If defective back-up signals caused or contributed to your collision and injuries, you may be able to seek compensation and hold the liable party accountable. A Shreveport defective back-up signals accident lawyer can help you if we believe evidence exists to develop a case against the at-fault driver.
The legal team from the Morris Bart law firm in Shreveport will evaluate your case for free if you suffered injuries in the accident. We can answer your questions about our services and determine if we can help you during this consultation. Call now to learn more.
Back-Up Signals Are Required Under Louisiana Law
According to Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) §813, all vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, must have back-up signals. These signals must include two white lights on the rear of the vehicle that only illuminates when the car is in reverse gear. Most vehicles in the United States manufactured since the late 1960s come equipped with these signals, although there may be several reasons why they do not work.
A few of these reasons may include:
Vehicle Owner Neglect
Not having the appropriate reverse signals can cause an accident because it is impossible for other motorists nearby to know when the vehicle is backing up. In most cases, the owner has failed to change the necessary bulbs or otherwise acted negligently. When this occurs, the owner is likely the only liable party.
Faulty Repair of Back-Up Lights
In some cases, those trusted to repair a broken back-up signal fail to do so or disable them while repairing another issue with the vehicle. When this occurs, the mechanic, maintenance team, or garage may be responsible. All victims in the accident, including the vehicle owner, may be allowed to pursue damages.
A Back-Up Light Defective Design or Part
A defective design or manufacturing defects could also play a role. If we have proof that this led to your car accident, the vehicle owner and all other injured parties may pursue compensation from the manufacturer under the Louisiana Products Liability Act.
Our legal team can help you uncover what caused the issue with the back-up lights that led to your car accident and personal injuries. We will assign liability and pursue a payout on your behalf if we believe your case has merit. Contact our law office today to learn more about the legal options that may be available to you.
For a free legal consultation with a Defective Back-Up Signals Accident lawyer serving Shreveport, call 800-537-8185
Determining Liability in Accidents Caused by a Vehicle’s Defect in Back-Up Signals
If our Shreveport accident defective back-up signals accident lawyer accepts your case, we will go to work investigating what happened to prove liability in your case. We will provide the resources needed to thoroughly investigate the accident as we work on a contingency basis. You will not owe any attorney’s fees until we secure compensation for you, either through a settlement or a financial award.
The evidence to prove what caused the absent or damaged back-up light in your accident may come from different places. This evidence could include accident reconstruction, expert witnesses, photos, video of the accident scene, physical evidence analysis, and more. We can explain the claims process, calculate the value of your case, and seek damages on your behalf for an accident in Caddo Parish or Bossier Parish.
Call the Morris Bart law firm in Shreveport, and let us start working on your case.
How Defective Back-Up Signals Cause Accidents
In many situations, we depend on signals from other drivers to let us know their intentions. If you were in an accident because your back-up signal was improperly repaired, another driver was depending on your signal to let them know your intention to back up. If you were injured by another driver with a defective signal, you were relying on their lights to gauge their intentions.
Here are some common scenarios in which a defective signal could cause an accident:
- Another driver doesn’t see you reversing out of a parking spot
- You don’t see another driver backing up because it’s too dark and their lights aren’t functioning
- Other drivers can’t see you reversing from your driveway onto a residential or major street
- A driver can’t tell whether you’re moving forward or backward without the back-up signal
These kinds of accidents can result in whiplash, back and neck, and head injuries for both drivers.
Pursuing Damages for Car Accident Victims in Shreveport
Our injury lawyers will seek compensation for the damages you suffered, which requires us to uncover the expenses and losses you have incurred and place a fair settlement value range on your case. We will then work to negotiate a settlement based on this value. This negotiation could include recovering such damages as:
- Current and future treatment and related medical care and expenses
- Current and future lost income and benefits
- Diminished earning ability
- Property damages
- Loss of services
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Other non-economic damages
If a family member died in a Shreveport traffic collision, you may be eligible to pursue wrongful death damages as well. We will review your case to determine your rights under Louisiana law.
Click to contact our Shreveport Car Accident Attorney today
Louisiana Law Limits Your Time to Take Legal Action Against the At-Fault Party
In most traffic accident cases in Shreveport, we are able to reach a settlement agreement without ever having to go to court. If we plan to file a personal injury lawsuit, Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §3492 only gives us one year following your accident to do so. Sometimes, filing a lawsuit in a Bossier Parish or Caddo Parish civil court, or another appropriate civil court is the only option for holding the at-fault party liable.
If necessary, we will not hesitate to name the party we have identified during our investigation as the defendant in your case. Our personal injury attorney can represent you in court and present evidence to prove negligence to the judge and jury. This lawsuit may allow us to receive a verdict and court award on your behalf.
Get Help from the Office of an Accident Attorney in Shreveport Today
A Shreveport defective back-up signals accident lawyer may be able to build a strong argument for compensation based on the facts of your case, the details of your personal injuries, and the proof of your losses. You can discuss your case with a member of our law office today to learn if you have grounds to take legal action against the liable party.
The Morris Bart law firm has 156 offices and serves Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. If you sustained injuries in a car accident due to a back-up signal defect, we will review your case for free. Contact our law office in Shreveport today.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
