If you’re involved in a car accident in Lafayette, LA, the chances are that the driver of one of the vehicles caused the crash. Drivers, for obvious reasons, have control over the vehicle and most factors that could contribute to a crash.
In some cases, though, the car accident could be the result of passenger negligence. For example, imagine that a passenger covers the eyes of the driver, causing the driver to crash into another car. In this case, the passenger is at fault.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to a passenger’s negligence, our skilled Lafayette car accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for your losses. Contact our office at Kenny Habetz Injury Law to schedule a free consultation and learn about your legal options. You can call us at (337) 399-9000.
How Kenny Habetz Injury Law Can Help You After a Passenger Negligence Accident in Lafayette, LA
Navigating any car accident claim can be confusing, especially one caused by passenger negligence. Attorney Kenny Habetz has the experience you can rely on to seek compensation for your injuries. He has been practicing law for over a decade and has helped injured parties recover millions in compensation.
When you hire our Lafayette car accident lawyer, you can count on us to seek the best possible outcome in your case. We’ll pursue compensation for all of your accident-related damages by doing the following:
- Investigating your accident
- Gathering evidence of the accident and your injuries
- Assessing your damages
- Explaining your legal rights and options
- Contacting the at-fault party or their insurance company on your behalf
- Negotiating a settlement with the opposing party
- If a favorable settlement can’t be reached, representing you in court
Contact our office in Lafayette, Louisiana, to learn more about how Kenny Habetz can help you recover maximum value for your car accident claim.
What Is My Lafayette Passenger Negligence Case Worth?
There’s no simple formula for calculating the value of a personal injury claim—including passenger negligence. Many factors will influence the value of your passenger negligence claim, including:
- The extent of your medical costs
- The extent of the property damage caused
- The nature of your other damages, such as pain and suffering
- Whether you were partially at fault in the accident
- The policy limits of the at-fault party’s insurance
Our experienced Lafayette passenger negligence attorney will review your case and assess the value of your case in light of these factors.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Passenger Negligence Victims in Lafayette, Louisiana?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident because of a passenger’s negligence, the main remedies available are compensatory damages. These are intended to compensate victims for the losses they suffer in an accident and make them “whole again.”
Compensatory damages are divided into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages relate to the direct financial consequences of an accident. They might include past and future medical bills, property damage, lost wages, or even diminished future earning capacity.
Economic damages are fairly straightforward to calculate and usually can be supported with receipts, invoices, or other documentation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, in contrast, relate to emotional, psychological, or otherwise subjective consequences of the accident. They might include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of companionship or consortium, and diminished quality of life.
Non-economic damages are harder to calculate, given their intangible nature. If you’ve incurred non-economic damages, an experienced personal injury lawyer can be very helpful in assessing their value.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Passenger Negligence Lawyer in Lafayette, LA?
Almost all personal injury lawyers, ours included, accept cases on a contingency fee basis. Under this arrangement, the attorney collects their fee at the end of the case if they successfully recover compensation for their client. This percentage is usually between 33% and 40%.
Contingency fees are beneficial to personal injury victims because they don’t have to pay any fees upfront. Further, because they only get paid if you win, you can trust that your attorney thinks your case has merit if they represent you.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Passenger Negligence Case in Louisiana?
If the passenger you bring your negligence claim against argues in defense that you were partially to blame for the accident, you can still seek to recover compensation.
Louisiana has a pure comparative fault law. Under this law, each party in an accident is apportioned a percentage of fault. The victim’s percentage will determine the amount of their damages. A party can still recover damages if they bear part of the fault, but their damages will be reduced in proportion to their percentage of blame.
For example, imagine that you were in a passenger negligence case and suffered $10,000 in damages. If you were 10% at fault and the passenger was 90% at fault, then you could recover up to $9,000 in damages.
It can benefit you greatly to have a lawyer on your side if you’re being blamed. Your attorney can work to make sure the amount of fault assigned to you is as low as possible.
When Can a Passenger Be Negligent in a Lafayette Car Accident?
If the passenger’s actions contributed to the car accident, they might be liable for the injuries caused by the accident. Conduct by a passenger that might amount to negligence includes:
- Grabbing the steering wheel
- Covering the driver’s eyes or obstructing their view
- Making loud or sudden noises that distract the driver
- Encouraging the driver to engage in dangerous behavior, such as speeding or driving under the influence
- Throwing objects at the driver
These are just a few examples of how a passenger might cause a car accident. If you think your car accident was caused by a passenger’s negligence, contact our personal injury law firm today.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Passenger Negligence Case in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires that car accident lawsuits be filed within one year from the date of the accident. If you don’t file your case before the one-year period expires, you won’t be able to file your case in court.
There are exceptions to this deadline, but only in rare circumstances. Our experienced Lafayette personal injury lawyer will ensure that your case is filed on time; contact us as soon as possible to preserve your rights.
Contact Our Lafayette Car Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation To Discuss Your Passenger Negligence Case
If you’ve been injured recently in a car accident and believe that a passenger was to blame, you may be able to hold the passenger responsible and seek compensation for your losses. Our Lafayette passenger negligence lawyer at Kenny Habetz Injury Law can help you navigate the personal injury claim process.
Contact our office today to schedule a free case review.
