auto accidents
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OVERVIEW OF LOUISIANA AUTO ACCIDENTS
Despite heightened awareness about the importance of roadway safety, vast law enforcement efforts, and increasingly more standard vehicle safety features, accidents — and the injuries and deaths they cause — continue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 37,150 people were killed in U.S. motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2017, a number fairly close to 37,461 from the prior year. Over 4.5 million people required medical attention after being injured in a vehicle accident in 2017. In Louisiana, there were approximately 757 fatalities in 2016 resulting from vehicle crashes.
LOUISIANA AUTO INSURANCE
All registered vehicles in the state must maintain liability insurance. The minimum requirements are $15,000 for injuries to one person, $30,000 for injuries to multiple people, and $25,000 for damage to property.
Liability insurance prevents the insured from potentially having to pay for the injuries or damage to others out of his or her own pocket. Those persons found to be operating a vehicle without having the required insurance coverage are subject to fines and other penalties.
AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS IN LOUISIANA
As previously suggested, those involved in major accidents with injuries should consult an attorney. You and your attorney will review your claim. Your attorney may need to prove who the at-fault party is.
In a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff must satisfy a burden of proof, which generally shows that a party demonstrated negligence and these actions were the cause of the injuries and/or property damage. Compiling strong evidence may be critical. Evidence includes:
- Photos of damage or injuries
- Statements from witnesses
- Medical records, and more
ASCENSION PARISH, LA INSURANCE CLAIMS OVERVIEW
Most auto insurance companies adhere to some broad or general procedures in response to personal injury claims. You may communicate with a member of the claims management staff, often called a claims adjuster, claims handler, or claims representative.
Keep in mind that insurers are businesses that must seek to minimize claim payouts. Although the representative may have good intentions, he or she is still accountable for the best interests of the insurer. When a party has more than simply minor injuries and/or property damage, it is highly recommended that you consult with a seasoned attorney that practices in the realm of personal injury.
MEDICAL COSTS OF AUTO ACCIDENTS
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the 30,000+ annual U.S. traffic fatalities result in approximately $44 billion in medical expenses and work losses. In Louisiana, these annual costs may exceed $1 billion. The Insurance Research Council says medical costs from auto accidents continue to outpace the rate of inflation.
Life-altering or permanent injuries are particularly costly.
Victims may require long rehabilitation periods to walk again, regain usage of a limb, or be capable of completing ordinary day-to-day tasks.
Specialty care, like physical or occupational therapy, is often needed.
Long-term future medical costs may be incurred for ongoing medication regimens, orthotics, medical equipment, and mobility products, etc.
Future costs are potentially recoverable in civil injury actions as damages that require the calculation.
POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURIES IN LOUISIANA AUTO ACCIDENTS
There are a host of potential injuries that can occur in a crash. Some of the more severe possible injuries include:
- Head/Facial: Trauma to the head region can potentially result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain damage can create a variety of problems, including a blood clot in the brain that could be fatal or impairment of key cognitive functions — like speech, vision, and sense of touch.
- Spinal: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can cause devastating neurological impairments. A severely injured individual could experience some degree of paralysis, like an inability to control an arm or leg.
- Loss of a limb: A loss of limb is an especially severe and difficult injury that creates serious physical impairment and psychological and mental pain and suffering.
- Internal damage: Damage, like a punctured vital organ or serious internal bleeding, could have potentially fatal consequences.
COMMON CAUSES OF AUTO ACCIDENTS IN LOUISIANA
There are a number of common causes of auto accidents in Louisiana that correlate to common causes throughout the U.S. Below is a brief discussion on some of these causes.
INTOXICATED DRIVERS
In 2016 in Louisiana, approximately 334 people were killed in vehicle accidents involving intoxicated drivers. These crashes accounted for nearly 40% of the overall total of traffic deaths. Nationally, about one in three fatal crashes involve alcohol consumption. Except for Utah, all U.S. states prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher. The penalties for those found to be operating under the influence have been heightened, particularly in the last few decades.
Louisiana is among the states that execute sobriety checkpoints in an attempt to keep drunk drivers off the roads.
“DRUGGED” DRIVING
Many accidents are also attributed to those motorists under the influence of drugs other than alcohol. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety has recently approved kits for the detection of drugs in a driver’s blood or urine. Drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, and various prescription drug products are among the most common. Louisiana recently was ranked third for the number of fatalities from accidents involving drivers under the influence of drugs.
DISTRACTED DRIVERS
In recent years the problem with drivers failing to remain focused on the task of driving has emerged. The injuries and fatalities that are a result of distractions have largely been attributed to the majority of Americans using mobile devices.
Between 2011 and 2015 in Louisiana, there were an estimated 192 traffic fatalities and 26,977 injuries caused by distracted drivers. Examples of distraction include:
Using newer onboard vehicle electronics
Eating or drinking
Tending to children, and/or
Texting while driving.
Because distracted driving has become a serious problem in recent years, Louisiana lawmakers have implemented penalties for it (e.g., texting while driving).
CARELESS DRIVERS
Another major concern involves drivers who are simply operating in a manner that is careless or reckless. Examples include:
Traveling well in excess of the speed limit
Changing lanes without looking or using signals
Demonstrating acts of “road rage,” and/or
Operating a vehicle that is unsafe (i.e. failing brakes or a malfunctioning power steering system).
How can we help you
Our team is ready
We, at the Law Offices of Scott Dupaquier, LLC, choose to practice personal injury law in Ascension Parish, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans because we want to give accident victims a voice. Insurance companies will do everything in their power to minimize the amount they have to pay after an accident. Although an offer may sound attractive, you should keep in mind that the tactics employed by these companies are designed to trick you into accepting less than what you are owed.
We want to help protect you.
Give us a call
225-627-3636