A car accident is stressful enough, but the aftermath can have lasting effects on your life. Whether you get bogged down with medical bills, lost wages, or emotional trauma that you have trouble dealing with, it’s always costly to recover. That’s why it’s so important to get as much compensation as you can. How do you get the most money from a car accident in Baton Rouge? These tips can help put you in the best position.
Don’t Be at Fault in Any Capacity
While this may not be very helpful in the aftermath of an accident that was at least partially your fault, it’s an important concept to remember before an accident occurs. Louisiana has a comparative fault rule regarding car accidents that allows you to potentially collect damages even if you are partially at fault.
For example, if you sustained $100,000 in damages and are found to be 20% at fault, you’d only be eligible to receive $80,000. A major aspect of your case will be demonstrating that you didn’t even partially contribute to the events causing the accident. That means you have to show that you weren’t driving in a negligent manner and were obeying all the reasonable expectations of a safe driver.
Keep Detailed Records
Much of the compensation you may be entitled to after an accident is quantifiable, or specifically measurable. This includes damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and property damage. For example, to show how much compensation you should be owed for any medical costs, you can present your medical bills.
By keeping detailed records, you can prove that you should be entitled to the amount of compensation you ask for regarding quantifiable damages. Without the proper paperwork demonstrating the actual cost of the damages you’re filing for, there’s no way for anyone to determine the validity of your claim.
Consider Non-Economic Damages
When most people think of compensation after an accident, they imagine costs for medical bills and lost wages, things you can assign a dollar amount to. This is not the only kind of damages you can claim, however, as there are non-economic damages you can file for as well.
It’s important to remember that non-economic damages are a bit harder to argue for because they’re not easily quantifiable. These include damages such as emotional trauma, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more. They’re the damages that don’t have an apparent monetary value. Additionally, Louisiana has some limitations on how much you can claim for non-economic damages, such as a $500,000 limit on claims against a government agency.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney
The ultimate answer to “How do I get the most money from a car accident?” is to hire a local Baton Rouge car accident attorney. At Gauthier Amedee, we’ll go to bat for you to make your case as strong as possible. Get your free case evaluation by calling 225-647-1700 or by filling out our easy online form today.
