Covington Car Accident FAQs

Delay is one strategy used by insurance companies, including big truck insurance companies, to deter people from pursuing their claims following an accident.  The longer insurance companies can keep their money, the better for their bottom line.  

Big truck insurance companies are different than the typical car insurance companies with which you may be familiar.  Oftentimes, they are from out of state and unfamiliar with Louisiana’s laws concerning property damage adjustment, timely claims handling, and third-party bad faith law.  

At Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, we help our clients through all aspects of their big truck cases, including their claims for property damage.  If the insurance company is delaying the process, we find out the reason, make sure the insurance company has satisfactory proof of our client’s loss, and put them on notice as to Louisiana’s laws on timely claims handling.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Sometimes insurance companies deny car accident claims based on a lack of evidence to show which party was at fault for causing the accident.  When liability (fault) is an issue in a car accident case, it is important to quickly identify and gather evidence to piece together how the accident occurred.  

One of the first things we do when we are hired for a car accident case is to identify the evidence available.  While the police report is not itself evidence, it typically contains very useful information, including a description of the accident, the identification of witnesses, and even diagrams of the wreck.  

When we need more information as to how the accident occurred, we may visit the accident scene and take photos of the scene, and of any tire marks or debris.  We also consider the damage to the vehicles and sometimes use an expert to download “black box” data from the vehicles.  

Witness statements are also very important, and we may contact witnesses to better understand what they saw.  In this day and age of modern technology, we also assess if there is any video of the accident, such as from a dash cam or other surveillance nearby.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

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I cringe when a client tells me that they had a car accident but didn’t file an accident report.  The reason?  Because police reports capture a lot of important information, including the identity of the other driver and their insurance policy information.  Also, police reports help the insurance company make a determination as to liability (who was at fault for causing the accident).  Without a police report, your car wreck claim will likely be delayed.  

I understand why some people don’t get the police involved after an accident.  You have to wait for the police to arrive and you may be in a hurry.  The other driver may even be begging you not to call them.  Maybe you don’t think the damage is that bad or don’t think you are injured.  But if the damage is worse than you think or you wake up the next morning in severe pain, the decision not to call the police suddenly seems like a bad one.    

Sometimes police may not respond to an accident, such as when a wreck happens on private property, like a grocery store parking lot.  In those cases, it is still important for you to get all the information you can, including the other driver’s name and contact number and insurance information.  You should also take as many pictures and videos of the scene as possible.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

The admission of a driver for causing an accident is certainly an important factor in deciding whether you have a case.  Other factors include the exact circumstances of the wreck, including your own actions, and also the significance of the damages and injuries you incurred as a result of the car wreck.  

When considering a party’s admission of fault following a car accident, it is important to note when the admission was said (ie. was it right after the accident?), whether it was verbal or written down, and the witnesses to the statement.  These are important factors when considering if the admission can be used later on in court as evidence.

At an initial consultation, we typically ask our clients about the specific things they remember right after an accident, including if any statements were made by the other driver or if the other driver seemed disoriented or intoxicated.  Noting these facts at the beginning of a case can aid greatly in its success.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

A majority of personal injury claims are settled before a lawsuit has to be filed.  Even in cases where a lawsuit is filed, many are resolved before a trial occurs.  

However, whether your case will go to trial depends on many factors including the extent of your injuries, the amount of insurance available, and whether the at-fault insurance company is willing to be reasonable in their evaluation of your damages.  

Knowing the difference between an insurance claim and a lawsuit is important.  An insurance claim is simply the opening of a claim against the at-fault driver through their insurance company.  An insurance claim allows the insurance company to consider your damages and the liability of their insured to determine whether they are willing to negotiate with you toward the settlement of your claim.  A lawsuit is the continuation of an insurance claim through the court system.  After filing a lawsuit, both sides (you and the insurance company) have the ability to ask questions of each other and uncover additional facts in order to ultimately present those facts at a trial.  

In Louisiana, injury victims have a very short (one-year) time frame within which to either resolve their personal injury claim or file a lawsuit to preserve their claim.  Waiting too long to contact an attorney can be a big mistake.  

Have You Been Hurt In A Covington Area Accident?

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident you need to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

A wrongful death claim arising from a car accident is a type of car accident claim.  The big difference is that in a wrongful death claim in Louisiana, the law dictates the family member(s) who may pursue the claim.  

When a death occurs as a result of a car wreck, certain family members of the decedent may bring “wrongful death claims” and “survival actions.”  These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different.  Wrongful death actions seek damages to the decedent’s family member, suffered by them personally as a result of their loved one’s death.  Claims include, but are not limited to loss of love and affection, funeral expenses, and in some instances, loss of financial support. 

Survival actions, on the other hand, are the claims the decedent would have had if they had not died.  They include the decedent’s own pain and suffering and mental anguish from the time of injury until the time of death, as well as any medical bills they incurred prior to death.

If you are struggling with the loss of a loved one due to a car accident, please let us help explain your rights.  We offer free, confidential, and “no pressure” consultations. 

Has Your Loved One Died Due To The Negligence Of Others?

If you lost a family member due to a negligent act you need to speak with an experienced Covington area wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help families throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Anyone can file and pursue their own personal injury claim without a lawyer.  Whether that is a good idea or not depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of injuries and damage, whether the other person is admitting fault, and the interests of third parties such as medical providers, health insurers, and others.  

Even minor accident claims can become complicated quickly.  Just a trip to the ER can result in several medical bills and create a reimbursement interest from your health insurer, especially for people with Medicare or Medicaid.  At Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, we make sure that our clients’ claims are handled the right way, start to finish.  

Also, remember that insurance company adjusters are trained to ask specific questions of accident victims in an effort to save money for the insurance company.  Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side to interact with insurance adjusters can be a major advantage.  

If you are thinking of handling your own personal injury claim, please call us today.  At Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, we offer a free 15-minute “CRASH COURSE to help you better understand the ins and outs of your claim.  

Give us a call today to schedule your free “CRASH COURSE” at (985) 590-6182.

Have You Been Hurt In A Covington Area Accident?

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident you need to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Car accidents can be complicated and sometimes, more than one person may be at fault for causing the wreck. In Louisiana, we have what’s known as “comparative fault.” This means that a person can recover for their personal injuries, even if they were partially responsible for causing the wreck.

For instance, if it is determined that someone is 50% responsible for causing a wreck, they can still collect 50% of their damages. Also, if the other person had the reasonable opportunity to avoid the wreck, but didn’t, you may still prevail in a personal injury claim, regardless of fault. In Louisiana, this is called the “last clear chance doctrine.” Many factors go into the success or failure of a personal injury case.

At Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, we examine each of our clients’ cases from every angle.

Have You Been Hurt In A Covington Area Accident?

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident you need to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

The first few days after a car wreck can be the most frustrating for my clients.  Not only are they in pain and hurting, but a lot of times, they are also out of a vehicle and find themselves suddenly without transportation.  Getting to work is usually the primary concern.

In Louisiana, the at-fault insurance company is responsible for setting up a rental vehicle for you following a wreck.  However, they will not set up the rental until they have investigated the accident and accepted responsibility.  Typically, an insurance adjuster will say that they are waiting for the police report or waiting to get in touch with their insured before they can start the rental process.  

We have been successful in expediting the rental car process by actively communicating with insurance adjusters and making sure they have all the information about the wreck, as soon as possible.  

If you have rental coverage on your own vehicle, a faster way to get the rental car is to go through your own insurance coverage.  That way, you don’t have to wait on the at-fault insurance company.  

Frustrated and without transportation? If you can’t come to us, we will come to you!

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Police officers investigating a crash have a difficult job.  They have to study the accident scene, interview the parties involved, and write down what they believe happened in their accident report.  If the other driver is lying about what happened, it makes their job harder.  

As frustrating as it may be, the best thing you can do is calmly explain to the officer exactly what happened, being as precise about the facts as possible.  If you had to be rushed to the hospital after an accident, it is important to contact the police officer so that he or she has your side of the story.  

It is also important to take as many pictures and videos of the accident scene as possible.  A picture can say 1,000 words and oftentimes, they reveal how the collision occurred.  Even take pictures and videos of any skid marks.  An accident reconstruction expert may be able to use this evidence later down the road if necessary.

Finally, make a note of any witnesses to the accident, including their names and contact information.  If the other driver is making up stories, it may be a good idea to get affidavits from any witnesses and make sure the police officer takes their information into consideration. 

If you received a police report for your accident which is not quite right, call us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your options.

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.