If an intoxicated motorist caused your Baton Rouge traffic accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for the harm you suffered. A Baton Rouge drunk driving accident lawyer from Morris Bart may be able to file an auto insurance claim or civil suit to hold the at-fault driver responsible for your accident.
Let a member of our staff evaluate your case at no cost. We fight to protect accident victims from further losses, so you will never pay anything upfront for our representation. We represent our clients on a contingency-fee-basis, where we only receive attorney’s fees if our team recovers a payout for you.
Call (225) 341-5694 now to discuss your Baton Rouge drunk driving accident with a Morris Bart team member.
Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers May Be Able to Build a Case for Compensation
If there is evidence to prove that a drunk driver caused your accident, a Baton Rouge drunk driving accident lawyer from Morris Bart may be able to build a case that demonstrates the responsible driver’s liability. Legal liability may enable you to recover compensation for the damages you suffered.
The damages recoverable in this type of case could include:
- Current and future medical care costs and other related expenses
- Lost wages and lost benefits, and reduced ability to earn if you do not return to your previous job
- Property damages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Current and future pain and suffering and other intangible damages
While these recoverable types of damages are fairly typical, the value of your case and the specific damages included will differ. No “average” car accident settlement exists because they are all different. The Baton Rouge car accident lawyers at Morris Bart may be able to uncover additional damages you sustained and hold the drunk driver responsible for those, as well. The key is the documentation we uncover and compile to argue your losses, expenses, and harm.
This documentation is how we value your case and demonstrate your losses to the insurance company, court, or other parties.
To learn more about how these cases work and how we may be able to help you, call Morris Bart today at (225) 341-5694.
For a free legal consultation with a Drunk Driving Accident lawyer serving Baton Rouge, call 800-537-8185
Louisiana Drunk Driving Laws
Under Louisiana RS 14:98, drivers in Louisiana may receive a charge of “operating a vehicle while intoxicated,” or OWI, for several reasons. This includes:
- Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
- Driving under the influence of illegal drugs
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and over-the-counter or prescription drugs
This OWI law covers anyone operating a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, aircraft, or most other types of motorized vehicles. While technically the term is “OWI” in Louisiana, many people use other terms to describe the same illegal activity, including drunk driving, driving while intoxicated (DWI), or driving under the influence (DUI).
No matter what you call it, the driver who hit you may face arrest, criminal charges, and criminal penalties if convicted. However, it is important to remember that those charges are part of a criminal case. In contrast, it is in a civil case where you stand to recover your losses, and you may be able to recover compensation in a civil case even if the drunk driver is not convicted of a crime.
Proving Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident Case
Overwhelmingly clear evidence and an OWI conviction against the drunk driver who hit you may help us navigate the civil system. Still, a conviction is not necessary to win financial recovery. Instead, we only need to show four things:
- The driver had a duty to do something or not do something to keep others on the roads safe, such as obeying traffic laws
- The driver failed to do that
- The driver’s failure resulted in an accident
- You suffered physical and financial harm as a result of the accident
This means we may be able to prove your case without even showing the at-fault driver was drunk when they caused your collision. In many car accident cases, liability is established simply by proving that the at-fault driver caused the accident by violating a traffic rule.
If you believe another driver’s negligence caused your accident, call Morris Bart today for a free consultation on your case.
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There Are Time Limits on Filing Louisiana Personal Injury Suits
Under Louisiana. C.C. Article 3492, car accident victims generally have a one-year statute of limitations, or legal time limit, on how long they can file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana. If you wait too long and allow this time limit to expire, it could prevent you from recovering compensation in a lawsuit.
Call Morris Bart today to discuss your case’s specific deadlines and how to get started.
Call Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers Today
If you suffered injuries in a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver, a Baton Rouge drunk driving accident lawyer from Morris Bart may be able to protect your rights and pursue damages on your behalf.
Allow our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys to handle all investigating, communications, and negotiations on your behalf. We will answer your questions and update you on your case throughout our work. If the responsible party’s insurance company is unwilling to offer you a fair settlement, we can take your case to trial.
Call (225) 341-5694 today to speak with a Morris Bart team member in a free case review.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
