Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer
40+ Years
of Combined Experience
5.0 Google Rating
with over 400 Reviews
Over $125M
Won for Clients That Have Become Family
A car accident caused by another person’s negligence can change your life in an instant, leaving you with serious financial, physical, and emotional damages. If you were injured through little to no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, medical bills, and more. You need a dedicated legal advocate to fight for your rights.
The Lake Charles car accident lawyers at Shamieh Law are here to help you secure the full and fair compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one were injured in a Lake Charles car accident, call us at 337-477-7222 or use our online contact form to request a free, confidential case review. We proudly serve the Lake Charles community from our conveniently located office at the corner of Western Street and Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive.
Trust Our Experienced Lake Charles Car Accident Attorneys
Our founder, Ramez Shamieh, was born and raised in Louisiana, and he is passionate about positively impacting others’ lives and holding negligent people accountable. He and the rest of our team care about our community and constantly find ways to be involved and give back to others.
Our firm’s personal injury attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience helping people win fair compensation from insurance companies and defendants. We’ve learned that victims need a Lake Charles car accident attorney who is compassionate and respectful of all parties involved in the legal process but remains focused on getting results.
We count on a diverse, experienced staff of highly skilled and rated attorneys with a winning track record. Some of our notable recoveries include:
- $1,000,000 in a drunk driving single-car accident that caused a client severe injuries, including a broken femur, disc herniations, and traumatic brain injury.
- $600,000 for a client who needed a cervical disc replacement following a rear-end collision.
- $200,000 after a negligent driver ran a red light, hitting a family of four and causing spinal injuries requiring injections.
- $375,000 for a rear-end collision victim run off the road, causing injuries that required cervical and lumbar surgery and three spinal injections.
- $225,000 for a woman who lost her pregnancy and needed a disc resection due to a collision.
- $500,000 following a head-on collision involving a minor who drove their parents’ car on the wrong side of the road and fled the scene.
- $200,000 for the victim of a low-speed rear-end collision who needed neck surgery.
What Compensation Can a Car Accident Attorney Help Me Recover?
The amount of compensation you’re entitled to will depend on your case’s specific circumstances, including the extent and severity of your injuries. A Lake Charles car accident lawyer can assist you in seeking damages in a lawsuit, including:
- Medical expenses: You may be eligible to recover compensation for all past and future medical costs associated with your injuries, including ambulance fees, hospital bills, surgery costs, follow-up visits, medications, and rehabilitation.
- Lost earnings: If the accident forced you to take time off work, you can seek compensation for lost wages, including the loss of future earning capacity if the injuries impact your ability to work long-term.
- Disability accommodation and mobility aids: Your compensation may cover the cost of home or vehicle modifications if you experience a long-term disability from the accident. It also may include compensation for mobility aids such as wheelchairs and crutches.
- Pain and suffering: These non-economic damages compensate you for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you experience because of your injuries.
- Lowered quality of life: You can also be compensated for your inability to engage in activities and hobbies you enjoyed before the accident.
If you file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for the loss of a family member killed in a Lake Charles car accident, your compensation will look a bit different. Damages in these lawsuits compensate surviving family members for grief, anguish, and loss of companionship. Family members also can seek compensation for financial losses, such as funeral/burial costs, loss of income or benefits from the decedent, and loss of inheritance.
How To Prove Liability in a Lake Charles Car Accident
Collecting evidence, securing witness testimonies, and getting expert opinions are vital to proving liability in your car accident case. How liability for your crash is assessed determines how much you can collect in damages. You can still collect even if you were partly to blame for your crash.
Louisiana is a pure comparative negligence state. Each party is liable for the damages they caused, and your share of the liability reduces your compensation proportionately. For example, if you were 20 percent responsible for your crash, you can collect 80 percent of your damages.
How your attorney approaches liability and negotiates or litigates for you depends partly on the type of case you bring.
Negligence Claims
Drivers must take reasonable care to avoid harming others. When they fail to do so, you have a claim for damages for your injuries. You also may have a negligence claim against another party, such as the driver’s employer or a government entity that failed to maintain the road.
Product Liability Claims
Some car accidents arise from vehicle or parts defects, such as faulty brakes or steering mechanisms. You can file a product liability claim against auto or parts manufacturers and, sometimes, distributors when a defective vehicle or part contributes to your damages.
Wrongful Death Claims
Family members of the deceased should not have to worry about expenses related to an accident that was someone else’s fault. Under Louisiana law, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit to compensate you for your losses and hold the other party responsible for their actions.
Working with an experienced Lake Charles car accident attorney is critical. They have the knowledge and resources to gather evidence that might not be readily available and will negotiate with insurance companies or third parties. They also can determine whether you should name multiple parties as defendants in your lawsuit. For example, a speeding, negligent driver who hits you and the maker of a defective airbag in your vehicle may both hold liability.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Louisiana has a two-year personal injury statute of limitations starting on your car crash date. A judge will likely dismiss your case if you do not meet the deadline. Two years seems like a lot of time, but it’s best to contact our award-winning Lake Charles car accident law firm promptly. The sooner you do, the longer our skilled investigators and lawyers have to build a strong case based on solid evidence.
The change in Louisiana law to a two-year personal injury statute of limitations took effect in July 2024 and is not retroactive. If your accident occurred before then, the statute of limitations is only one year. The time you have to sue for a wrongful death arising from a car accident remains one year from your loved one’s passing.
Types of Car Accident Claims Our Lake Charles Attorneys Handle
The circumstances of every car accident are different, and we use our skills and resources to personalize our approach for each client. Our experienced Lake Charles car accident attorneys handle any type of car accident claim, including:
- Blind spot accidents
- DWI/DUI accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Low-speed accidents
- Merging accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Rental car accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Side-impact collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Uber, Lyft, and rideshare accidents
Car Accident Statistics in Louisiana
According to crash reports from data compiled at LSU, Louisiana car accidents declined by 11 percent from 2021 to 2023. However, the 143,233 crashes in 2023 are alarming despite representing a decrease. In Calcasieu Parish alone in 2023, 2,655 people were injured in car crashes, and another 42 died.
Even car crashes that result in minor property damage can cause injuries, lost work time, mounting bills, and significant pain. Regardless of what type of car crash you are involved in, you need a team of experienced Lake Charles car accident lawyers to protect your rights and fight for fair compensation.
Lake Charles Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions
The legal process for a Louisiana car crash can cause confusion and frustration. Our Lake Charles car accident lawyers are always here to help. Here are some of the common questions we hear from our car accident clients.
Under Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” policy, uninsured drivers are prohibited from recovering the first $25,000 in property damage and the first $15,000 in personal injury damages sustained in an accident.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Uninsured drivers may still recover full compensation if the other driver intentionally caused the accident, fled the scene, is convicted of driving while intoxicated, or was committing a felony at the time of the accident.
Car accidents can cause various injuries. Some are relatively minor, requiring just a few weeks of recovery. Others can be devastating, resulting in lifelong pain, disability, and even death. Here are some of the most common types of injuries we see in car accident cases:
- Broken and fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs
- Spinal cord injuries, including full or partial paralysis
- Scars, disfigurement and amputation
- Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears
- Sprains, strains bruises
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Burn injuries
- Back and neck injuries, such as herniated discs and whiplash
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Psychological trauma, such as anxiety, depression and PTSD
Always seek medical attention after a car accident. You may not have symptoms for days or weeks for some injuries, such as internal bleeding. Keep all the documentation from your doctor visits, hospital stays, and tests. This evidence helps establish the accident’s impact on you and justifies the damages you seek.
Many factors can contribute to a car accident. Generally, some kind of driver negligence is to blame. These are some of the most common causes of Lakes Charles car accidents:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Fatigue or drowsy driving
- Distractions, such as texting, eating, radios, GPS and passengers
- Speeding
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating
- Improper turns
- Road rage and other forms of aggressive driving
Sometimes, vehicle-related or environmental factors may contribute to an accident. For example, tire blowouts and brake failures can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. Further, poor weather conditions, such as fog, ice, and heavy rain, can also increase accident risks.
Contact Us Today for a Free Case Evaluation
Handling insurance companies and trying to navigate the Louisiana legal system after a car crash can add to your stress. Don’t go it alone. Our Lake Charles car accident lawyers are ready and willing to put their decades of experience, commitment to justice, and legal knowledge to work for you.
Contact us for a FREE case evaluation by completing our online case review form or calling 469-813-7332.
