Terrebonne Parish Car Accident Lawyer

Terrebonne Parish Car Accident Attorney

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most frequent causes of personal injuries. Any accident can be very traumatic, especially when you have significant financial losses and physical pain from injuries. When another driver or party is the cause of your accident, you can recover these losses. A Terrebonne Parish car accident lawyer can help you navigate the insurance and civil claims processes, helping you protect your financial future.

Hammond Law Firm, LLC: Supporting You in the Aftermath of a Car Accident

Filing an insurance claim should be straightforward, but insurance companies do not want to pay full and fair claims. These companies may try to undermine your claim in numerous ways. By working with an experienced car accident attorney, you can determine the true value of your damages. Your attorney will only accept a settlement that fairly compensates you for your losses.

At Hammond Law Firm, LLC, we fight for you. When a driver, manufacturer, or other party is to blame for your accident, we hold them and their insurer accountable. We want to help you get the financial recovery you need to support your physical recovery and return to your life.

A car accident can leave you with significant medical bills and without the ability to earn income. These losses should be compensated when someone else’s negligence caused the collision. Our team has over 40 years of combined legal experience, and we can fiercely fight for your interests, bringing compassionate and reliable representation.

How Do You Prove Liability in a Car Accident?

After a crash, you can file an insurance or civil claim against the driver who is to blame for the accident or their insurance provider. Involved insurance companies will conduct their own investigations to determine liability and review the cause of the accident and whether any negligence or misconduct led to that cause.

There are four elements you need to prove to hold a driver or other party liable for a car accident:

1. Duty of care: The alleged liable party must have owed you a duty of care. The level of duty of care depends on whether the individual was a driver, product manufacturer, mechanic, or other party. Typically, drivers owe each other a duty of care to obey traffic laws and consider the safety of others.
2. Breach of duty: The party breached their duty of care through negligent, reckless, or illegal actions. They may have been distracted, ran a red light, or failed to yield the right-of-way.
3. Direct cause: The individual’s breach of duty must have directly caused the accident and your injuries. Proof of negligence is insufficient if the accident was caused entirely by other factors.
4. Damages: You sustained economic and noneconomic damages as a result of your injuries and other damages.

Securing proof of all these elements is much simpler when you have legal representation who can conduct an investigation. The insurance companies that investigate the accident are looking out for their financial interests, not yours. An attorney can gather evidence of liability to help with your case.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

When you are aware of the common causes of accidents, you can operate more safely and drive defensively. Unfortunately, remaining cautious on the road does not prevent all accidents. The cause of the crash is crucial to understand, as it helps point to the at-fault party. Some of the common causes of motor vehicle collisions include:

Distracted Driving

A driver may be distracted by talking or texting on their phone, talking with passengers in the vehicle, eating or drinking, daydreaming, or using a navigational system. When a driver takes their attention off the road, they increase the chances of an accident because they cannot react to changes on the roadway as quickly.

Out of 1,107 suspected injury accidents in Terrebonne Parish in 2024, 69 of the accidents involved distracted driving. The parish had 14 fatalities in motor vehicle accidents, and seven of them were attributed to distracted driving.

Driving Under the Influence

It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and doing so puts everyone on the road at risk. Impaired drivers have a slower reaction speed and a harder time making well-reasoned decisions. Both of these factors increase the risk of an accident.

Despite this, driving under the influence happens frequently. There were 114 crashes in 2024 in Terrebonne Parish, which resulted in fatalities, injuries, or property damage. Of the 14 fatal accidents in the parish, three of them were alcohol-related. Out of 707 suspected injury crashes, 51 were alcohol-related. When a driver causes an accident while impaired, they can face criminal charges and civil claims for injured parties’ damages.

Speeding

Driving over the posted speed limit increases the risk of accidents. Drivers have less time to react to changes on the road. Crashes that occur when someone is speeding also cause more significant damage to all involved parties.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving includes actions like tailgating, failing to use turn signals, dangerous lane changes, ignoring the right-of-way, and running stop signs and lights. These actions can increase the risk of an accident.

Fatigued Driving

Driving tired can be nearly as dangerous as driving impaired, and many more people engage in this activity. Being tired behind the wheel can impact a driver’s decision-making capabilities and reaction time. If a driver falls asleep behind the wheel, this can result in a very serious head-on collision.

Dangerous Road Conditions

Inclement weather can make it harder to see and make the surface of the road more dangerous. The majority of fatal and suspected injury crashes in Terrebonne Parish in 2024 occurred in clear conditions. However, 134 of the 721 fatal and injury crashes occurred in conditions like rain, fog, smog, smoke, and cloudy conditions. Drivers need to be cautious in all weather conditions, especially those that impact the visibility of the road.

Dangerous road conditions can also include poorly maintained roads. Degrading roadways, failing drainage systems, debris in the road, or missing road signs can increase the risk of an accident. In some cases, the agencies responsible for road upkeep can be held liable.

Contact Our Experienced and Dedicated Car Accident Attorneys

There are many types and causes of car accidents, and they can result in unique damages. Our firm has dealt with numerous accident cases, and we can leverage this knowledge to benefit your claim. At Hammond Law Firm, LLC, we can calculate your damages, investigate fault, and secure you the compensation you are owed. Contact our firm today.