Lake Charles Car Accident Attorney

Getting You Maximum Compensation After an Auto Accident

After a car crash, you are likely wondering what your next steps should be. You are worried about how your bills will be paid, what it’s going to cost to get your car repaired, and how much time will you miss at work. A Lake Charles, Louisiana car accident lawyer can provide advice and counseling based on their years of experience handling personal injury cases. They will be an invaluable asset to you in your quest to obtain fair compensation for the damages you have incurred.

The personal injury attorneys at Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson, LLC know the stress you are feeling and will fight for your rights. Our attorneys have dozens of combined years of experience and are skilled at handling injury claims of all types.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

Being involved in a car accident is a scary and often traumatizing experience. Unfortunately, how you behave in the immediate aftermath can have a large impact on whether you are able to successfully file a claim for compensation. Immediately following an accident, you need to remember several things that will protect your interests moving forward.

1. Follow all applicable laws by stopping the vehicle at the scene of the accident and calling the police if someone was injured, died, or damage was done. The only time you don’t have to call police after an accident in Nevada is if no one was injured, no damage was done, and both parties agree that police do not need to respond.
2. Make sure any damaged vehicles are moved from the roadway and, if possible, render assistance to anyone injured in the accident
3. Provide information like name, address, registration, driver’s license, and proof of insurance to all parties involved and to the responding officer.
4. Answer the police officer’s questions about the accident in a polite, direct manner, while also making sure to avoid admitting fault of any kind.
5. Obtain medical care. This is vital to being able to file a successful claim, as your injuries need to be documented by a professional.
6. Contact your insurance company and alert them about the accident.
7. Obtain medical care. This is vital to being able to file a successful claim, as your injuries need to be documented by a professional.
8. Call a Lake Charles car accident lawyer!

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost

Many people are hesitant to contact an attorney after a car accident because they are worried about how much a lawyer will cost them. However, most car accident lawyers in Louisiana operate on a contingency fee structure, meaning you only owe them if they win your case. At that point, you will owe them a previously agreed-upon percentage, generally between 25-40%. The range of the fee will also be based on how much work they had to put in; if a settlement with the insurance company was agreed to prior to any court proceedings, you will likely owe less than if your case goes before a court. Not only does this pay structure mean that you only pay for an attorney if you are getting a settlement, it also means your attorney has a vested interest in your case, as their pay is based on how much money they are able to get you.

Some attorneys do work with different payment arrangements, such as an hourly fee or a flat rate. While these options may be preferred in some cases, the majority of clients are best served by agreeing to a contingency arrangement.

Common Types of Car Accidents in Lake Charles

There are many types of car accidents that occur in the city of Lake Charles. From disastrous head-on collisions to Uber and Lyft accidents, a Lake Charles Car Accident Attorney has the resources and knowledge to fight on your behalf for maximum possible compensation for any type of car crash.

Here are some of the numerous types of car accidents our firm handles:

• Head-On Collisions
• Rear-End Accidents
• Side, or T-bone, Collisions
• Lane-Changing Accidents
• Multiple-Vehicle Accidents
• Highway Accidents
• Hit-and-Run Accidents
• Uber and Lyft Accidents
• Merging Crashes
• Rollover Collisions
• Single-Vehicle Collisions
• Reckless Driving Accidents
• Inclement Weather Accidents
• Defective Auto Parts
• Speeding
• Distracted Driving
• DUI
• Failure to Obey Traffic Signs
• Fatigued Driver

While we take on each of these car accident types, the top five listed are the most common types of crashes on the road.

At Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson, LLC, we understand that every accident is unique. We’ll develop a legal strategy based on the details of your case in order to secure the best possible outcome and meet your legal goals. For instance, one person’s rear-end crash may require a different legal approach than someone’s else head-on collision.

How Accidents Happen – Types of Negligence

It is also important to consider the cause of an accident and how it might relate to the type of car accident when researching and fighting a lawsuit. For example, highway accidents are often the result of high speeds, and people not obeying the posted speed limit. Another common cause of a highway accident is when drivers do not check their blind spots when switching lanes. In contrast, rear-end accidents typically are caused by people not paying attention. They might be distracted by texting on their phone or playing with the radio console, which means they are not able to see the stopped car in front of them.

Just as there are many types of car accidents, there are also many reasons why accidents happen. Often, negligence is a factor. Common types of negligence are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, distracted driving (texting while driving is a frequent element), not following traffic laws, drowsy driving, or running red lights or stop signs.

Car accidents often lead to fatalities. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), single-vehicle collisions (58%) resulted in more fatalities than multiple-vehicle collisions (42%) in 2018. Of all the fatalities in Louisiana car accidents in 2017, 78% of the crashes involved one of these four factors: distraction, alcohol, aggressive driving, and/or lack of or improper use of safety belts. Regardless of the reason for the crash, reckless drivers must be held accountable for their poor choices.

No matter what type of accident you were in, you are likely dealing with injuries, medical bills, lost pay because of time off from work, and huge amounts of stress. A Lake Charles Car Crash Lawyer will research all the facts behind your case and the cause of the wreck, and best understand how to fight your particularly car accident type.

Our experienced team at Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson, LLC will focus on fighting on your behalf while you focus on recovering. Give us a call today at 337-800-8800 to request your free case review where we can discuss what type of accident you were in and next steps. We are devoted to aggressively fighting for our clients and being there for them every step of the way.

We Will Fight For You!

Usually, if you’re in a car accident, you’ll file your insurance claim and get compensation a few days later. However, insurance companies don’t pay every claim that comes across their desk. In fact, if they did, they’d go out of business.

Some of the reasons your claim could be denied are:

• The other driver’s policy wasn’t valid at the time of the accident
• The driver let their policy lapse for non-payment
• The insurance company thinks you were at fault
• They don’t believe your injuries are legitimate
• They believe you are exaggerating your damages

For most of these reasons, your attorney can file an appeal. The only denials that he really can’t fight are those where it was denied because the policy wasn’t valid. There is no reason an insurance company will pay out a claim on an invalid policy.

Your car accident lawyer will call and speak with the insurance adjusters near Lake Charles. They’ll point out that if the claim isn’t paid, they intend to file a lawsuit. Once the adjuster knows you’re serious, they will be more likely to honor your claim.

Your lawyer will have to file a lawsuit if you don’t get compensation for your claim. Once they do this, the insurance company may be more liable to settle. Your attorney will try to negotiate a fair settlement. It’s also sometimes better to take a little less upfront to avoid a trial. Trials are time-consuming and expensive. Nobody wants to go to trial. Plus, there is a chance that you can lose in the local court. You don’t want to risk not getting anything if you don’t have to.

As soon as you learn your insurance claim has been denied, call and schedule a consultation with our attorneys in Lake Charles, LA. They can go to battle with the insurance company so you don’t have to. Remember, the insurance company has lawyers working for them – you should too!

Types of Injuries Suffered in Lake Charles Auto Accidents

Depending on how serious your accident is, you could suffer all types of injuries. It’s important that you seek immediate medical treatment after your car accident. You need to make sure a doctor examines you to make sure you’re okay while also documenting the severity of any injuries you sustained.

Some of the most common injuries suffered in Louisiana car accidents include:

Back Injuries

Given the impact suffered in a car accident, it’s no surprise that you can hurt your back. You may suffer disc issues such as herniations or displacement. You could also experience muscle strains. Depending on the type of back injury you suffer, you may need surgery. You’ll more than likely need physical therapy as well. Most back injuries will cause you to miss a few weeks or months from work. Your Lake Charles spinal injury lawyer will demand that you get compensation for that time.

Brain Injuries

If you’re involved in a head-on collision, you’ll probably suffer some kind of brain injury. The most serious type of brain injury is a traumatic brain injury. Louisiana lawyers who specialize in brain injury cases know what to look for. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vision loss
• Memory issues
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Inability to concentrate

Your attorney will do his best to get you the compensation you deserve for your TBI. Because a TBI can affect you for the rest of your life, this compensation may be significant.

Broken Bones

A lot of people suffer broken bones when they’re involved in a car accident. Just the impact alone can lead to broken legs and arms. You can also break your wrist trying to brace yourself against the impact. The seatbelt can also cause broken bones. The good news is – if broken bones are the worst of your injuries, you should be thankful. However, broken bones also require surgery and physical therapy. It could be months before you’re back on your feet and a Lake Charles orthopedic injury lawyer will fight for the compensation you need and deserve.

Disability

If your injuries are serious enough, you may never be able to work again. Even if you were just working for a minimum wage that is thousands of dollars you’re losing over the course of a lifetime. To qualify for disability, your lawyer will have to show that you are unable to work due to your injuries. He’ll look at the difference between what you would have earned, versus what you’ll earn on disability. The defendant should be held responsible for this difference.

PTSD

Very serious accidents can cause a victim to suffer from PTSD. PTSD is short for a post-traumatic stress disorder. This is when someone can’t live normally after an accident. The anxiety and depression caused by reliving the accident can be haunting. Your LA car accident lawyer will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. PTSD can be hard to prove. You may need doctors and psychiatrists to testify that you have the disorder.

Whiplash

This is the most common injury in car accidents. There is actually no way to prove you have whiplash. There are no tests that can prove it. All you can do is have a doctor testify that you appeared to have whiplash. And, because whiplash heals itself in a matter of days or weeks, you can’t expect to receive a ton of compensation for a whiplash claim. However, your lawyer will still argue to get you as much as possible.

Contact an Experienced Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Lake Charles at Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson, LLC. Schedule your free initial consultation with a lawyer who’s been handling these cases for years.

When you first meet with your attorney, make sure to bring the following:

• Any correspondence you’ve received from the other driver’s attorney or insurance company
• A copy of the police report
• Any pictures you have of the accident scene or your injuries
• Also, contact information for any witnesses
• Receipts from any out-of-pocket expenses
• Copies of your medical records
• Proof of medical bills
• Lastly, Proof of lost wages

Your Lake Charles car accident lawyer will review all of this and let you know what your case may be worth. He’ll also come up with a plan on how best to approach your case.

It’s important to be upfront and honest with your attorney during your initial consultation. If there’s something about your case you’re afraid to tell him, don’t be. He’s going to find out sooner or later anyway. Always be honest with your attorney, it’s best that they are not blindsided halfway through your case.

It’s also important that you don’t speak about your case to anyone other than your attorney. Therefore, don’t post about it on social media. Don’t talk about it at work. You don’t want to risk jeopardizing your case.

Call today or fill out an online contact form to schedule your initial free consultation. It costs you nothing. Remember, you pay nothing until you win your case!

Get Directions

Our Lake Charles Office is located on Kirby Street in Lake Charles, LA. It is situated between Ford St and Kirkman St. Our office is located minutes away from McNeese State University, Sowela Technical Community College, L’Auberge du Lac Casino, Rosa Hart Theatre, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Lake Charles Regional Airport, I-10 and I-210. We serve the Greater Lake Charles Area including Sulphur, Vinton, Dequincy, Ragley, Reeves, Kinder, Jennings, Lake Arthur, and Lafayette.

Coming from Vinton, LA: From I-10E take exit 29 toward Downtown Area/LA-385. In 0.2 miles, merge onto I-10 Srv Rd/N Lakeshore Dr. Make a slight right in 0.5 miles onto N Lakeshore Dr/Veterans Memorial Blvd. Continue straight onto Broad St and in 0.6 miles, turn right onto Kirkman St. In 0.2 miles turn right at the second cross street onto Kirby St. Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson will be on the right.

Coming from Lafayette, LA: From I-10 W, take exit 31A for US-90 BUS/Enterprise Blvd. In 0.3 miles, merge onto I-10 Srv Rd then turn left onto Kirkman St. In 0.7 miles, turn right onto Kirby St and Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson will be on the right.

Coming from Dequincy, LA: From LA-27 S/S Grand Ave, turn left onto US-90 E/E Napoleon St. In 5 miles, use any lane to take the ramp to LA-378/Westlake and merge onto I-10. In 2.5 miles, take exit 29 toward Downtown Area/LA-385. In 0.2 miles, merge onto I-10 Srv Rd/N Lakeshore Dr. In 0.5 miles make a slight right onto N Lakeshore Dr/Veterans Memorial Blvd and continue straight onto Broad St. In 0.6 miles, turn right onto Kirkman St. Turn right at the second cross street onto Kirby St and Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson will be on the right.