Shreveport Auto Accident Lawyer
An auto accident can upend your life. Odds are that everybody will be involved in at least one auto accident during their lifetime, and probably more than that. Most of the time, thankfully, these are accidents we can walk away from with little or no medical issues. But this is not always the case. Thousands of auto accidents happen each year in Shreveport-Bossier City alone. Hundreds are injured, and more than a dozen people die every year in Shreveport-Bossier City auto accidents. When the crash is more than minor, when you or loved ones suffer a catastrophic injury or you lose a beloved family member, the injury lawyers at Rice & Kendig can recover significant compensation to help you deal with the physical and emotional injuries, challenges and pain such an accident can bring. Call Rice & Kendig after an auto accident in Shreveport-Bossier City or North Louisiana. Our Shreveport auto accident lawyers will support you, take care of you, and help you get the compensation you need and deserve after you’ve been injured in an auto accident caused by the negligence of another.
- Bicycle Accidents
- Brain Injury
- Car Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Rear-End Collision
- Rollover Accidents
- Spine Injury
- Truck Accidents
- T-Bone Accidents
- Uninsured Driver Accidents
- Wrongful Death
What Kind of Compensation Can I Recover for a Shreveport-Bossier City Auto Accident?
Financial recovery for another’s negligence is known as “damages.” Damages fall into several different categories, including economic and non-economic compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages. After an auto accident in Louisiana, Rice & Kendig can help you get compensation for all of the damages that apply to you, including the following:
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to the direct economic loss you have suffered or will suffer because of the crash. Economic damages can be reasonably calculated using receipts for doctor visits, medical reports, repair bills, etc. Economic damages you can receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses (doctor visits, hospital bills, prescriptions, health aides and equipment, etc.)
- Lost wages or income for the time you missed from work due to the wreck
- Loss of earning capacity if you are disabled from working in the future or your earning capacity is diminished
- Damage to your vehicle or other property, such as a laptop computer, cell phone or other property in the car that was damaged
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for other harm you suffered or will suffer because of the accident. Non-economic damages are more subjective and can be harder to calculate. Rice & Kendig will build a case that proves and justifies the particular amount of non-economic damages you should recover based on the facts of the auto accident and the consequences it has inflicted on your life. Non-economic damages include, for example:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of marital relations with a spouse (loss of consortium)
- Loss of companionship, society or affection with a parent or child
- Loss of enjoyment in life/Diminished quality of life
Punitive Damages
The focus of punitive damages is on punishing the negligent driver for especially bad behavior, rather than compensating you for the harm done to you. In Louisiana, punitive damages in an auto accident are limited to situations where you are hit by a drunk driver whose intoxication caused the crash.
Wrongful Death Damages
Damages in a wrongful death action are somewhat different since the harmed party, in this case, is the surviving family member, and the damages suffered are particular to them. See our page on wrongful death for information on what is recoverable and how those claims work.
What Should I Do if I’ve Been in an Auto Accident in Shreveport-Bossier City?
Stay at the scene and render aid if you can. Leaving the scene, even if the accident weren’t your fault, is against the law and could hurt your claim against the negligent driver who caused the accident.
Call the police or 911 to report the accident.
Move the vehicles to the side of the road, if possible to do so safely. Get yourself to a safe position out of traffic regardless.
Exchange information with the other driver, including name, phone number or email, driver’s license number, and insurance information. Provide the name of your insurance company and policy number, but don’t offer information about how much coverage you have or make statements like, “I’m fully covered.” These days, much information can be exchanged by taking pictures of documents on each other’s cell phones. It is also best to avoid getting into a discussion or argument over who caused the crash, and it is advisable to avoid making statements that could be perceived as admitting guilt, including saying “I’m sorry” or apologizing for the wreck.
If possible, take pictures of the scene, including the damage to both vehicles, injuries, marks on the roadway, property destruction, etc. Take pictures from different angles. If you can take pictures before you move the vehicles, this is preferable, but safety should be your number one concern after a wreck, not collecting or preserving evidence.
If there are witnesses to the accident, try to get their names and contact information and a statement from them about what they saw, or urge them to stick around until the police arrive.
If you are hurt, go to the hospital right away. If you are not treated at the scene and you don’t go to the hospital, see a doctor as soon as you can within the next few days. Tell the doctor about the accident so you can get checked out appropriately. If the doctor recommends any follow-up treatment or physical therapy, be sure to keep your appointments and follow the doctor’s advice.
Call an experienced Shreveport-Bossier City auto accident attorney for guidance and support. At Rice & Kendig, we can help you find a doctor, get a rental car, and get started on a claim for compensation.
Call either your insurance company or the other driver’s insurer. The insurance carrier will likely want to take a recorded statement from you on this call or a later call. You need to notify the insurance company promptly after a crash (within a day or two), but it is best to speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement. Insurance companies can use such statements to limit their liability. If you call Rice & Kendig first, we can make the call for you or help you prepare for the call.
Call Our Dedicated Injury Lawyers After an Auto Accident in Shreveport-Bossier City
If an auto accident in Shreveport-Bossier City or North Louisiana hurt you or your loved one, call Rice & Kendig for a free consultation at 318-222-2772. Our skilled and experienced personal injury attorneys are here for you in your time of need.
