What a Car Accident Lawyer in Shreveport Can Do After a Serious Collision

A serious car accident changes everything fast. You’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, missed work, vehicle damage, and insurance companies calling before you’ve even left the hospital. The decisions you make in the first days and weeks after a crash can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation — and that’s where having the right attorney makes the difference.

At Ford Injury Firm, we represent car accident victims across Shreveport and northwest Louisiana. We handle the investigation, the insurance companies, and the legal strategy so you can focus on getting better. Here’s what a car accident lawyer actually does for you — and the Louisiana-specific laws that affect your case.

Investigating the Crash and Building Your Case

A strong case starts with a thorough investigation. We don’t rely solely on what the police report says — we dig deeper to determine exactly what happened and who is responsible.

Evidence We Gather

We collect and preserve everything that supports your claim:

• Police accident reports and any citations issued
• Photos and video of the scene, vehicles, and injuries
• Witness statements (names and contact info from the scene are critical — witnesses are harder to find later)
• Surveillance footage from nearby businesses (we send preservation letters immediately because most footage is overwritten within 7–30 days)
• Medical records linking your injuries to the crash
• Cell phone records if distracted driving is suspected
• Vehicle “black box” data (event data recorders) that capture speed, braking, and seatbelt use in the seconds before impact

Working With Experts

For complex crashes — multi-vehicle pileups, disputed liability, or catastrophic injuries — we bring in accident reconstruction specialists who analyze physical evidence, vehicle data, and scene conditions to show precisely how the collision occurred and who caused it.

Louisiana Laws That Affect Your Car Accident Case

Louisiana has several rules that directly impact what you can recover and how your case is handled. Your attorney needs to understand these — and so should you.

Comparative Fault: The 51% Bar (La. C.C. Art. 2323)

Louisiana follows a comparative fault system. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault — and if you’re found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies know this, and they actively try to shift blame onto you to reduce what they owe.

This is why evidence matters so much. We build the strongest possible case on liability to counter fault arguments and protect the value of your claim.

The Two-Year Prescriptive Period (La. C.C. Art. 3493.1)

For accidents on or after July 1, 2024, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Before that date, the deadline was just one year (Art. 3492). Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue — regardless of how strong your case is. The clock starts running on the day of the accident.

UM/UIM Coverage: An Extra Source of Compensation (La. R.S. 22:1295)

Louisiana law requires every auto insurance policy to include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage at the same limits as your bodily injury liability — unless you signed a valid written waiver to reject or reduce it. This is one of the most important and most overlooked sources of compensation in car accident cases.

If the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage (Louisiana’s minimums are only $15,000/$30,000/$25,000 — often far below actual damages in serious crashes), your own UM/UIM policy can cover the gap. We review every client’s policy to identify all available coverage.

Direct Action Against Insurers (La. R.S. 22:1269)

Louisiana is one of the few states with a Direct Action Statute — in certain circumstances, you can sue the at-fault driver’s insurance company directly. This can be a strategic advantage in negotiations and at trial.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are not on your side. Their adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and they start working against your claim from day one. Here’s what we handle for you:

Recorded Statements

Insurers will call quickly after the accident asking for a recorded statement. They frame it as routine, but anything you say can be used to reduce your compensation. We advise you on what to say and handle communications directly so nothing gets used against you.

Settlement Offers

Insurance companies often make early settlement offers — sometimes before you even know the full extent of your injuries. These initial offers are almost always far below what the claim is worth. We evaluate every offer against the actual value of your case before recommending whether to accept or push back.

Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim

Many accident victims focus on the immediate costs — the hospital bill and the car repair. But a serious injury claim is worth much more than that. We calculate every category of damages to make sure nothing is left on the table:

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, imaging, prescriptions, rehabilitation)
• Future medical costs (ongoing treatment, anticipated surgeries, long-term care)
• Lost wages from missed work
• Reduced earning capacity if injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
• Property damage (vehicle repair or replacement, personal belongings)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

For injuries with long-term consequences — traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, chronic pain — we work with medical and economic experts to calculate the lifetime cost of your injuries.

Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Case

Avoid these common errors after an accident:

Delaying medical treatment. Gaps between the accident and your first doctor visit give insurers ammunition to argue the crash didn’t cause your injuries.

Accepting an early settlement. Once you sign, you can’t go back for more — even if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected.

Posting on social media. Insurance adjusters check your accounts. A photo at a family event or a comment like “feeling better” can be used against you.

Giving a recorded statement without legal advice. What you say to an adjuster can and will be used to reduce your claim.

Missing the prescriptive period. Two years feels like a long time until it isn’t. Evidence collection, treatment, and case preparation all take time.

When Should You Contact a Car Accident Lawyer?

You should talk to an attorney as soon as possible if:

• You or a passenger suffered serious injuries
• The other driver is disputing fault
• Multiple vehicles were involved
• The at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured
• The insurance company’s settlement offer seems low
• A commercial vehicle (truck, delivery van, rideshare) was involved
• You’re unsure about your insurance coverage or UM/UIM policy

The earlier you contact us, the better we can preserve evidence, protect your rights, and build a case that maximizes your recovery.

Talk to Us About Your Case

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Shreveport or anywhere in northwest Louisiana, we’re here to help. We investigate the crash, handle the insurance companies, and fight for every dollar your case is worth.

Contact Ford Injury Firm today for a free consultation — call (318) 550-4918 or visit fordinjuryfirm.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should I contact a car accident lawyer after a crash?
As soon as possible — ideally within the first few days. Evidence like surveillance footage can be overwritten quickly, and the insurance company will start its own investigation immediately. Early legal involvement protects your rights and gives us the best chance to preserve critical evidence.

2. What evidence does a car accident lawyer collect?
We gather police reports, scene photos and video, witness statements, medical records, cell phone records, vehicle black box data, surveillance footage, and financial documents (pay stubs, medical bills). We also send preservation letters to prevent businesses and other parties from destroying evidence.

3. What if the other driver’s insurance offers me a settlement?
Don’t accept it without legal review. Early settlement offers are almost always below the actual value of your claim — often before you know the full extent of your injuries. We evaluate every offer against your medical costs, lost income, future treatment needs, and pain and suffering to determine if it’s fair.

4. What is UM/UIM coverage and why does it matter?
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is required in every Louisiana auto policy (La. R.S. 22:1295) unless you signed a waiver. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, your own UM/UIM policy can cover the difference. Louisiana’s minimum auto insurance limits ($15,000/$30,000/$25,000) often don’t cover serious injuries.

5. How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Louisiana?
For accidents on or after July 1, 2024, you have two years from the date of injury (La. C.C. Art. 3493.1). The previous deadline was one year. Missing the deadline means losing your right to sue — no exceptions.