Auto Accident Injury

Were you in an automobile accident in Louisiana? We invite you to call Irpino Law toll-free at 1-800-7500-LAW for a free consultation about your auto accident injury case. For your convenience, we offer both in-person and telephone consultations.

Why You Need an Attorney

Automobile accidents are a significant cause of death and injury both in Louisiana and in the rest of the United States. In 2007, 2,491,000 people were injured in an auto accident and over 93,000 people were involved in fatal auto accidents nationwide. Forty-four percent of the people that were involved in a fatal car crash died within thirty days as a result of unintentional injuries. These fatalities can occur on the interstate or on a country road, regardless of how fast the driver was speeding. Even though any driver can be involved in an accident, 14.9% of all fatal car accidents involved drivers between the ages of twenty to twenty-four compared with 11.1% between the ages of fifty-five to sixty-four. [1]

Besides reckless driving, another cause of an auto accident injury or fatality may be the presence of alcohol. Of the drivers that were tested for alcohol, twenty percent of them had a blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.08%, which is higher than most legal state limits. In the state of Louisiana, 37% of all auto accident fatalities that occurred in 2007 were considered to be caused by alcohol-impaired driving. [1]

In addition to the human “cost” involved with an auto accident, there is a steep financial cost as well. On average, motor vehicle accident costs may include: lost wages and employer costs, medical and/or administrative expenses and motor vehicle property damage. In 2004, these costs were estimated at $240.6 billion in the United States.

An auto accident may occur for a variety of reasons. A driver could be speeding, attempting an improper left turn or pass, ignoring a yield sign or red light, etc. to cause an accident. The US Department of Transportation (DoT) estimates that an average driver will narrowly avoid an automobile accident one to two times per month. Unfortunately, the DoT also estimates that every driver will be involved in an automobile collision once every six years.

Automobile accident lawsuits often involve insurance policies and the law related to them. Our attorneys at Irpino Law will help you understand auto insurance law to guarantee your maximum recovery. A licensed Louisiana attorney can help you reach a financial settlement for: your property damage, physical injuries and/or associated disability, related losses like wage earnings, or your mental and/or physical pain and suffering. Additionally, if you are injured in an automobile accident and have a family, you may want to consider the effect your injuries have on their well-being. Your family member may also have a legitimate claim if they have experienced one or more of the following: loss of love or affection, lack of household services or poor financial support.

After your auto accident, insurance claims adjusters may contact you and try to get you to accept a quick settlement. By retaining a licensed attorney from Irpino Law who works on automobile accidents, you can become fully aware of your legal rights and demand compensation for all of the types of damages allowed under law.

Located in the Crescent City, the Irpino Law Firm provides service to (and has represented) clients living throughout Louisiana including the following cities and surrounding suburbs:

Auto Accident Advice

If you are involved in an automobile accident, we recommend the following:

• Record License Plate Information – Write down the car’s license number or other characteristics of the other vehicle. This is especially important in cases where the driver attempts to leave.
• Contact and Cooperate with the Police – After an accident, be sure to not only call the police, but cooperate fully with them and obtain a police accident report. Be sure to tell the investigating officer if you think you might be hurt.
• Record Witness Information – If possible, identify other witnesses who saw the accident. Be sure to write down their names and telephone numbers.
• Avoid Contact with Other Insurance Agents – It is really important that you avoid contact with representatives of the other driver’s insurance company.
• Get Help if you are Injured – Seek medical care if you think you might be hurt and be sure to take it easy after the accident. Back injuries sometimes don’t start hurting until several days after an accident occurs.
• Stand Up for Your Rights – Review your insurance policy closely and take a look at what is covered and what is not. Do not let an insurance company push you around when you need to be reimbursed for your accident-related expenses and losses.

For more information about how Irpino Law can help you after you have sustained an auto accident injury, call us toll-free at 1-800-7500-LAW for a free consultation.

[1] The statistics for auto accident injuries and fatalities that are cited here were taken from The 2010 Statistical Abstract: Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.