The Johnson Firm

Driving in Louisiana can be a challenge or a pleasure, especially during the summer months. No matter the conditions, accidents happen. Everything from a fender bender to a major highway pile-up is possible when you get behind the wheel in the Lake Charles area. While we call these accidents, oftentimes they are a result of the wrongdoer neglecting to follow the laws or rules of the road.

A personal injury attorney in Lake Charles can be a lifesaver. Insurance companies look for any excuse to deny responsibility. Even when they can’t avoid responsibility, they almost always try to get away with paying less than what is owed.

There are important laws that you must follow that the insurance companies know and may use against you if you do not have an attorney.

In Louisiana, if you have been the victim of a car accident, you have one-year to file a lawsuit against an at fault party from the day of the accident.

The minimum insurance amount for injuries is $15,000 per person, and $30,000 per accident, no matter how many injured persons there are. This can be a problem in cases where people are hurt even for a short amount of time, or if several people were injured. Property damage claims have a minimum of $25,000. Insurance companies may have more insurance available, but are not required to tell you how much the limits are until a lawsuit is filed.

The insurance company is required to investigate your claim within a reasonable amount of time, and in a reasonable way. There are consequences if the other driver’s insurance company or your insurance company refuses to try and gather the facts.

Insurance companies will often try to settle quickly for a small amount. Louisiana law does not allow this, but insurance companies may try to pressure you to agree to a low settlement on the phone.

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