Can a Lafayette Car Accident Lawyer Help Me Determine Who Is at Fault for My Accident?

August 14, 2024

You could face many challenges if you try to get justice for your Lafayette car accident, among them the difficulty of identifying every potential defendant, but professional legal assistance could improve your chances of success.  Join us as we examine what an attorney can do for you if you are wondering “Can a Lafayette car accident lawyer help me determine who is at fault for my accident?” 

Who Is Responsible for a Lafayette Car Accident? 

The primary source of financial recovery for the majority of Lafayette car accident cases will be the insurance coverage of the party or parties responsible for those accidents, of which there were 1,665 in 2022.  But exactly who those parties might be will depend upon the circumstances. 

Most often, the driver who caused the crash will be liable for it, along with the owner of his or her vehicle (if separate from the driver), though others could be liable too.  For example, if the vehicle was being used commercially at the time of the collision, the business for whose purposes it was being used could be at least partially culpable.  If the Lafayette car accident was the outcome of a malfunction, the mechanic whose improper servicing brought about that malfunction and/or the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of a defective component that hastened it could have some degree of guilt.  And, if a road hazard made the crash practically inevitable, the government agency in charge of repairing that road and any contractors in its employ might be civilly pursued. 

Sometimes multiple individuals and entities could share varying levels of legal liability simultaneously, for which they could share varying levels of economic liability, and you must go after each one of them within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations.  The Statute is generally two years for Lafayette car accidents, though it could be much shorter in cases against the government, with additional conditions that may need to be satisfied.  Neglecting to file a lawsuit or otherwise resolve your claim before the Statute expires could forever bar you from being fully compensated for your losses. 

Hiring a Lafayette Car Accident Attorney Can Make a Difference 

Clearly, the viability of your case could hinge in no small part on your ability to track down everyone who made the collision happen, and this is where hiring a Lafayette car accident attorney can make a difference. 

Whereas you may have no idea how to proceed in the immediate aftermath of a crash, a lawyer with years of experience will be prepared to launch a comprehensive investigation into the Lafayette car accident in order to unearth its root causes, which is critical to determining who is at fault. 

This investigation may involve a number of stages.  First off, your attorney will amass the law enforcement documentation produced because of this incident, such as police reports, traffic citations, and the dispositions of those citations.  These documents will indicate who has been officially blamed for the crash, as well as their own admissions about their behavior. 

Your Lafayette car accident lawyer can then pull together further evidence to paint a more detailed portrait of what took place, taking legal action to preserve or secure it when required.  This could include visual records of the crash site, such as photos and dash cam, streetlight, or surveillance footage.  It might include statements by independent witnesses about what occurred.  Items that capture the defendant driver’s conduct prior to and during the collision could also be relevant, such as his or her driving history, phone usage, vehicular maintenance logs, and black box data.  In some instances, experts might even be retained to carry out accident reconstruction and forensic analysis. 

Once your Lafayette car accident has been thoroughly investigated, your attorney can establish valid claims against everybody who contributed to it, sending them formal notification in writing, alerting their insurance companies, and possibly suing them in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment if the situation warrants it. 

Ultimately, a skilled lawyer will always strive to ensure that the people who harmed you are held to account.  And if your attorney can assemble a rock-solid case that convinces their insurers to tender fair compensation, you might be able to acquire the resources necessary to become whole again.  

Reach Out to Our Dedicated Lafayette Car Accident Lawyers 

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting for the innocent victims of negligence for more than 25 years.  If a serious injury has turned your world upside down, reach out to our dedicated Lafayette car accident lawyers to explore your legal options.  

You can arrange a free case review with an accomplished Lafayette car accident attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form at your earliest convenience.