Shreveport, LA Auto Accidents: Signs of a Strong Claim

If you have been injured in a Shreveport, Louisiana, auto accident, you are entitled to make a claim for compensation from the party (or parties) responsible for the accident. You are entitled to compensation for many categories of damages, such as costs and expenses for medical care and treatment, lost wages and earnings, pain and suffering, damage to your vehicle (and other contents of your vehicle), and more. Victims are entitled to make insurance claims and to file personal injury litigation in the Louisiana courts. If you have been injured, you may benefit from having a consultation with an experienced Shreveport auto accident attorney like the ones at the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. Use our Contact Page.

Most Louisiana car accident cases are settled through insurance claims before the filing of Louisiana personal injury litigation. Moreover, of the lawsuits that are filed, more than 90% of those will settle before trial. The strongest cases are often the ones that tend to settle the quickest, meaning that compensation is paid more quickly to the victim (or victims). By "strongest," we mean those cases where the evidence is solid, where there are few disputes about the evidence, and where the evidence points clearly to legal conclusions about responsibility for the accident and the resulting injuries. Here are some signs of a strong legal claim:

Good documentation and evidence from the scene of the accident

One sign of a strong legal claim is when the victim has obtained good documentation and solid evidence from the scene of the accident. This is one reason that, if the victim is able, it is important to take a few photos or a video of the scene right after the accident. Other visual evidence can come from vehicle and street cameras.

Your actions did not contribute to the accident

When negotiating a settlement for a Louisiana car accident, insurance companies will do their best to find "holes" or weaknesses in your case. This allows the insurance companies to "low-ball" their offers. One weakness in a case can exist if the victim's actions contributed, in some way, to the accident. For example, assume that the at-fault driver did not stop for a stop sign. But also assume that the victim was speeding at the time of the accident. Here is an example where the legal conclusions about fault are disputable. The insurance company will say that the victim's speeding was the cause of the accident.

In Louisiana, a victim who contributed to the accident will still recover some compensation, but will have to take less than the full amount of the recovery based on the percentage of fault assigned to the victim. From this, it can be seen that the strongest legal claim is one where there is no argument/dispute about whether the victim contributed to the accident.

Medical evidence showing a clear causal connection between the injuries and the accident

Another sign of a strong legal claim is medical evidence showing a clear link between the injuries and the accident. Aside from the necessity of seeking treatment for injuries, this is one reason for victims to seek medical care immediately.

Eyewitnesses are available

Another sign of a strong legal claim is the existence of eyewitnesses who can corroborate what happened during the accident. Typically, eyewitnesses are unavailable. Other vehicles or persons may have seen the accident, but they generally go about their business and do not stop to give contact information. Thus, actual eyewitnesses can make a legal claim very strong.

Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today

For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams, If you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To contact us, complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading this blog post and visiting our website.