In most cases, police officers are the individuals who investigate a car accident in New Orleans. They are the primary investigators because they are the first to arrive at the accident scene and speak with the drivers and eyewitnesses. They also determine whether one or both drivers will be cited for traffic infractions that contributed to the cause of the accident. A police report can be very helping in providing information about the accident. However, it is not the end of the accident investigation.
Independent Investigations of Car Accidents
In some cases, an insurance company may hire an independent investigator to analyze the accident to determine liability and fault. Cases involving disputed liability or high-dollar amounts are often investigated thoroughly by the insurance company in an attempt to limit its liability for the claim. However, the insurance company is not the only party investigating your car crash.
If you retain a New Orleans personal injury lawyer, your lawyer investigates the crash. Your attorney may use the information provided by the police report or the insurance company, but your attorney will independently verify the facts to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Some steps your attorney might take in investigating a car accident include, but are not limited to:
- Reviewing the police report, including any witness statements and evidence gathered at the accident scene
- Interviewing witnesses, including taking depositions of the other driver, passengers, and eyewitnesses
- Searching for videos of the collision (i.e. traffic cameras or surveillance cameras)
- Inspecting the vehicles involved in the crash, if they have not been repaired
- Reviewing and analyzing the repair estimates for each vehicle
- Consulting experts and accident reconstructionists
It is important to independently investigate a car accident to determine liability and fault. Under Louisiana’s personal injury laws, you can only recover compensation for your losses and damages from a party responsible for causing the car crash. Therefore, you must have evidence proving fault. The accident investigation uncovers that evidence.
How Do I Know If I Have A Valid Injury Claim?
The easiest and best way to determine whether you have a claim against another party is to speak with an attorney. Our New Orleans car accident lawyers answer your questions about personal injury claims and provide advice regarding your legal options during a free case review. It does not cost you anything to speak to one of our lawyers about your car accident. Our law firm accepts most car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so it won’t cost you anything up front to hire an attorney to handle your car accident case.
Do not let the insurance company convince you that you do not need to talk to an attorney. You have the right to consult legal counsel before providing statements, signing medical release forms, or accepting a settlement offer.
Contact a New Orleans Car Accident Attorney for a Free Case Review
Attorney Fred Olinde and the legal team at The Olinde Firm are available for a free consultation to discuss your car accident claim. We want to help you recover the compensation you deserve after a negligent or reckless driver causes you to be injured in a car crash.
Call (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to schedule a free consultation with one of our NOLA car accident lawyers.