Covington Truck Accident FAQs

Ever wonder if some days or times are safer to drive than others?  If you are like me, there are days I come up and tell my wife: “It seems like all the bad drivers are on the road today!”  Is that a coincidence?  Turns out it is NOT!

Be extra vigilant on Friday and Saturday!

According to the National Safety Council (Injury Facts), the number of fatal crashes is more frequent on weekends, peaking on Saturday.  The number of nonfatal crashes is higher on weekdays, peaking on Friday.  For both fatal and nonfatal wrecks, the peak time of day was 4 p.m. to 7:59 p.m., but vary depending on the time of year.  In general, less fatal crashes occur in the morning and increase later in the day and into the evening hours. 

Travel in March, not in October.

During the COVID pandemic, crash statistics were largely sporadic given people’s jobs, crazy store hours, lack of school, etc.  Now that things are getting back to normal, so are crash statistics.  Typically, less miles are traveled in January and February and steadily increase through July.  As a result, traffic deaths were lowest from January to March and elevated from May through October.   

Increases in fatalities during COVID.

You would think that with fewer people on the road during the COVID pandemic, the rate of crashes and fatalities would have decreases.  Surprisingly, this was not the case.  In fact, in 2020 the number of crash deaths increased by 8% despite an 11% decrease in the amount of miles driven.  In 2021, the number of deaths increased by an additional 11%. 

Researchers blame the increase in traffic deaths in 2020 to three factors: (1) An increase in alcohol-impaired driving; (2) an increase in speeding; and (3) an increase in unrestrained vehicle occupants. 

Let this be a lesson to all of us that just because there may be fewer people on the road, whether it be on a Sunday morning or during a pandemic, we should never let down our guard while driving!

Have You Been Injured In An Accident And Searching For A Personal Injury Lawyer?

No matter what day or time your accident happened contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.

I get it.  After a car wreck, you may be shaken up and achy, but you just don’t have time to go to the doctor.  “I’ll just take some Motrin and rest.”  You have a full-time job, kids to pick up from school, and just not enough time to deal with your own injuries.  “Hopefully I’ll feel better after a few days.”  If this is you, I understand.  But just know that if you don’t take time to properly document your injuries soon after an accident, the insurance company probably won’t give you credit for them later, even if you are really hurt and things get worse later.   

Insurance companies don’t take your word for it.

If your injuries are not documented in black and white in a medical provider’s records, the insurance company will not consider them in the adjustment of your insurance claim.  It doesn’t matter if you have been dealing for months with persistent back pain.  As the insurance company sees it, if your injuries weren’t bad enough to cause you to seek medical treatment, they aren’t serious enough to compensate. 

When you go to the doctor’s office, urgent care, the chiropractor, or to the emergency room, you will have several opportunities to document your injuries.  First, you will likely be asked to fill out patient forms, including a review of your current symptoms.  It is important to accurately complete these forms and list ALL of your current symptoms. 

When you meet with the medical provider or their staff, it is also important to describe ALL of your injuries, even if some seem minor in comparison. 

When the insurance company reviews your medical records, they should evidence all of the injuries you are claiming were caused or aggravated by the wreck.  The medical records will corroborate your reported injuries and help prove your claims. 

Make sure to list everything bothering you.

It is human nature to downplay our own injuries.  It is also typical for us to leave out what we may think to be minor symptoms when other, more major problems are bothering us.  For instance, if you suffer a right shoulder dislocation, your focus will be on that and you may fail to mention that your left ankle is also swollen. 

In a personal injury case (like a car wreck), it is important to list ALL of your symptoms to a medical provider, even if they seem minor.  That’s because if minor symptoms get worse over time, the insurance company may not believe that they are related to the car wreck if those symptoms were not documented soon after the accident.  For instance, if you report low back pain for the first time six months after an accident, the insurance company will have a hard time relating it to the wreck since it wasn’t documented soon thereafter.  This is the case even if you had low back pain immediately after the wreck and either didn’t see a doctor or failed to report it. 

Take pictures of your injuries.

It is true that a picture can say a thousand words.  If you have visible injuries, such as bruises, bumps, scrapes, road rash, stiches, or other wounds, take as many pictures and videos of them as necessary.  Do this during your entire healing process so that you can have a record of your injuries.  In some cases requiring wound care, photos can be important to prove the amount of effort that went into cleaning and dealing with your injuries, and any permanent scarring you may have. 

Keep a diary.

We provide a diary to all of our clients so that they can document their injuries, treatment progress, doctor appointments, missed work, and general wellbeing during their recovery.  Keeping a diary is a good idea, as it is important to memorialize how you are feeling in the moment, rather than trying to remember those details months or even years later.

Have You Been In An Accident And Not Sure What To Do?

If you were shaken up because of an accident and not sure what to do contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.

 

At Flattmann Law, we accept about 8% of the calls we receive.  That means, for every ten phone calls we get inquiring about a car wreck or personal injury, one of those callers may become our client. 

Why so few?  We take pride in the quality of representation we provide in each and every case we accept.  We make sure the cases we take have merit, are serious, and result in good relationships with our clients. 

Does the case have merit?

The key factor in any personal injury case is liability, or who is responsible for causing an accident or incident.  Sometimes this is straightforward, like when a car is sitting at a red light and gets rear-ended by a driver who is texting.  But sometimes, liability is not as straightforward, like when a crash happens at an intersection and two people both swear that they had the green light.  Sometimes, a caller may not understand that their own actions caused or contributed to an accident and that they may be liable. 

When we consider a case, evidence regarding liability plays a huge role in our decision whether we can represent a client.  Even if we can’t take a case, we make sure to let the caller know the reason.

Does the case involve injuries?

At Flattmann Law, we represent clients who have suffered serious injuries as a result of car wrecks, including family members of loved ones who have died as a result of major accidents.  One thing we discuss during a potential client’s phone call is whether the person was injured because of the car accident.  If the answer is yes, we discuss their medical history, including any future treatment. 

If a caller has not suffered a legitimate injury, we will not be able to represent them.  However, in those cases, we still try our best to point that person in the right direction concerning their rights against the at-fault insurance company.

In some cases, the caller may not realize just how badly they are injured.  They may say that they are “okay” and then go on to describe how they have been suffering with all kinds of injuries they didn’t have prior to the accident.  Something is definitely wrong and the last thing they want to do is resolve their car wreck claim before getting checked out by their doctor. 

Our Firm Is About Quality, Not Quantity

At Flattmann Law, we take pride in the way we handle each and every one of our clients’ cases.  Unlike many larger firms, our success does not depend on taking and settling as many cases as quickly as possible.  Through the course of our representation, we form close relationships with our clients.  If we take a case, that means we will do everything we can to obtain a favorable outcome for our client.  We will exceed the expectations of our clients. 

We review cases BEFORE taking them:

Some large law firms have a very low bar when it comes to accepting cases and will “sign up” nearly every call they get.  It’s only after they get around to reviewing the substance of the case a few weeks later when they conclude that the case does not have merit and end up dumping (terminating) the case.  At Flattmann Law, we have even gotten calls from clients whose cases were dumped by accident by another firm.  Yikes!  At our firm, we do our research before entering into a contract with a client to handle their case.

Have You Been In An Accident And Need An Attorney That Values Quality Over Quantity?

If you are looking for a personal injury firm that values quality of representation over quantity of cases contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.

How long will this process take?  This is probably the most asked question we get from our clients.  The answer…it depends.  Insurance claims can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years to resolve, depending on a number of factors. 

How significant are your injuries?

Typically, we do not want to settle an insurance claim before our client is either fully healed from their injuries or comfortable with their future medical outlook.  Why?  Because insurance claims are valued in part based on the types of injuries incurred and the amount of time it takes to recover from those injuries.  Settling a case prematurely can sometimes limit the true value of an insurance claim. 

Are there limits on the amount of insurance coverage available?

In Louisiana, the state requires drivers to have minimum car liability limits of 15/30/25.  This means liability limits of $15,000 per person up to $30,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage.  A majority of Louisiana drivers have minimum limits.  Unfortunately, this means that if you are seriously injured in a car accident, the person who caused the accident may very well have only $15,000 in insurance coverage available to cover your medical bills and general damages, like pain and suffering, lost wages, etc.  That’s not much considering that an ambulance ride from Hwy 190 to St. Tammany Parish Hospital alone can cost $3,000 and a hospital bill can cost another $2,000 to $8,000. 

Why does this impact how long an insurance claim takes?  If there is limited insurance available, the value of a major personal injury claim will quickly reach those limits.  At Flattmann Law, we keep insurance companies informed about our clients’ injuries and treatment.  As a result, when our clients’ claims reach policy limits, insurance adjusters often call us in an attempt to resolve those claims as quickly as possible. 

In major injury cases, while it is good news if the at-fault party has high limits of liability coverage, it also means that the claim may take longer to resolve.  In those cases, it is important for our clients to get to a point of maximum medical improvement before settling their case, and doing so can take time. 

Are there questions as to who is responsible for the wreck?

Insurance companies are experts at trying to pass the blame to the injured victim of an accident.  If the insurance company is refusing to accept responsibility (liability) for a wreck, we may have to take extra measures to prove our case.  This can be anything from conducting interviews of witnesses to hiring crash reconstruction experts.  Often, if an insurance company is refusing to accept liability, it requires the filing of a lawsuit and lawsuits can take a long time to finalize.

Have You Been In An Accident And Have Questions About How Long It Will Take Your Claim To Resolve?

If you have been in an accident and have questions about how long it will take to resolve your car wreck claim contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.

Sleep deprivation is a common cause of truck-related accidents.  18-wheeler drivers sometimes push themselves beyond their limits in an effort to make sure their haul is delivered on time.  TO unsuspecting motorists in their vicinity, this can mean disaster.  

Sometimes, what the police may tell you following a big truck wreck may be speculation based on their investigation of the accident and they may not put those statements in the report.  Typically, we end up taking the officer’s deposition in order to better understand why he or she made such comments.  

One of the things we do during the course of a big truck lawsuit is investigate the state of the truck driver in an attempt to uncover evidence of driver’s fatigue.  This can be done by analyzing driving records, including logbooks showing whether the driver took required breaks.  Accident reconstructionist experts may even be brought in to analyze the specifics of an accident in order to uncover evidence of driver fatigue or sleep deprivation.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Oftentimes, it may be difficult to get in touch with the right person with a big company to report and get information after a car wreck.  Big companies typically have their own car wreck claim units or hire third-party companies to handle such claims.  

Getting to the right person can be challenging and frustrating.  Front-line employees who answer the 1-800 number may not have the right information to get you in touch with the claim’s unit.  In most cases, it takes some digging to get to the right department.

If a big company is not responding to your calls, chances are that you do not have the right person’s attention.  For instance, if you have been leaving messages for the operator or another front-line employee, they are probably disregarding your calls as “not their problem.”  

Though years of experience, we have found that persistence and resourcefulness are the keys to making sure our clients’ claims are handled properly and taken seriously.  When our client is in an accident involving a big company, we gather all of the information possible to make sure we get the right person’s attention.  Ultimately, our goal is to get the claim in front of the insurance representative or third-party administrator in charge of handling car accident claims.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Being involved in an accident with a big truck or commercial vehicle is often confusing, especially when it comes to filing an insurance claim.  Sometimes, a police report will list the driver of the truck, the leasing company, the owner of the trailer, and finally, an insurance company you have never heard of.  What do you do?

When we receive a case involving a big truck or commercial vehicle, we immediately get to work researching the parties involved.  One of our first calls is to the at-fault insurance company in order to begin evaluating whether they are taking responsibility for the accident, and for the fault of the truck driver.  At the same time, we may also request information from the owner of the truck and its driver to make sure the information is matching up.  

Ultimately, the insurance claim will be filed with the truck’s insurance company.  However, if the insurance company is denying responsibility for the driver’s actions, further investigation is needed in order to protect our clients’ claims.

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

Delay is one strategy used by insurance companies, including big truck insurance companies, to deter people from pursuing their claims following an accident.  The longer insurance companies can keep their money, the better for their bottom line.  

Big truck insurance companies are different than the typical car insurance companies with which you may be familiar.  Oftentimes, they are from out of state and unfamiliar with Louisiana’s laws concerning property damage adjustment, timely claims handling, and third-party bad faith law.  

At Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, we help our clients through all aspects of their big truck cases, including their claims for property damage.  If the insurance company is delaying the process, we find out the reason, make sure the insurance company has satisfactory proof of our client’s loss, and put them on notice as to Louisiana’s laws on timely claims handling.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

In Louisiana, the statute of limitations (also known as the prescriptive period) to file a lawsuit for car and truck accidents is one year from the date of the injury or damage sustained.  This means that if a lawsuit is not properly filed within that period, the injured person’s claims are no longer valid.  

To be clear, filing an insurance claim with a big truck’s insurance company following a wreck is NOT the same as filing a lawsuit.  An insurance claim is the process of notifying the at-fault insurance company of the wreck and your damages and injuries and pursuing compensation for those injuries.  Filing an insurance claim does not require filing a lawsuit if the claim can be resolved within that year period discussed above.  Sometimes, if a claim cannot be resolved, a lawsuit must be filed to preserve and pursue our client’s claims.

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.

The term “commercial truck” typically refers to a truck owned by a company, and not by an individual.  Commercial trucks can mean anything from 18-wheelers to dump trucks, and even pickup trucks being used by a construction company.  If a truck, or any vehicle for that matter, is owned by a company and being used by that company’s employees, it would be considered a commercial vehicle. 

Just like a personal vehicle, a commercial vehicle must be insured in order to be legally driven in Louisiana.  However, a commercial vehicle will typically be covered by commercial liability insurance, under the company’s policy of insurance, and not necessarily by the driver’s personal liability insurance.  

When we represent someone injured by a commercial truck, it is important that we identify the business who owns the vehicle and the proper insurance company with whom to file an injury claim.  Sometimes, a commercial insurance company has a different claims process than a personal insurer, so that will also be determined in order to ensure that a claim is handled properly.  

Have You Been Injured In A Covington Area Truck Accident?

If you've been hurt in a semi-truck or large vehicle accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact me online or call my Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. I help clients throughout Louisiana including Mandeville, Slidell, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Hammond, New Orleans and Metairie.