Chalmette Car Accident Lawyer

Chalmette Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are often traumatic, leading to injury, property damage, and serious long-term consequences. When you were not at fault for the accident, you could recover all of your damages from the at-fault party’s insurer. A Chalmette car accident lawyer is an essential ally during this process.

At Hammond Law Firm, LLC, we can represent your interests during each part of the claims process after a car accident. For nearly 17 years, our firm has worked with communities throughout southeast Louisiana.

Having a dedicated personal injury lawyer in Chalmette after an accident means you are more likely to recover maximum damages from the claim. There are many benefits to working with an experienced attorney after a car accident. Your attorney can investigate the accident, determine the cause, identify the at-fault party, and build a strong case for you. They can negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company.

Our team has over 40 years of legal experience, including case results from $150,000 to $700,000 in motor vehicle and truck accident claims. We understand the stress of these situations. Let us minimize your stress and recover the financial compensation you deserve.

How Is Someone Liable for a Car Accident?

Someone is liable for a car accident in Chalmette when they breach their duty of care, and an individual is injured as a result. The most frequently liable party in car accidents is one or more of the drivers in the accident. However, other parties may breach their duty of care, such as the manufacturer of a car part that makes and sells an unreasonably dangerous product.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can include:

• Eating
• Drinking
• Talking
• Texting
• Messing with entertainment systems and GPS
• Daydreaming

In St. Bernard Parish, crashes caused by distracted or inattentive driving led to numerous injury crashes in 2024, including ten suspected serious injuries and 44 suspected minor injuries. Distracted or inattentive driving also led to two fatal injuries.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol is incredibly dangerous. In 2024, alcohol was involved in three of the seven vehicle accident fatalities in St. Bernard Parish, along with 30 of the 385 suspected injuries. When a driver operates their vehicle under the influence and causes an accident, they can face criminal charges and a civil case from people injured in the crash.

Speeding

Driving over the speed limit makes accidents more likely, and it increases the damages from any that occur.

Fatigued Driving

Driving while tired limits your reaction speeds and decision-making abilities almost as severely as driving impaired. This increases the risk of an accident and can make a fatigued driver liable for driving in this condition. Fatigued drivers may even fall asleep at the wheel, potentially leading to head-on collisions.

Vehicle Malfunctions

Defects and malfunctions of important car components can lead to accidents. A driver may be liable for not getting the maintenance they needed, or a car manufacturer may be liable for selling a defective or unreasonably dangerous car part.

What You Should Do After a Car Accident

After a car accident, it is important to report the accident. If anyone is injured or a certain amount of property damage has been done, you are legally required to report the accident. If you are unsure whether your accident should be reported, it is better to be safe and do so.

Wait at the accident for emergency medical care and local law enforcement. Receive medical care, document the accident, and provide information for a police report when requested. Do not admit fault for the accident or speculate on the cause. The police report will be important evidence to retrieve later. The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Headquarters is located at 2 Courthouse Square, and the Patrol Station is located at 4700 Paris Road.

When you can leave the accident, you should go to your medical provider for additional treatment, contact a car accident attorney, and report the accident to your insurance.

FAQs

Q: What Are Most Lawyers’ Fees for a Car Accident?

A: Most lawyer fees for a car accident are contingency fees. This means the attorney receives a percentage of the final settlement or trial verdict when they win your case. If they don’t win your case, you don’t owe them attorney’s fees. This method enables injured people, who are already worried about their finances, to secure the legal support they need to maximize their compensation. The amount of a contingency fee will vary.

Q: What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Louisiana?

A: Every car accident settlement in Louisiana will be different, so knowing the average doesn’t help you evaluate your unique damages.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average cost of unintentional motor vehicle occupant injuries in 2023 was $266,728, on average, in the U.S. when the injury resulted in hospitalization. This included work loss, medical, and quality-of-life costs. However, your unique accident and injuries could result in a higher or lower settlement.

Q: What Evidence Do I Need for a Car Accident Claim?

A: The evidence you need for a car accident claim may include:

• Photos and videos of the accident and your injuries
• Employment information, including wages and usual hours worked
• Police accident reports
• Medical documentation
• Eyewitness statements
• Professional testimony

Your evidence must prove that another party owed you a duty of care, failed to uphold that duty of care, and caused your accident through that failure. You must also prove that the accident caused you calculable damages.

Q: What Is the Maximum You Can Recover in a Car Accident Claim?

A: The most you can recover in a car accident claim is generally the total amount of economic and non-economic damages you suffered. You could recover exemplary damages in certain drunk driving cases, but this is rare.

An attorney can determine the full cost of your economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage. The damages you can recover may also be reduced if you are partially liable.

Protecting Your Financial Interests in Chalmette

After a car accident, it is important that you act fast. Many insurance companies require you to report accidents as soon as possible, and it is important that you do so with the support of a knowledgeable attorney. Contact Hammond Law Firm, LLC, today.