Car accidents happen in Lafayette every day, and some of them cause fatal injuries. If your loved one was killed in a Lafayette fatal car accident caused by another party, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, our car accident lawyers in Lafayette understand that no amount of money can bring back your loved one or ever truly compensate you for your loss. However, financial compensation can help ease some of the burdens caused by your loved one’s untimely death.
Call (337) 233-3366 or contact us to schedule a free consultation. Our compassionate fatal car accident lawyers will listen to you, answer your questions, and explain your rights. If we represent you, we will work tirelessly to recover maximum compensation.
Why Choose Our Fatal Car Accident Attorney in Lafayette?
- We have over 100 years of combined experience handling fatal car accident cases.
- We have a proven record of recovering maximum compensation for our clients.
- We work with industry experts, including accident reconstructionists and economists, to build your strongest case.
- We cover all upfront expenses associated with pursuing your claim, and you incur no costs until we successfully recover compensation for you.
Top Causes of Lafayette Fatal Car Accidents
According to the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) at LSU, Louisiana reported 753 fatalities caused by car accidents last year.
Lafayette fatal car accidents have numerous causes. Some of the top causes include:
- Impaired driving is the most common cause of fatal car accidents in the United States. Of the 753 fatal crashes in Louisiana last year, 203 of those included drivers using alcohol.
- Speeding is a leading contributor to fatal car accidents throughout the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Distracted driving is the cause of many fatal car accidents in Lafayette and throughout the nation.
- Fatigued and drowsy driving is a top contributor to fatal car accidents. When a driver dozes off, they are likely to drift into another lane or off the road, causing a fatality.
- Aggressive driving occurs when drivers abruptly change lanes, tailgate, fail to yield the right of way, and otherwise drive recklessly. These behaviors can quickly lead to a catastrophic accident.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Lafayette Fatal Car Accident?
When someone is killed in a car accident caused by another party, their loved ones may be able to recover compensation for damages sustained due to the death.
There are generally two types of actions that can be filed on behalf of surviving loved ones – a wrongful death action and a survival action.
A decedent’s loved ones may file a Louisiana wrongful death action to recover compensation for their damages. The damages they can recover include funeral and burial expenses, loss of consortium or companionship, and loss of financial support to family members who were dependent on the deceased.
The parties who may file a Louisiana wrongful death claim are:
- The decedent’s surviving spouse and children.
- The decedent’s surviving parents, if there is no surviving spouse or child.
- The siblings of the decedent, if there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent.
- The surviving grandparents of the decedent, if there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent.
A Louisiana survival action is a claim to recover the damages sustained by the decedent before their death that was caused by the accident or incident that caused their death. This action is the personal injury claim that the decedent would have been able to bring had they survived.
The survival action seeks compensation in favor of the same persons who may file a wrongful death action. The decedent’s succession representative may bring the survival action in the absence of those persons.
Both the wrongful death action and survival action must be filed within one year of the decedent’s death. Reach out to our wrongful death lawyers in Lafayette to learn more.
How Can a Lafayette Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Help Me Recover Compensation?
A Lafayette fatal car accident lawyer can investigate the accident that caused the death of your loved one to help identify all causes and liable parties. They can help uncover evidence to prove your case and help secure that evidence before it is lost, destroyed, or diminished.
Your attorney can help identify and accurately value your damages and work to negotiate a fair settlement of your claim. If a fair settlement is not reached, they can take your case to trial to recover the compensation you are entitled to.
A Lafayette fatal car accident lawyer can significantly increase your chances of recovering maximum compensation.
Reach Out to Our Lafayette Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
We know you are grieving and that nothing can compensate for your loss. But our personal injury attorneys in Lafayette want to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve to help ease some of the financial burdens caused by your loved one’s death.
Contact us today at (337) 233-3366 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation.