What Does a Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer Do?

What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?

In 2023 alone, forty-two people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana – and another 2,651 individuals in the area were injured. If you or a loved one have been affected by these incidents, one of the more consequential decisions you can make is whether to retain a car accident attorney to help you build a case for compensation.

Why Some Injury Victims Choose Not To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

As a car accident injury victim in Calcasieu Parish (or its parish seat, Lake Charles), you have the right to choose the attorney, if any, you want to represent you in your accident claim. 

With that in mind, there are numerous reasons why some might choose to forego legal representation, such as:

  • Not understanding the true nature of their injuries
  • Thinking they can settle their claim by themselves
  • Believing that the other party’s insurance carrier has their best interests at heart
  • Assuming that an attorney is too expensive to afford
  • Accepting the idea that an attorney will delay the resolution of their claim

Unfortunately, some car accident victims find out too late that these beliefs are not only wrong but detrimental to their best interests. Understanding the ways in which accident attorneys work can help you better understand why you need one following a car accident in Lake Charles.

Three Ways Your Car Accident Attorney Assists You

What does a car accident lawyer do after something like a car wreck or drunk driving accident? Ultimately, the answer will depend on your circumstances and the nature of your crash. But there are three common and likely ways in which your lawyer will help you with your claim:

Investigating Your Case

Before you can understand how much your claim is worth and the damages you can expect to receive, you must consider the available evidence. Gather medical records, review police reports and other physical evidence, and talk to any witnesses of the crash. 

This step is crucial because your ability to negotiate a fair settlement or receive a just verdict hinges on your ability to prove the other driver’s fault and that you are entitled to damages. An inadequate investigation often leads to under-compensation.

Filing Your Injury Claim on Time

Louisiana’s statute of limitations only gives crash victims one year from the date of their accident to file a claim for damages. If they do not file a claim in court by that deadline, they may miss out on their opportunity to receive any compensation whatsoever, be it through the courts or a settlement.

Preparing and filing a claim that seeks the damages you need is more complicated and time-consuming than it may sound, especially if you have severe injuries with ongoing effects. An attorney can help ensure your claim is prepared and filed as you continue to recover and get your life back in order.

Seek a Fair and Just Resolution of Your Claim

Finally, you can expect your lawyer to pursue a resolution to your case that ensures you get the compensation you deserve. In many car and truck accident cases, that payout would come in the form of a settlement agreement between you and the responsible party. 

If a settlement cannot be reached, you can still rest assured that your attorney will be equipped to take your case to court and fight on your behalf at trial.

Finding the Right Lake Charles Car Accident Law Firm

Searching for “Lake Charles car accident attorneys near me” will yield an overwhelming list of law firms and lawyers to choose from. As such, you need to look for and consult with attorneys who understand their role and the services they should provide to you, including investigating your case, filing your claim, and pursuing a settlement or verdict.

Retaining an experienced and dedicated car accident injury law firm that understands how it should support and represent victims is the first step toward your legal recovery.

Contact our Lake Charles Car Accident Attorneys At Hale Injury Lawyers For a Free Consultation

For more information, please contact an experienced car accident attorney at Hale Injury Lawyers at (337) 888-4253 & schedule a free initial consultation today.

Hale Injury Lawyers
1735 Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 888-4253