Covington's trusted car accident lawyer.

We do not recommend that our clients speak directly with the adjuster for the other party's insurance company following an accident. Insurance adjusters are typically trained to ask you questions which benefits the insurance company and not you.  Any statement you make may be recorded and may use against you later.

After suffering car accident injuries caused by another driver's negligence, it's understandable to be concerned about resolving your personal injury claim as soon as possible. However, rushing to settle your case is not always in your best interests.

Factors Affecting Your Car Accident Settlement

Most car accident cases settle out of court.

A number of factors affect how long it takes to settle a car accident claim in Louisiana. The following is a brief overview:

• The extent of your injuries. It is advisable to wait until you have reached maximum medical improvement to settle your case, which takes longer for more serious injuries.
• Whether you have been left permanently disabled. If your injuries have left you with a disability that will require ongoing medical care or affect your ability to return to work, your case will become significantly more complex.
• Liability issues. If one driver is clearly at fault for the accident, a case may be able to be resolved fairly quickly. If liability is not obvious or more than one driver is at fault, the case may take longer to resolve.
• Your willingness to accept an offer. Your case ends as soon as you accept an offer from the insurance company. Offers made early in the process are often lower than what you may be entitled to receive. Some people accept a lowball offer because they are worried about finances or they are eager to put the matter behind them.  This is not advisable.

The Value of Experienced Legal Representation

Before you accept any car accident settlement offer, it can be advantageous to discuss the terms of the settlement with your attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you evaluate the worth of your case to determine if the settlement provides adequate compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other harms and losses.

Once you have accepted a car accident settlement, you are not allowed to ask for more money later on. This means it is vital that you have someone available to advocate for your interests throughout the settlement process.

Contact us today or call us at (985) 590-6182 for a free and confidential consultation from our office located in Covington and serving all areas of the Northshore including St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parish (Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Slidell, Hammond) and the New Orleans metro!

While it may be possible to represent yourself in a car accident claim, whether it is advisable to do so depends on many factors.  Most “fender benders” that do not involve injuries may be handled directly with the at-fault insurance company.  However, if the accident involves substantial vehicle damage or if someone was injured, things can get complicated quickly.  

So, how do you decide whether to hire an experienced car accident attorney or try to handle the claim on your own?  That’s where our DIY CRASH COURSE comes in.  Learn more about our 100% free and confidential DIY CRASH COURSE.

If you were a passenger in a car that causes an accident, you have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if you were a passenger in the vehicle he or she was driving.  It is important to get all the information you can regarding the driver’s car insurance so that a claim may be filed on your behalf.  We have successfully handled claims made by passengers.

Chiropractic treatment is common following a car accident claim, especially when the person experiences soft-tissue injuries.  Chiropractors can be amazing at helping people to get some relief for their pain and manage their injuries.  

Often, a chiropractor may not be covered by health insurance or may not take health insurance following a car accident injury.  In those cases, bills can add up quickly and knowing how they are going to be paid is very important.  

Unfortunately, in a Louisiana car accident claim, the at-fault insurance company is not responsible for paying the chiropractor as you treat.  Instead, the insurance company will typically want to resolve your claim once you have finished treating.  If you are successful in settling your claim, the chiropractor would be paid with a portion of your settlement funds.  

In some cases, an injured victim may have what is called “medical payment or med-pay coverage” with their own auto insurance.  Sometimes, a chiropractor will request to be paid from those funds.  

Police officers investigating a crash have a difficult job.  They have to study the accident scene, interview the parties involved, and write down what they believe happened in their accident report.  If the other driver is lying about what happened, it makes their job harder.  

As frustrating as it may be, the best thing you can do is calmly explain to the officer exactly what happened, being as precise about the facts as possible.  If you had to be rushed to the hospital after an accident, it is important to contact the police officer so that he or she has your side of the story.  

It is also important to take as many pictures and videos of the accident scene as possible.  A picture can say 1,000 words and oftentimes, they reveal how the collision occurred.  Even take pictures and videos of any skid marks.  An accident reconstruction expert may be able to use this evidence later down the road if necessary.

Finally, make a note of any witnesses to the accident, including their names and contact information.  If the other driver is making up stories, it may be a good idea to get affidavits from any witnesses and make sure the police officer takes their information into consideration.

If you received a police report for your accident which is not quite right, call us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your options.

The first few days after a car wreck can be the most frustrating for my clients.  Not only are they in pain and hurting, but a lot of times, they are also out of a vehicle and find themselves suddenly without transportation.  Getting to work is usually the primary concern.

In Louisiana, the at-fault insurance company is responsible for setting up a rental vehicle for you following a wreck.  However, they will not set up the rental until they have investigated the accident and accepted responsibility.  Typically, an insurance adjuster will say that they are waiting for the police report or waiting to get in touch with their insured before they can start the rental process.  

We have been successful in expediting the rental car process by actively communicating with insurance adjusters and making sure they have all the information about the wreck, as soon as possible.  

If you have rental coverage on your own vehicle, a faster way to get the rental car is to go through your own insurance coverage.  That way, you don’t have to wait on the at-fault insurance company.  

Frustrated and without transportation? If you can’t come to us, we will come to you!

Car accidents can be complicated and sometimes, more than one person may be at fault for causing the wreck. In Louisiana, we have what’s known as “comparative fault.” This means that a person can recover for their personal injuries, even if they were partially responsible for causing the wreck.

For instance, if it is determined that someone is 50% responsible for causing a wreck, they can still collect 50% of their damages. Also, if the other person had the reasonable opportunity to avoid the wreck, but didn’t, you may still prevail in a personal injury claim, regardless of fault. In Louisiana, this is called the “last clear chance doctrine.” Many factors go into the success or failure of a personal injury case.

At Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, we examine each of our clients’ cases from every angle.

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The admission of a driver for causing an accident is certainly an important factor in deciding whether you have a case.  Other factors include the exact circumstances of the wreck, including your own actions, and also the significance of the damages and injuries you incurred as a result of the car wreck.  

When considering a party’s admission of fault following a car accident, it is important to note when the admission was said (ie. was it right after the accident?), whether it was verbal or written down, and the witnesses to the statement.  These are important factors when considering if the admission can be used later on in court as evidence.

At an initial consultation, we typically ask our clients about the specific things they remember right after an accident, including if any statements were made by the other driver or if the other driver seemed disoriented or intoxicated.  Noting these facts at the beginning of a case can aid greatly in its success.

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Parking lot collisions are common.  It is very unpleasant to walk out of the grocery store to find that your parked car has been hit.  So, what do you do if your car was hit while parked?

The steps to take after your parked car is hit is the same as any other accident.  First, call the police and report the incident.  If anyone was in the car and is injured, report that to the police and if necessary, request emergency assistance.  Note that for minor accidents on private property (like grocery store parking lots or in subdivisions), police may refuse to respond to the incident.  If they do, be sure to note the time of your call and to whom you spoke, so that you can document that you attempted to call the police.  

Second, take as many pictures and videos as possible of the vehicle damage and accident scene.  This will be the only time you can capture that evidence, which may be important, especially if the other person’s insurance company is denying responsibility.  

Third, make sure to collect the other person’s information, including their name, contact information, insurance company, and insurance policy number.  This will allow you to file a claim without having to wait on a police report.  

Other tips include looking around the parking lot for surveillance video and asking for a copy of the video showing the incident.  If the accident happens in a store parking lot, you may even ask the store to document it by filling out an incident report.