Car Accidents in Louisiana—an Overview
In 2008, 46,500 car accidents in Louisiana led to injuries, and another 820 fatal car accidents caused 915 fatalities. The following is a brief overview of car accidents in Louisiana: how many, who is at fault, and who pays.
Louisiana car accident statistics
Alcohol plays an unfortunate role in Louisiana car accidents:
- Alcohol use was involved in 49 percent of fatal crashes in 2008
- Alcohol use was involved in 9.2 percent of injury crashes in 2008
These numbers remained fairly consistent over the past ten years.
Over the past ten years, fatal crashes were four to six times more likely to occur on rural highways with speed limits of 70 mph than on highways with lower speed limits, and injury crashes were about three times more likely to occur on rural highways.
Louisiana’s Highway Safety Commission, in conjunction with Louisiana State University, publishes detailed data about Louisiana car accidents, for the whole state and by parish.
Fault determination
If you have had the misfortune of being involved in a car accident, speak with a car accident attorney in Louisiana right away. Your Louisiana car accident lawyer will aid the process of determining who is responsible for your injury. Some factors Louisiana car accident attorneys consider include:
- Local traffic regulations
- Both parties’ cell-phone usage
Any Louisiana car accident lawsuit will also depend heavily on the police report, on accident reconstructions, and on the testimony of eyewitnesses.
Medical bills
Basically, whoever caused the accident also pays the bills, with some exceptions. You may have to pay your deductible and health bills until your case is resolved. In the long run, the at-fault party’s insurer will pay your deductible and health costs. If the other motorist did not carry any insurance or enough insurance, your insurer may pick up the slack. And if the accident occurred while you were acting as an employee, workers’ compensation should pick up the tab.
At any rate, your best course of action after an accident is to speak to a Louisiana car accident attorney about determining liability and insurance coverage. Insurers do not usually volunteer to pay the full cost of your medical bills or property damage without some additional lawyerly persuasion.
Consult with savvy car accident attorneys in Louisiana
At the Gaar Law Firm, we have more than four decades combined experience representing car accident victims. We will work with you from the very beginning, from your first communications with the insurance companies, through the resolution of any car accident lawsuit in Louisiana. Contact us today to set up a free consultation and let us help you.
