Accidents never come with a warning, and that’s why you usually can’t avoid them. Some accidents might lead to a minor injury, but in other cases you may be confined to your hospital bed for a few days or weeks. Accidents that require a hospital stay will lead to loss of wages, suffering, and increasing medical bills. But if someone else is responsible for the accident, then you are not liable to pay for these losses. According to Louisiana State Law, if the accident has occurred because of carelessness, intention, or ignorance of someone else, then you are eligible for compensation for injuries and damages incurred.

In order to obtain compensation, you will need to file a case with the help of a car accident attorney in Baton Rouge. Your attorney will help you determine the amount of compensation commensurate of your injuries, and you and the other party will present your case in court. You should know that in order to gain full compensation you deserve, you will need to prove that the other person is solely responsible for the accident, and for that, you will need indisputable evidence.

So, let’s discuss what can be used as evidence in a personal injury case.

Police report
A principal article that can act as evidence in court is the police report. You should never forget to file the report with the authorities. When you appear in court with your personal injury case, the first thing that the judge will ask for is the police report. The police report contains a detailed description of the accident, and acts as a record of evidence in court. From the timing of the accident to the persons involved in the accident, police reports are a written record of the officer at the scene of the accident.  .

Photos
In addition to the police reports, it is best if you can provide photos of the accident scene. Photos provide a visual that words simply can not do justice, full compensation may depend on your ability to photograph the scene adequately.  Photos should include the other vehicle involved in the accident and its vehicle identification number (license plate). If you can, also provide images showing the weather at the time of the accident, the condition of the road, and the surrounding area. If your injuries are clearly visible, you should also take pictures of the injuries, as it can help you prove the severity of your accident in court.  If possible, these pictures should be gathered by you and submitted to your car accident attorney in  Baton Rouge in order to strengthen your case.

Eye witness
Eyewitnesses can play a very important role in your case. If you have noticed a particular eye witness of your accident, you or the officer at the scene should approach them for a recorded statement. You should note their name, address, phone number, and email address of the eye witness. If possible, the authorities should get a written statement from the eye witness as it will help strengthen your case in the court. If an eye-witness statement can not be obtained at the scene, your attorney can contact them to give eye-witness testimony in the court.

Gathering the right pieces of evidence is vitally necessary in order to recover the just compensation you deserve in a car accident.  Presenting the collected evidence in court will usually require a car accident attorney in Baton Rouge familiar with precedent. ​

Statistically very few personal injury cases actually go to trial but preparing for the case as if it will be tried is the surest way to maximize compensation recovered. Like many things in life, it is important to plan ahead. Taking certain steps in the early stages following a personal injury will make your job much easier when it comes time to negotiate a settlement or try the case.

What you need to prove in a Louisiana car accident case

A plaintiff in a car accident in Louisiana needs to be able to present evidence showing that, more likely than not, the defendant breached a duty and that breach proximately caused the plaintiff’s injuries. This requirement determines many of the steps that an injured party should take following an accident.

Keep in mind that Louisiana follows strict comparative negligence rules. This means you can recover compensation from the other driver even if you were mostly to blame for the accident. However, your award will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. If you are injured in an accident in Lake Charles, LA, it is best to speak with a car accident attorney from the area; these attorneys understand how to present the evidence in order to maximize your compensation

Tips to build your case

*Do not apologize - “Oh, I’m sorry!” It seems like a polite thing to say so people often say it after an accident. But an impulsive statement made out of emotion can later be twisted into an admission of guilt when it comes time to reach an agreement on compensation.

*Obtain names of anyone at the scene - The time to start building your case begins before you leave the scene of the accident. Try to obtain the names and contact information of anyone who may have seen the accident or the condition of the vehicles or people involved.

*Do not speak to the other party’s insurance company without a lawyer - Insurance adjusters are skilled at convincing blameless parties that they were partly to blame or that their claims are just not worth very much. They try to coax injured parties into a low-ball settlement. But if you have an attorney representing you, the insurance companies and their lawyers must speak to your adept attorney.

*Collect documentation - From the police report to medical bills, hospital discharge papers, receipts for medications or devices, or even paperwork showing your inability to participate in hobbies at the same rate, any documentation that shows the financial or physical impact of the injury can strengthen your case.

How a car accident attorney can help
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The personal injury claims process can be overwhelming. When you need a Lake Charles Louisiana car accident attorney, Lundy, Lundy, Soileau & South are here to do the hard work for you. Contact our office today to obtain a free confidential consultation. Our personal injury representation is on a contingency basis so we never charge a fee unless we secure compensation on your behalf.

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