Your Auto Accident Injury Lawyer

A car-accident claim is more than a police report and a stack of medical bills

After a crash, you may be dealing with pain, vehicle damage, missed work, medical appointments, and an insurance adjuster asking questions before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Shirer Law helps injured people in New Orleans and surrounding Louisiana communities build claims based on evidence—not assumptions or insurance-company shortcuts. We examine fault, available coverage, medical causation, and the real effect of the injury, then give candid advice about the likely path of the case.

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What Shirer Law does in a car-accident case

Insurance claims are often won or lost in the details. Our work may include:

Preserving evidence before it disappears. We obtain crash reports, photographs, witness information, video, 911 records, vehicle-damage evidence, and other available proof of how the collision occurred.
Identifying every source of insurance coverage. The responsible driver's policy is only the starting point. Depending on the facts, coverage may also exist through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, a household policy, an employer, a commercial vehicle policy, a rideshare company, or another responsible party.
Building the medical-causation evidence. An MRI finding alone does not tell the whole story. We compare symptoms and function before and after the crash, review prior records when relevant, follow the course of treatment, and work to present the medical evidence in a clear and credible way.
Documenting the full effect of the injury. Medical expenses matter, but so do lost income, physical limitations, disrupted sleep, missed family activities, the need for future care, and other changes that can be supported with evidence.
Testing the insurer's position. When an adjuster disputes fault, calls an injury pre-existing, relies on a treatment gap, or ignores available coverage, we require the carrier to deal with the actual records and applicable law.
Preparing each claim with litigation in mind. Many cases settle without a trial. A claim is more likely to receive serious consideration, however, when the evidence is organized and the lawyer is prepared to file suit if a fair resolution cannot be reached.

What to do after a car accident in Louisiana

If you have just been in a collision, focus first on safety and your health:

Call 911 when anyone may be injured or the scene is unsafe. Cooperate with responding officers, but do not guess about speeds, distances, or facts you did not observe.
Seek appropriate medical care. Some injuries become more apparent over the next several hours or days. Tell your provider about every symptom and follow reasonable treatment instructions.
Preserve what you can. Photograph the vehicles, roadway, traffic controls, visible injuries, and insurance information. Save dash-camera footage, damaged personal property, receipts, and the names of witnesses.
Notify the appropriate insurer promptly. You may have contractual duties under your own policy. Before giving a recorded statement or signing a broad medical authorization, understand who is requesting it and how it may be used.
Do not post about the accident, your injuries, or your activities on social media. A photograph or casual comment can be taken out of context.
Speak with a Louisiana car-accident attorney early. Evidence can disappear well before the legal filing deadline arrives.

How Louisiana law may affect your claim

Comparative fault

Louisiana uses comparative fault. If an injured person is found partly responsible for the collision, the recoverable damages may be reduced by that percentage. An insurer's early allocation of fault is not necessarily the final answer. Roadway evidence, vehicle damage, witness testimony, video, and the governing traffic rules may change the analysis.

The deadline to file suit

For many Louisiana negligence claims arising from accidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024, the general prescriptive period is two years from the date of injury. Older claims and particular types of defendants or claims may be governed by different rules. Do not use the general period as a reason to wait: insurance notice requirements, disappearing evidence, and other deadlines can matter much earlier.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

If the at-fault driver has no insurance—or not enough insurance to cover the loss—your own policy may provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. The existence and amount of that coverage can depend on the policy documents and any UM selection or rejection form. A claim involving your own insurer still deserves careful review.

Prior injuries and medical conditions

A prior back, neck, or joint problem does not automatically defeat a claim. The legal and medical question is whether the collision caused a new injury or aggravated an existing condition. The most persuasive presentation is usually candid and specific: what was present before the crash, what changed afterward, and what the medical records support.

What compensation may be available?

The damages depend on the evidence and the effect of the injury, not a generic online settlement chart. A Louisiana car-accident claim may include:

Past and reasonably supported future medical expenses
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Physical pain and suffering
Mental anguish and emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Disability or physical limitations
Property damage and loss-of-use claims
Other damages supported by the particular facts and Louisiana law

We do not place an arbitrary value on a claim before the diagnosis, treatment course, available insurance, and long-term effects are reasonably understood. Early promises and canned settlement ranges may sound reassuring, but they are not a substitute for a case-specific evaluation.

Our process: from first call through resolution

Identify urgent issues. We review the collision, injuries, treatment, vehicle damage, insurance, deadlines, adjuster contact, and evidence that may need immediate preservation.
Investigate fault and coverage. We obtain available records, evaluate competing accounts, and determine which people, businesses, and policies may be responsible.
Develop the medical and damages record. We collect relevant records and bills, address prior conditions honestly, and document how the injury has affected the client's work and life.
Negotiate or litigate. When the medical picture is sufficiently developed, we present an evidence-supported demand. If a reasonable resolution is not available, we are prepared to use discovery, depositions, experts, motion practice, and trial preparation.

We explain material offers and give candid advice. The client decides whether to settle.

Frequently asked questions

How much is my car-accident case worth?

No responsible lawyer can value a case from the type of collision alone. Important factors include fault, available insurance, the nature and duration of the injury, objective medical findings, prior conditions, consistency of treatment, lost income, future limitations, the credibility of the evidence, and the likely venue. A useful evaluation explains both the favorable and unfavorable facts.

How long do I have to file a Louisiana car-accident lawsuit?

Many negligence claims arising from accidents on or after July 1, 2024 generally have a two-year prescriptive period, but that is not a universal deadline. Older accidents and particular claims or defendants may be governed by different rules. Get case-specific advice early.

Should I give the insurance adjuster a recorded statement?

You should promptly report the accident when your policy requires it, but a recorded statement is different from basic notice. The other driver's insurer is gathering evidence for its own liability evaluation. Even your own policy may impose duties that should be reviewed carefully. Get advice before giving a recorded statement if you are unsure of your obligations or the purpose of the request.

What does it cost to hire Shirer Law?

Car-accident cases are generally handled under a written contingency-fee agreement, so an attorney fee is owed only if there is a recovery. The agreement will explain the fee and whether the client may be responsible for case costs or expenses.

Talk with Shirer Law about your Louisiana car-accident claim

You do not need a sales pitch or a guaranteed outcome. You need to understand the available insurance, the evidence that will matter, the legal deadlines, and the decisions ahead.

Contact Shirer Law for a free, confidential case review. We will listen to what happened, identify the immediate issues, and explain whether we believe we can help.