Our Accident Attorneys Have Been Helping Residents of Louisiana Since 1982

If you were injured in an accident, you need to know which law firm to contact. The Louisiana accident attorneys at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault are professional, aggressive, and effective trial lawyers. Our personal injury law firm is recognized for achieving many important victories in complex cases. We know that even the slightest mistake can quickly turn into a tragic accident—and if you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file for financial compensation.

Professional Accident Lawyers With the Experience and Dedication Needed for Legal Success

The attorneys at our Alexandria personal injury law firm have served both as trial lawyers in class action cases and in individual lawsuits, and the insight and knowledge we have gained have proven to be extremely valuable to our clients. Our focus is dedicated to providing Louisiana residents with the best legal service in the state. Find out how we can help if you’re looking for an auto accident lawyer in Louisiana. If you can’t come to us, we can come to you—and we will go the distance with your case.

Common Causes of Louisiana Motor Vehicle Crashes

Motor vehicle accidents typically occur because a driver was negligent. Often, car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian crashes occur because of:

• Distracted driving. Texting, talking on the phone, browsing the internet or using social media, playing music, attending to pets, and even passenger conversations can cause a driver to take his eyes off the road, his hands off the steering wheel, or his attention away from the road.
• Drowsy driving. Fatigued drivers can cause serious crashes, and a driver does not have to be asleep to be dangerous. Sleep apnea, long work hours, and medication side effects can cause fatigue that leads to an accident.
• Dangerous roadways. Service roads, bridges, traffic circles, highways, and local roads may have dangerous designs, defects, or other flaws that create hazardous conditions for drivers.
• Aggressive driving. Drivers who follow the vehicle in front of them too closely, weave in and out of traffic, or are otherwise aggressive may cause a serious collision.
• Speeding. A driver that is exceeding the speed limit may be unable to stop in time to avoid a wreck, or he may lose control and cause a collision. Additionally, a vehicle that hits another vehicle going at a high rate of speed may cause more significant injuries than a vehicle that was traveling at the speed limit.
• Inexperience. Teen drivers do not have the same driving experience as older drivers. As a result, some teens make poor decisions on the road that result in crashes.
• Failure to yield. A driver who fails to yield the right of way to another vehicle or pedestrian can cause a catastrophic crash.
• Poorly loaded cargo. In a car, cargo that blocks the driver’s view can cause a serious wreck. In a truck, unsecured cargo or imbalanced cargo can cause a crash.

Helping Louisiana Accident Victims After All Types of Crashes

Whether you’re moving in traffic, waiting at a stop light, or sitting in a parking lot, car crashes can occur at any time. Negligent drivers can cause many different types of collisions, including:

• ​Intersection accidents. When a driver misses a stop sign, red light, or does not yield the right of way, a crash can occur.
• Rear-end crashes. Drivers who are speeding or tailgating may crash into the back of the car in front.
• Left-turn accidents. Drivers making left turns may misjudge the time they have to turn before oncoming traffic approaches. Alternatively, the driver who is traveling straight may be distracted and fail to see the vehicle turning left.
• T-bone crashes. T-bone crashes occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. Thus, the collision occurs in a “T” formation.
• Head-on collisions.  When one vehicle is traveling in the wrong lane or the wrong way on a one-way street, the front of two vehicles may crash. Head-on collisions often result in serious injuries or fatalities.
• Sideswipe crashes. A sideswipe crash typically occurs when one vehicle crosses over the travel lane line and collides with the side of another vehicle.
• Multi-vehicle wrecks. Sometimes, more than two vehicles are involved in a crash. Liability for damages is often more complicated when there are more than two parties involved in the collision.

There are many different types of vehicles that can be involved in crashes that occur on local roads, interstates, bridges, traffic circles, or service roads. These include:

• ​Cars. Whether you are going to work, school, run errands, or visit family, you likely get into a car. While most of your car trips end safely, it only takes one collision with another car, another vehicle, or a stationary object to cause a significant injury.
• Trucks. Commercial trucks such as logging trucks, large tractor trailers, small delivery trucks, and other types of trucks can be involved in serious crashes with cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, or other trucks.
• Motorcycles. Motorcyclists face unique risks on the road because of their relatively small size. Other drivers may fail to see motorcycles until it is too late to avoid a crash, and riders do not have the protection that cars and trucks provide and may suffer more significant injuries in a crash.

Additionally, car collisions with pedestrians can happen almost anywhere but commonly occur at busy crosswalks and city intersections. Negligent drivers who are distracted by their cell phones, loud music, or a conversation with a passenger can hit a pedestrian, and the injuries are often very serious.

Types of Car Accident Injuries

Any unexpected vehicle accident can cause victims serious injuries that may have a lasting impact on their lives. A crash can result in life-changing and sometimes fatal consequences. Some types of injuries common in car accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries. Victims of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can experience a variety of symptoms depending on the force of impact, which part of the brain was injured, and the victim’s overall health.  A TBI can impact speech, cognitive functioning, memory, emotions, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills.
• Spinal cord injuries. A complete spinal cord injury will result in paralysis below the point on your spine where you were hurt. Incomplete spinal cord injuries may impact movement and your ability to feel.
• Broken bones. Any bone can break in a crash, but the most common breaks are to the bones in your wrists, arms, legs, ribs, hips, pelvis, face, skull, and spine.
• Internal injuries. A collision can result in internal bleeding or damage to an internal organ.
• Eye injuries. A serious eye injury can occur if flying debris penetrates your eye during the crash.
• Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash are common motor vehicle injuries. These injuries can be painful and keep you out of work and from your daily activities.
• Burns. A vehicle fire or a crash with a truck carrying hazardous chemicals can leave victims with painful and severe burns.
• Amputations. An arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, or toe may be severed at the scene of the crash. If an infection occurs later, the body part may need to be amputated.
• Death. The most serious and tragic car, truck, and motorcycle accident injuries result in death.

If you suffer one or more of these injuries, or if your loved one has died in a car accident in Louisiana, you may be able to recover compensation for past and future:

• ​Medical costs. All of your healthcare costs such as hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, doctor visits, and other medical expenses may be part of your recovery.
• Lost income. Any money you were unable to earn in wages, benefits, or from self-employment may be compensable.
• Physical pain and emotional suffering. These damages are hard to quantify, but they may be among your most significant damages. An attorney can help the insurance company or court understand what they are worth.
• Funeral costs and other out-of-pocket expenses. Any costs you incur as a direct result of your accident should be included in your accident recovery.

Protect Your Rights After a Louisiana Vehicle Crash

Even if you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by a negligent driver, recovery of accident damages doesn’t happen automatically. There are important steps you need to take to help protect your legal rights. Hiring a skilled, experienced personal injury attorney is an important first step, as an attorney will provide you with critical information and explain:

• How long you have to file a lawsuit. In most cases, the Louisiana Statute of Limitations gives you one year to file a personal injury case.
• How settlements work. Most car accident cases are resolved during settlement negotiations with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters can be tricky to work with and do not have your best interests in mind when attempting to settle your claim.  An experienced lawyer will represent you during settlement negotiations and make sure that your interests are protected.
• What evidence you need. Whether your case goes to court or settles outside of court, you will need evidence to prove negligence. This evidence can include photos from the accident scene, witness testimony, and medical records.
• Mistakes to avoid after a crash. Failing to get medical care and talking to insurance adjusters without an attorney are mistakes that can impact your recovery.

Our Lawyers Specialize in Louisiana Accident Claims

Our lawyers offer years of experience with motor vehicle accidents. We’ve seen it all—from DUI accident cases, to fatal accident cases, to fender benders. Our attorneys can let you know what options you have once they learn about your case.

Our office is in Alexandria, but we represent motor vehicle accident victims throughout the state of Louisiana. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you. Whether you’ve been hurt on Highway 190, the Mississippi River Bridge, a service road, an interstate road, or a local road, we encourage you to contact us now to discuss your claim with an experienced Louisiana accident injury lawyer.