Across the nation, drunk driving kills one person every 52 minutes. Before any driver gets their license, they receive education about the dangers of driving under the influence (DUI) and must acknowledge that this behavior is illegal. If any person causes an accident while under the influence behind the wheel, you can hold them responsible for your damages.
Don’t let a drunk driver get away with the accident they caused. Our drunk driving accident lawyers in Houma can help you win a settlement. With years of experience on our side, the lawyers at Morris Bart have helped thousands of clients get the compensation they deserve.
Louisiana Is an At-Fault State
Louisiana doesn’t have no-fault rules for car accidents. This means that the law entitles you to file a claim against the negligent party responsible for your accident. However, the right to file a claim doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to receive a settlement. You will still have to prove fault during negotiations or at trial.
Proving fault is essential for any DUI case, no matter how clear it may seem. You must be less than 50% responsible for your accident. Anything above that and you can’t file a claim. In addition, any percentage you are responsible for will get deducted from your final settlement total. This is why it’s critical that you prepare well for your claim.
For a free legal consultation with a Drunk Driving Accident lawyer serving Houma, call (985) 900-1195
How Can a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Even though you don’t need a lawyer to file a claim and negotiate for a settlement, that doesn’t mean you should proceed without one. Trying to fight for your claim alone puts you at a disadvantage against the insurance company. Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Houma can help you in various ways.
Building a Strong Case for Your Claim
To prove negligence and fault successfully, you’ll need strong evidence backing your case. Our drunk driving accident lawyers will help you build a strong case by:
- Obtaining police reports and medical records
- Conducting interviews with any witnesses that saw your accident to get their testimony
- Consulting with experts in various fields to show that your accident wasn’t your fault
Remember, insurance companies never play fair. They will always try to spin your drunk driving accident case into somehow being your fault. We will ensure that they don’t do this and that you get fairly compensated.
Handling the Insurance Company
It may seem like insurance companies are in your best interests and want things resolved quickly on your behalf. While it’s true that insurance companies want things to get resolved quickly, it’s never going to be on your behalf.
Insurance companies will use any means legally available to them to trip you up and get you to admit fault to your accident. Alternatively, they may try to get you to settle fast for an extremely lowball settlement offer. Before you talk to the insurance company or accept any deal made by them, our lawyers will handle it for you to ensure you get the best settlement possible.
Calculating Your Damages
Calculation of your damages may seem like an easy task, but many drunk driving accident victims overlook several damages they sustained. They may believe that their damages aren’t worth pursuing compensation for or falsely believe them to be miniscule. Our lawyers will calculate all your damages accurately and ensure nothing gets left out.
Getting Compensation for Your Drunk Driving Accident Damages
There are several types of damages you can recover compensation for after a drunk driving accident:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses such as prescriptions, medical equipment, hospital stays, etc.
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death
- Disability and disfigurement
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Vehicle repairs and replacement
Even if some of the damages you sustained aren’t listed above, don’t worry. This is only a small list of the most common damages our Houma drunk driving accident lawyers recover for their clients. As long as your drunk driving accident caused your damages, we will help you get them compensated.
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Punitive Damages Available for Drunk Driving Accidents
In addition to the compensatory damages you can receive compensation for, it’s possible that you can also receive an additional reward for punitive damages. Punitive damages act as punishment for the drunk driver for their negligence to discourage future DUI incidents. Not all cases will receive punitive damages, but if yours can, our lawyers will ensure you receive them.
Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Accidents in Houma
Drunk driving accidents in Houma have a general statute of limitations of one year according to the Louisiana Civil Code (LCC) § 3492. One year isn’t a lot of time to get your affairs in order. It’s best to file a claim as soon as possible when the accident and any evidence associated with it is still fresh.
While you shouldn’t blindly rush into filing a claim without building a strong case first, that doesn’t mean you have all the time in the world either. Waiting too long to file puts your claim at serious risk of losing against the insurance company. Get strong legal representation as soon as possible after your accident.
Do I Have to Pay Legal Fees Upfront?
At Morris Bart, none of our lawyers will request fees from you upfront. We operate with only one goal in mind, to ensure that you get a settlement that covers all the damages you sustained. Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Houma only get paid if we recover compensation for you at the end of your case. If we can’t recover compensation, you owe us nothing for our services.
Get a Free Consultation With Morris Bart, LLC Today
The Houma drunk driving accident attorneys at Morris Bart, LLC are here to help. You can schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers for a free case review and consultation. There is zero obligation or risk when you get in touch with us. We are available 24/7. You can contact us online or over the phone at any time.
Questions?Call (985) 900-1195
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
