyers in Louisiana. The consultation is free nad you don’t pay a dime until you win or settle your case.

Single-car accidents fall into two categories. There are those that are caused by driver error. For example, you may be texting and driving. When people are distracted, they don’t pay attention to the road. You could lose control of your car and end up on the shoulder, crashed into a tree. In cases like this, you can’t blame anyone else for your accident. There are other cases, however, in which someone other than the driver is at fault.

The second category of single-car accidents are those that are due to the negligence of third parties. There could be something wrong with your car. Maybe the mechanic who worked on your car didn’t install your new brakes properly. There could also be a defect with the car that’s been there since it was manufactured. If this is the case, your Lake Charles car accident lawyer will pursue a claim against the manufacturer.

There are also situations where a third party caused the crash but didn’t stick around to wait for the cops. Or, they caused the accident but didn’t actually crash. Maybe they cut you off and forced you off the road. Or they threw something out the window that blocked your vision and you hit a guardrail. In any case, your Louisiana accident attorney will have to prove that someone else is responsible for your accident.

Who are the Possible Defendants in This Sort of Case?

In single-car accidents, it can be hard to prove that someone else was liable. This is because the only vehicle at the scene is yours. However, when you meet with your Lake Charles injury lawyer for the first time, they’ll get your story. They’ll try to figure out if there are any other people responsible for your accident. In order to win your case, your attorney will have to prove that the defendant caused your crash. Some of the possible defendants in your single-car accident include the following:

• Another Driver – As mentioned above, there are times when another motorist causes someone else to crash. If someone cuts you off in traffic, it could force you to crash into another vehicle. However, it can be very hard to prove these cases. You would first have to be able to identify the driver. Then you’ll need to somehow prove that they forced you to crash.
• Auto Manufacturer – If a defect with your car is what caused your crash, you can sue the auto manufacturer. Some of the common auto defects include tires, brakes, airbags and steering.
• City or Construction Company – Many times, people get into single-car accidents in construction zones. If the city is doing road work, they’ll put a lot of equipment on the road. They may also leave parts of the road unfinished. If this is what causes your accident, you can pursue the city or the company doing their construction. Just understand that it’s very hard to win a case against the city.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Louisiana

If you or your family are injured in a single-car accident in Lake Charles, you may be entitled to damages. With these cases, it really comes down to the facts. If you were primarily responsible for your claim, then you aren’t going to be able to sue anyone else. You’ll have to depend on your own insurance company to pay your claim. But if someone else did cause the crash, you may be able to file suit. The only way to know for sure is to talk to an experienced Louisiana car accident attorney.

The good news is that you can meet with an attorney for free. The lawyers at Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson, LLC offer their clients a free initial consultation. This allows you to down with someone who’s handled dozens of cases like yours before. They’ll give you an honest opinion about what your options are. With a single-car accident, you may not have a legal claim at all. It’s better to know this upfront. You don’t want a lawyer promising you things that they can’t deliver. Your attorney in Lake Charles can also give you an idea of what your case might be worth.

Call and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible after your accident. This way, your case is handled properly right from the start.

When you read about someone getting injured in a head-on collision, you probably ask yourself – how does that happen? What could possibly cause someone to drive into oncoming traffic? Car accident lawyers in Louisiana still ask that question, even after handling dozens of cases involving head-on collisions.

Usually, these cases involve someone who has no concern for other motorists. Maybe they were drinking and driving. Or the could’ve been texting and driving. People don’t realize how dangerous it is to take your eyes off the road for a few seconds. A lot of damage can be caused in a very short period of time.

If you’re involved in a head-on collision, you’ll probably suffer some pretty serious injuries. You may be hospitalized and require surgery. You may even need to do physical therapy. This can cause you to miss a lot of time from work. You might even become permanently disabled. If this is the case, you’re going to need to file a claim against the other driver.

Your Lake Charles car accident lawyer is going to work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. They’ll need to prove two things: first, that the other driver was at fault. Second, they need to prove your damages. If they can do these two things, you’ll be entitled to damages.

Many Head-On Collisions Involve Drunk Driving

If someone is driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they need to be held responsible. Not only is it against the law to drive under the influence – it’s also wrong. Nobody should put the lives of innocent people at risk because of their selfish and irresponsible behavior. Your Lake Charles accident lawyer will work hard to prove the other driver was at fault.

If the driver was issued a ticket for reckless driving, or was arrested for DUI, it’ll help your case. Your lawyer can submit evidence of their arrest as proof of fault. If the defendant’s lawyer knows they were charged with DUI, they should be more than willing to discuss a settlement. They know they’re more than likely going to lose if the case goes to trial.

Distracted Driving is Another Common Cause of Head-On Collisions in Louisiana

While drunk driving is probably the most common cause of head-on collisions, it’s not the only one. People who are texting and driving often lose control of their vehicle. They end up crossing the center line and end up driving into oncoming traffic. They may even try to fix their car and end up overcorrecting. Either way, when they end up in the wrong direction, they often crash into an unsuspecting vehicle.

These accidents are dangerous because the victim has no way to prepare for it. They can’t brace themselves for the impact because it comes out of nowhere. The best they can do is pray that they end up surviving the crash.

A Head-On Collision Can Cause Very Serious Injuries

People involved in head-on collisions tend to suffer very serious injuries. They may end up with neck and head injuries. They can suffer a traumatic brain injury. Any of these can land you in the hospital. You may never be able to walk again. Your Lake Charles accident lawyer will demand you be compensated for your injuries. This includes:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Lake Charles

If you or your loved one are hurt in a head-on collision, you should contact an experienced law firm in Lake Charles that deals with car accident injuries. They can review your case and find out what kind of injuries you’ve suffered. They’ll also review your evidence and see how they can prove the other driver was at fault.

Your attorney will also negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company. If you were involved in a head-on collision, it’ll be hard for the defendant’s lawyer to argue that you were fault. This is why they may be more likely to want to settle your case quickly. Your attorney has years of experience dealing with insurance adjustors. They have the skills necessary to get you a fair settlement.

Call today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you don’t pay your attorney until your case is resolved. Sit down with someone who can answer any questions you may have. They can also give you an idea of what the legal process is. The defendant will have lawyers working for them and you should too.

In the movies and on television, it seems like all accident victims have whiplash. You see the plaintiff walk into the courtroom wearing a neck brace. The next thing you know, they’re walking out hugging their lawyer and thanking them for getting a million-dollar settlement. In reality, it doesn’t work this way. Yes, whiplash is a common injury suffered in all sorts of Lake Charles car accidents. This includes motor vehicle accidents. But it can also be caused in other sorts of accidents. Any time your neck is forced beyond it’s normal limits, you can end up with whiplash.

The problem with whiplash is that it’s very hard to prove. There’s no test that’s going to show you have suffered whiplash. And, your doctor can’t even prove you have it. All they can do is state that you’re showing the signs and symptoms of someone who has suffered whiplash. This is why defense attorneys and the insurance companies are skeptical of plaintiffs who claim a whiplash injury.

Regardless of whether they think your injury is legitimate, the defendant will more than likely have to compensate you for this injury. As long as your Lake Charles car accident lawyer can prove your damages, you should be compensated.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is an injury that occurs when your neck is stretched too far in any one direction. Whiplash is common with motor vehicle accidents. When your car is hit by an SUV or other vehicle, there will be a huge impact. Even if you’re not going that fast at the time of the crash, you’re still going to be jostled about the car. Whether you hit the dashboard or not, you can still suffer a neck injury.

When you go to the hospital, you’ll need to tell your doctor your pain and symptoms. Based on what you tell them, the doctor will diagnose you with whiplash. There really isn’t any specific treatment for this kind of injury. The doctor may issue you a prescription for muscle relaxers or pain medication. Or they’ll instruct you to wear a neck brace for a certain period of time. The good news is that whiplash almost always heals itself in a few days or weeks. Rarely does it cause any long-term injury.

You Can Suffer Whiplash in a Variety of Lake Charles Car Accidents

While the most common cause of whiplash is a car accident, it can also happen in other ways. If you suffer a slip and fall, you can end up with whiplash. When you fall, your neck may be strained. This can cause whiplash. In this kind of situation, the whiplash shouldn’t be as severe as it would be with a car accident.

You can also suffer whiplash in a construction accident. If you fall from scaffolding or a catwalk, you can definitely injure your neck. Although, in these types of accidents, you’ll probably end up with a more serious neck injury. Until you get to the emergency room, you won’t know for sure how bad the injury really is.

How Much is a Claim for Whiplash Worth?

If your only injury is whiplash, there’s a good chance the insurance company will simply pay your claim. Even serious cases of whiplash aren’t worth than a few thousand dollars. It would cost the insurance company more to fight your claim than it would be to just pay it. However, most cases involve more than a simple whiplash claim. If this is what you’re going through, your attorney will probably demand about $5,000 in damages for your whiplash injury.

Contact a Skilled Lawyer who Handles Lake Charles Car Accidents

If you or your loved one are injured in any sort of accident, you need to talk to a law firm in Lake Charles, Louisiana. They’ll review your case and let you know if you have a potential claim for damages. If your only injury is whiplash, don’t expect more than a few thousand dollars. However, if your claim involves more than just whiplash, your attorney will submit evidence showing all of your injuries.

Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. You can sit down with an experienced car accident lawyer who can answer any questions you may have. You can also tell them your story. Let them know what’s happened thus far. Tell them your injuries and show them any documentation you may have. They’ll give you an idea of how strong your case is. They can also give you an idea of what your case is worth.

The initial consultation is absolutely free and you don’t pay a dime until your case settles.

Car insurance is a requirement in most states. It is illegal not to carry it on your vehicle. When accidents occur, things like head-on collisions can come with costly consequences. Lake Charles car wreck attorneys get cases like this often. So why do so many people ignore the law and choose to be drive without insurance?

Why Do People Drive Without Insurance?

Instead of beating around the bush, let’s discuss the number one reason why people go uninsured. If it comes down to paying for a policy that averages $1,099 or paying for housing, chances are that housing is going to win.

The cost of living and the rate of pay are the biggest reasons why someone might choose to drive without insurance in the United States. There are not enough programs available for drivers to be able to afford their monthly costs and car insurance.

Privacy and Commitment

A lot of people are skeptical about giving away their information to people or over the internet. In an age where identities are being stolen left and right, who can really blame them?

It takes a lot of personal information to receive a quote for car insurance. Your name, address, phone number, social security number, driver’s license number, and birth date. It almost feels like they should go ahead and ask for your blood type while they are at it.

Getting a quote or multiple quotes can be overwhelming. Trying to find the best price for car insurance is like finding a needle in a haystack. With all of the large premium prices glaring at you from the screen, people tend to just save the quotes for later.

Commissions and Bottom Lines

Just like when you drive on to a car dealer’s lot, they flock to you trying to upsell everything that you look at. Insurance agents can be the same way. They are looking to make a commission off of your policy purchase and that makes a lot of people feel like they aren’t being listened to.

All you want is a policy that covers your needs and doesn’t cost you a dime more than it has to.

Lack of Understanding

Reading insurance policies is like reading a foreign language. Unless you have specifically trained in the insurance profession, it might as well be written by a two-year-old in crayon on the walls.

Most people do not understand what the terminology means when they are buying car insurance and if it frustrates them enough, they may not even try to understand it. This is how a lot of people end up uninsured too.

The most important thing you can do is know what your state requires and go from there. If you are in a head-on collision but do not have insurance or are underinsured, you could be looking at consequences that are not only costly, but you could find yourself on the other side of a jail cell.

If you do find yourself in this situation, contacting a lawyer in Louisiana may be your only option.

It Won’t Happen to Me

Almost as soon as you utter those words, it is going to happen. People feel like they are immune from auto accidents or from getting hurt in those situations. They feel like it always happens to someone else, not them.

That is not the truth, they have just been lucky. Leaving car insurance and accidents up to chance is like playing Russian Roulette. You don’t know which barrel it is in, but it is going to fire at some point.

Minimum Coverage Required in Louisiana

Here is the minimum coverage for car insurance in Louisiana.

Bodily injury liability coverage: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident

This means that the car insurance company will pay for bodily injuries caused by the driver on the policy in these amounts. This pays for injuries, lost wages, and in worst-case scenarios funeral expenses.

Property damage liability coverage: $25,000

This is what the insurance company will payout for damages caused to property by the driver on the policy.

Medical payments: $1,000

This coverage will pay for medical, dental, or funeral expenses regardless of who was at fault in the accident.

Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident

This helps pay for the policy holder’s medical bills in the event that the collision was with an uninsured driver.

Medical payment and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage can be rejected but are highly recommended coverages as they help cover your expenses.

Choosing to drive without insurance can lead to costly accidents. Contact a Lake Charles auto accident law firm if you find yourself in a situation where you need legal representation after an auto accident with an uninsured driver.

If you’ve ever worked for a company that lets you use a company car, you know the rules. You can use the company car for work-related business and errands. You may even be allowed to take the company car home at night or on the weekends. But you’re not supposed to use the company car for personal use.

Some people may be confused about what constitutes personal use. Using the car to get back and forth to work is usually permissible. However, using the company car to go food shopping is now allowed. Taking the truck your company owns to get it inspected over the weekend is allowed. Using a company truck to help your friend move is not allowed. You get the idea.

So, if someone is driving their company car and crashes into your vehicle, you have to be worried. Will their company’s car insurance pay your claim? Or, will the company refuse to cover your damages because the other driver had no permission to use the car? If this happens to you, it’s important that you call a Lake Charles auto accident lawyer right away. They’ll deal with the company on your behalf and do everything they can to get you the compensation for the damages caused by a company car.

Most of the Time, Your Claim Will Be Paid

The good news is that, for the most part, companies would rather pay your claim and then deal with their employee separately. If the claim is small, it’s cheaper and easier for them to pay your claim than fight it. However, if the claim is large or involves multiple people, there’s a good chance the insurance company will deny it.

This is why you hire an experienced car accident lawyer in Lake Charles. They will deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They’ll also talk to the other driver’s employer to find out what happened. The good news is that, if your car accident claim is denied, you can still pursue the driver personally.

If your Lake Charles car accident lawyer has to file a claim against the driver, it’ll be harder to recover damages. The good news is that, if the other driver has personal auto insurance. they may still cover the claim. If not, you’ll have no choice but to file a lawsuit. This suit will be filed against both the other driver and the company they work for.

It Will Be Up to the Employer to Prove the Defendant Didn’t Have Permission to Use the Car at the Time of the Crash

As far as your Lake Charles car accident lawyer is concerned, the defendant’s employer is responsible for your injuries. Just because their insurance company denied the claim doesn’t mean the company isn’t responsible. You’ll still have the chance to prove that the other driver had permission to use the company car.

Thankfully, you don’t have to prove that they did have permission to use the car. If the defendant was driving the car, it’ll be presumed that they were allowed to drive it. Let their employer prove that they didn’t have permission. This isn’t something you have to do. However, it is important that your Lake Charles accident lawyer is prepared for this argument.

This may be a starting point to negotiate a settlement of your case. Knowing the company would have a much higher insurance policy limit, it’s in your best interest to settle with them. You don’t want to win a case against the other driver personally only to find out they have no assets or no insurance. Your car accident lawyer in Lake Charles will negotiate with the defendant’s lawyer and the lawyer for their employer. Their goal is to get your case settled as quickly as possible. But they also want to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney for Help Recovering Damages Caused by a Company Car

You would think that if someone hit you with a company car, they’d pay your claim right away. And that is what happens in most cases. However, there are times when the company who owns the car isn’t sure they are liable. They may want to challenge the claim and see if you back off. This is why it might be a good idea to call a skilled accident lawyer in Lake Charles. They can look to see if you do indeed have a valid claim.

If you get into a car crash, you’re going to need an experienced car accident lawyer in Lake Charles, Louisiana. While there is no law that says you have to hire a lawyer, it’s not always the best idea to handle your claim yourself. You don’t know the law and you don’t know your way around a courthouse.

A lot of people are afraid that it’s expensive to hire a car accident lawyer. They think it’ll cost thousands of dollars to hire a lawyer. This couldn’t be further from the truth. It actually costs nothing to meet with an attorney for the first time. And, for the most part, it costs nothing to hire a car accident lawyer in Louisiana.

Other than filing fees, your attorney will cover most of the costs of your lawsuit. They don’t get paid at all unless you win or settle your case. This is why they work so hard to get you the compensation you deserve. In most cases, you won’t even have to file suit. Your attorney will be able to settle your claim with the insurance company. And, if they do have to sue, you won’t pay a dime until you win your case.

Either way, you never really want to handle your car accident case by yourself. You need to call and schedule your initial consultation right away.

Your Car Accident Attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana Will Take a Third of Your Settlement

Some people wonder – if they don’t pay their attorney upfront, how is their attorney paid? When your Lake Charles car accident lawyer agrees to take your case, they’ll have you sign something called a contingency agreement. This agreement outlines exactly how your lawyer will be paid.

For car accident cases, most attorneys take about a third of your settlement or judgment award. So, if you settle your case for $100,000, they’ll take a third, or $30,000. Out of the rest of the money, you will be expected to pay any outstanding bills related to your car accident. This means you’ll have to reimburse your personal health insurance company if they covered your medical care. You may also have to reimburse your own auto insurance company for monies they spent to get your car fixed or replaced.

This may sound scary. You may be afraid that, at the end of the day, you may get nothing. And, that could be the case. It’s important to remember that you can only collect damages for injuries you’ve actually suffered. And, it’s not your lawyer’s job to make you rich. It’s their job to make you whole. A car accident lawsuit isn’t a source of income. The goal is to make sure you are reimbursed for any damages caused by the crash.

If You Lose, You Pay Nothing

If there’s any consolation, it’s that your attorney doesn’t get paid unless you win or settle your case. If you lose, your Lake Charles car accident lawyer gets nothing. This is one of the reasons they work so hard to get your case resolved. However, good attorneys work hard because it’s what they do. They believe in getting their clients the best possible settlement. They fight to get you the justice you deserve.

If, at the end of the day, you lose your case, you won’t have to pay your attorney. They won’t come back and ask you to pay thousands of dollars in fees. They won’t charge you an hourly rate. However, this is the worst case. If your attorney thought your case was worth taking, they should have a good chance at getting you the settlement you need.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Lake Charles, Louisiana Right Away

If you’re injured in a motor vehicle accident in Lake Charles, you need to call an experienced car accident law firm. They can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. And, the good news is that your attorney won’t cost you anything upfront. Instead, you’ll pay a certain percentage of your settlement to your attorney in the form of a contingency fee.

Call today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free. You get the chance to have an experienced attorney answer any questions you may have. You can also have the peace of mind knowing you’ll have a skilled Lake Charles car accident attorney by your side throughout the whole case.

If you get injured in any sort of motor vehicle accident in Louisiana, one of the first things you’ll want to know is who caused it. Very few people ever want to admit responsibility for a car crash. They always point the finger at the other person. Then they want to know how fast they’ll get their money. What they need to do is call and talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Lake Charles. Your attorney can review your case and give you an idea of what it’s worth. They’ll also let you know who you need to pursue for your Lake Charles car wreck claim.

You really won’t know at the outset who is responsible for your injuries. This is why the law gives you a couple of years to file your lawsuit. You have the time necessary to determine all of the possible defendants. It also let you figure out how much you need to sue for.

Some of the things that can impact your case are:

• You’re not sure how bad your injuries are because you’re scheduled for multiple surgeries or long-term physical therapy
• You may be waiting to be approved for permanent disability and aren’t sure of your lost future earnings yet
• Your Lake Charles car accident lawyer may be waiting to hear back from experts regarding causation

These things take time. While your case progresses, your Lake Charles car wreck lawyer will make sure all defendants are named in your case. This way, you don’t find out later on that you missed the boat on recovering for your injuries.

Your Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer Must Name all Defendants at the Start

If you’re involved in a multi-car accident, you may not be sure who is responsible for your injuries. It could be any of the other drivers. It could even be a third party. Until you know for sure, however, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your Lake Charles injury lawyer will name all possible defendants at the outset. This is because the court won’t let you randomly add a defendant down the road. The courts don’t allow plaintiffs to blindside defendants. If you know who should be named in the lawsuit, you can’t use the element of surprise. You need to name them all in your original complaint.

The only exceptions to these general rules include:

• If you can’t locate the defendant, or they’re avoiding service, you’ll be able to add them later on
• If someone was lying about their identity, you’ll be allowed to amend your complaint later
• If you had no reason to be aware of a particular defendant, you can attempt to add them to your complaint

Just keep in mind, once the statute of limitations has expired, you won’t be able to add any more defendants. There are almost no exceptions to this.

You May Have to Split the Insurance Proceeds

If there are multiple victims in a car accident, there will be multiple people demanding money from the insurance company. Since the defendant’s insurance policy only has a certain limit, there’s only so much money to go around. If the policy can’t cover the total amount demanded, each victim will receive a portion of the insurance proceeds.

Let’s look at a common example:

• There is one other plaintiff who has sued the defendant for the same car accident you were involved in
• The defendant has $500,000 in coverage
• The other plaintiff has demanded $400,000 in damages
• You have demanded $600,000 in damages

There’s not enough money to pay everyone’s claim in full. In fact, there is only $500,000 available but there is $1 million demanded. This means everyone will get half of what they originally demanded. You’ll get about $300,000. The other victim will get about $200,000. Whatever is left over, the defendant will be held personally responsible for. However, your Lake Charles car accident attorney can simply negotiate a settlement for the difference. This way, you know you’re getting a lump sum up front. Sometimes, a judgment against an individual isn’t worth more than the paper it’s printed on.

Contact an Experienced Attorney For Your Lake Charles Car Wreck Claim

When car accident cases involve multiple defendants, it can be very hard to sort them all out. If you don’t name every possible defendant in your lawsuit, you can lose the right to add them later. Car accident attorneys in Lake Charles, Louisiana know how to file against all potential defendants, so that you get most for your injuries and property damages.

There are some people who can walk away from a car accident with only minor injuries. They don’t need surgery. They don’t need physical therapy. Others are not so lucky. Many car accidents leave their victims with very serious injuries. Some can be life threatening or even fatal. Others are so serious they leave their victims paralyzed for the rest of their lives. One very common – and very serious – type of car accident injury is a back injury. When you think about it, our backs are at the very core of our body. If we hurt our back, it impacts just about every aspect of our lives.

When someone suffers a back injury, they often need surgery and physical therapy. They may need to see a chiropractor for the rest of their lives. This is why it’s so important that you hire an experienced car accident lawyer in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Your lawyer will do what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.

What Kinds of Back Injuries are Caused by Car Accidents?

If you get into a car accident, there’s a good chance you’ll suffer a back injury. People hurt their backs all the time. You can hurt you back without even realizing it. For example, you could stretch to open a car door and end up in bed with a sore back for days. Or, your car is rear-ended and you find yourself in the hospital getting back surgery.

Some of the more common back injuries caused by a Louisiana car accident include:

• Spinal Cord Injury
• Herniated Discs
• Spinal Stenosis
• Spinal Fractures

All of these have different treatments. But they all involve a great deal of pain. They also typically require surgery. Here, we’ll talk about each of these injuries briefly.

Spinal Cord Injury:

Your car accident could cause your spinal cord to be cut, bruised or fractured. If it’s just bruised, you may be able to resolve it with rest. However, most spinal cord injuries do require surgery. These surgeries can be dangerous because one wrong move will leave you paralyzed for life.

Herniated Discs:

We all have discs cushioning the vertebrae in our back. The impact of a car accident can cause these discs to shift or bulge. This causes a great deal of pain. It can be so bad that you won’t be to walk, drive or even stand up.

Spinal Stenosis:

Car accidents don’t usually cause spinal stenosis on their own. However, if someone already has this condition or is predisposed to spinal stenosis, a car wreck can hasten it. The symptoms of spinal stenosis involve stiffness and a lot of pain. Once you have spinal stenosis, there’s no way to get rid of it. However, surgery can alleviate some of the pain and pressure.

Spinal Fracture:

When you get into an accident, your seatbelt may not work properly. The top half of your body may get jostled while the bottom half of your body stays still. This can cause your spinal cord to suffer a compression fracture. This will cause pain and other symptoms. If the injury is minor, you can usually resolve it with immobilization and rest. However, may car accident victims with a spinal cord fracture require surgery.

Your Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer Will Demand Damages For Your Back Injury

Any of the back injuries described above can cause life-long problems. People with serious back issues are not able to do physical labor. So, if you’re a construction worker or even cab driver, you probably won’t be able to work after your accident.

Your car accident lawyer in Lake Charles is going to make sure you’re compensated for your injuries. Your damages will include some or all of the following:

• Medical bills and future medical bills
• Lost wages and lost future earnings
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability

It’s important that you communicate all of your medical issues to your accident attorney in Louisiana. This is the only way you’ll be able to get compensation for your injuries.

Call an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Lake Charles, Louisiana

If you or your loved one are injured in a car accident, you need to call an experienced car accident lawyer in Lake Charles. They can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. You can also ask them any questions you may have.

Call Veron, Bice, Palermo, & Wilson today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.

If you get into a Louisiana car accident, there’s a good chance you’ll suffer pretty serious injuries. You may end up in the hospital for weeks or even months. It depends on what kind of injuries you suffer. It also depends on how serious your car accident is.

There are certain injuries that require you to receive long-term medical treatment. For example, if you suffer a back or neck injury, you will need surgery. But you’re also going to need physical therapy. It can take years to really resolve these types of injuries.

When it’s time to calculate your damages, your Lake Charles car accident lawyer has to take this into account. It could cost thousands of dollars in future medical care. If you don’t demand these damages as part of your lawsuit, you’ll be left to pay them on your own.

When you first meet with your attorney, there’s no real way to know if you’re going to need future medical care. This is why Louisiana gives you one (1) year to file your legal claim. The statute of limitations in Louisiana is one (1) year. This means that if you don’t file your claim in that timeframe, your claim will be forever barred.

How Long Will It Take to Determine Your Physical Injuries?

When you first go to the hospital, the doctors are going to perform all kinds of tests. These tests will help determine what kinds of injuries you’ve suffered. Some of these tests are:

• MRI
• CT scan
• X-Ray
• Ultrasound
• Neurological testing
• Physical Exam

These tests will give your doctor a better idea of how serious your injuries are. It will also let them know if you need surgery or not. Certain injuries are more likely to require surgery than others. Some of these more serious injuries include:

• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Traumatic brain injuries

If not treated properly, these injuries can be life threatening. They can also cause long-term medical issues. For example, if you don’t get the back surgery you need, you may have back pain for the rest of your life. It can even cause you to be permanently disabled when you get older.

The real problem is this – you have no idea, in that first year, just what the future holds. This is why your Louisiana car accident attorney will need to rely on medical experts to help make this determination.

How Do You Predict and Estimate Future Medical Issues?

Your Lake Charles injury lawyer can do a lot of things, but they aren’t a doctor. They have no idea what your future medical treatment may be. Sure, they’ve handled dozens of cases just like yours. They may be able to give you an estimate of what kind of medical care you’ll need in the future.

Louisiana car accident lawyers typically hire medical experts to help determine your damages. A licensed doctor will be better able to determine what kind of future medical care you may need. Some of this care may include:

• Physical Therapy – If you hurt certain parts of your body, you’ll need physical therapy. Following back or neck surgery, your doctor is going to want to slowly get you back to a normal life. You may need weeks or months of physical therapy to make this happen. Depending on your physical restrictions, you may not be able to return to work right away.
• Chiropractic Care – A lot of car accident victims need chiropractic care following their injuries. You may only need this for a year, or you may need it for the rest of your life. This can be very expensive. Even if you only have to pay a co-pay, that’s still hundreds of dollars a year. And, if your primary insurance refuses to cover it, you’ll be paying out of pocket for these visits. This can run you thousands upon thousands of dollars.
• Occupational Therapy – Depending on your injury, you may not be able to return to work right away. If you do physical labor, you may need to find another trade. Or, you may need to find alternate ways of doing your job that doesn’t cause further strain on your injuries.

Your Lake Charles car accident lawyer will hire the necessary people to do this for you. Call Veron, Bice, Palermo, & Wilson today and schedule your free initial consultation.