After a car crash in Lafayette, the thought of managing a claim and trying to figure out the legal process, all while healing from your injuries, can be overwhelming. Hiring a skilled and experienced injury lawyer can make all the difference to the outcome of your claim. But what exactly happens after you hire an attorney?
At Galloway Jefcoat, our team is here to protect your rights and support you through every part of the process. We turn wrong into right every day for injured victims, something we have been doing for decades. Our clients count on our experienced Lafayette car crash lawyers to recover the compensation they need and deserve.
Do you need legal help today? Call our trusted law firm in Lafayette to see how we can help.
Call Galloway Jefcoat today: 337-984-8020 for a FREE case review.
What Will My Car Accident Lawyer Do First After Being Hired?
Your injury lawyer in Lafayette will immediately take several crucial first steps to protect your rights and begin building your case. These steps include sending letters of representation to the liable insurance company, which effectively stops them from contacting you directly. Our team will also work with you to begin gathering documents and other evidence we need to build the foundation of your claim.
At Galloway Jefcoat, we initiate a thorough investigation right away because evidence can disappear, get lost, overwritten or destroyed in a matter of days after a crash occurs. Surveillance footage, for instance, is generally overwritten every few days. We obtain a legal order to ensure that evidence gets preserved.
What Documents Do I Need to Gather for My Lafayette Car Accident Claim?
While your Galloway Jefcoat attorney handles most of the legal paperwork, we’ll need your help gathering certain personal documents that strengthen your Lafayette car accident claim. These records provide crucial evidence that connects your injuries to the crash and documents your financial losses. The sooner you collect these items, the faster we can move your claim forward.
Police Report
You should obtain a copy of your car accident report as soon as it is available. Once your police report has been filed, be sure to request a copy from the Lafayette Police Department or Louisiana State Police.
Photos as Evidence
Taking the right photos immediately after your car accident creates powerful visual evidence for your Lafayette car crash claim. It is important to note that sometimes this is not possible due to how badly you are injured and also whether it is safe to do so.
Any images you can capture of the crash scene from the safety of your vehicle may be useful. Immediate images often speak louder than words, and within hours, the initial debris and evidence will be cleared away. That said, you should never put yourself or others in harm’s way to grab photos. Images provide hard evidence that is harder for insurance companies to dispute.
Some especially useful images from the crash include:
- Wide-angle shots showing all vehicles’ positions and the entire accident scene
- Close-up images of vehicle damage to your car and other vehicles involved
- Photos of skid marks, debris, or fluid spills on Lafayette roads
- Images of traffic signals, signs, or road conditions that contributed to the crash
- Pictures of visible injuries like cuts, bruises, or swelling
- Photos of the other driver’s license plate, insurance card, and driver’s license
- Images of surrounding landmarks that help establish the exact Lafayette location
- Daily progression photos of injuries as they heal or worsen
- Pictures of medical equipment you now use (crutches, braces, wheelchairs)
- Photos showing how your injuries affect your daily life in Lafayette
Some of these photos can be captured later, such as close-ups of vehicle damage and landmarks.
Medical Records Related to the Crash and Your Injuries
If the insurance company reaches out to you before you engage an attorney, they are likely to ask you to sign an authorization for the release of your medical records. However, they do not have a right to your full medical history. Your attorney can protect your rights and confidential information by making sure the only medical records released are those related to the car crash and injuries.
Proof of Lost Wages
Your proof of lost wages caused by injuries sustained in the car crash should include pay stubs, tax statements and a written statement from your employer indicating what you were making at the time the incident occurred.
Additional Documents
Our Galloway Jefcoat legal team help you to gather additional evidence that can strengthen your claim. Some evidence, like medical costs and out-of-pocket expenses, must be tracked ongoing until you have completed your treatment. We can guide you on how to preserve and track this evidence appropriately.
These additional documents may include, but are not limited to:
- Driver’s license, insurance policies and contact details of all drivers involved
- Vehicle repair estimates or bills from Lafayette auto shops
- Medical costs for treatments, follow-up appointments, diagnostics, surgeries, prescriptions and more
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as for transportation to and from your appointments
What Is My Lafayette Attorney’s Investigation Process for a Car Crash?
After taking your case, we will examine the crash site for unique factors. If there are witnesses, we will try to speak with them as soon as possible – before they begin to forget key details. Another immediate step involves checking for and obtaining available security footage from nearby businesses, surveillance cameras or dashcams.
For crashes on busy roads, like Johnston Street in the heart of Lafayette’s retail district, we check to see if similar accidents have happened there before. This thorough approach builds the foundation for a strong case. We need compelling evidence to clearly establish the cause of the crash and who is liable for the damages. In complex cases that need more in-depth analysis, we may sometimes need to bring in an accident reconstruction specialist.
Do I Need to Keep Seeing My Doctor After Hiring a Lawyer?
Yes, it is vital to your case that you continue seeing your doctor regularly until your medical team discharges you from treatment. Your ongoing medical visits not only ensure an optimal recovery, but they also create an official record of your injuries. When you miss appointments and ignore your doctor’s recommended care plan, it can severely your case. From the point of the liable insurance company, this behavior suggests that your injuries are not serious. Therefore, you should follow the treatment plans exactly as prescribed by your Lafayette healthcare providers. Your health comes first, and proper medical documentation strengthens your claim.
Medical Records Build the Foundation of Your Claim
It is important to keep top of mind throughout your recovery that your medical records serve as the cornerstone evidence in your Lafayette car accident claim. Your initial visit directly links your injuries to the crash, and your ongoing treatment records justify your request for compensation.
Detailed records from your initial ER visit at Ochsner Lafayette General or Our Lady of Lourdes, for instance, show the severity of your injuries right after the crash. Your medical records also include your diagnosis, the treatments you received and the doctor’s estimated recovery timeline.
Insurance companies scrutinize these records closely when evaluating your claim. Our experienced lawyers at Galloway Jefcoat know which medical details are relevant to the crash, support claim and how to present them effectively to maximize your settlement.
When Can I Expect the Insurance Company to Contact Me About My Crash?
The other driver’s insurance company will likely contact you within days of your Lafayette accident. However, once you engage our legal services, these calls stop immediately. We send formal representation letters that legally require insurers to direct all communication through our office instead of bothering you. This protection prevents insurance adjusters from tricking you into statements that hurt your claim. If you receive any calls after hiring us, simply refer them to your attorney and take no further action.
How Will My Lawyer Handle the Insurance Company?
Your lawyer will ensure your rights are protected and negotiate to secure a fair settlement. Here are some ways a lawyer will work with the insurance companies:
- Manage all interactions with the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Review the insurance policy to identify coverage details and limits
- Ensure that you do not accept a low settlement offer
- Respond to requests for information from your own insurance company
- Protect you from tactics used by insurance companies to minimize their payout
State Insurance Laws That Could Affect Your Car Crash Settlement
Louisiana follows a “pure comparative fault” system that directly impacts your Lafayette car accident settlement. This means there is no threshold limiting your recover. You can seek compensation for your damages even if you are partially at fault. That said, your compensation decreases by the percentage of fault assessed against you. Louisiana also has a shorter one-year deadline to file lawsuits, unlike most states’ two-year limits. Our state’s “direct action” law allows you to sue insurance companies directly in certain situations. Lafayette parish juries typically award different settlement amounts than other Louisiana regions.
At Galloway Jefcoat, we understand these local legal nuances and how they apply to your specific case circumstances.
How Long Will It Take to Settle My Lafayette Car Crash Claim?
Most Lafayette car accident claims settle within months, though complex cases may take much longer. The timeline depends on several factors, including:
- The severity of your injuries and how long it takes you to reach Maximum Medical improvement
- How well the insurance company cooperates
- Whether your case is straightforward or highly complex
Galloway Jefcoat works efficiently to resolve your claim as quickly as possible without sacrificing fair compensation. We keep you updated throughout the process, which means you will never have to wonder about the status of your case.
Will I Need to Go to Court for My Car Crash Case?
The vast majority of Lafayette car accident claims settle without ever going to trial. We are skilled negotiators and are able to resolve most cases with insurance companies. This approach saves you time, stress, and court costs while still securing appropriate compensation.
It is worth mentioning that Galloway Jefcoat prepares every case as if it will go to trial. This approach helps to motivate insurers to offer fair settlements. We only recommend court if an insurance company refuses to make a reasonable offer for your Lafayette accident injuries.
Injured in a Lafayette Car Crash? Take the Next Step and Call Galloway Jefcoat
If you are ready to take action after a car accident, our attorneys at Galloway Jefcoat are here to help. We understand how difficult the aftermath of a car accident can be for our clients and their families. We have a compassionate and skilled team who are ready to fight for your rights and handle all the stress so you can put your focus towards your health and recovery.
Remember, the sooner you call us, the sooner we can start working to secure the compensation you need and deserve. We take injury cases on contingency, which means you pay nothing upfront to hire our services.
We Turn Wrong into Right for You. Call 337-984-8020 today.
June 11, 2021