After a car accident in Shreveport, one of the first questions injury victims ask is how long after an accident can you sue. The answer depends heavily on Louisiana law and the specific details of the collision. Louisiana generally allows two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024. For crashes occurring before that date, the filing window narrows to just one year. Exceptions exist for minors and certain case types. At The Monsour Law Firm, we help Shreveport, Louisiana injury victims understand these deadlines before time runs out. If you need a car accident lawyer in Shreveport, LA, that residents can trust, call us before the clock expires.
Filing a car accident lawsuit makes sense when injuries, lost wages, or property damage exceed what insurance covers. Not every collision requires going to court, but serious injuries, long-term treatment, or permanent disability create financial burdens that no settlement offer should minimize. Louisiana drivers often face low initial insurance payouts. When medical costs increase and fair offers are absent, a personal injury claim is necessary. We assess each case to find the best course of action.
Louisiana updated its personal injury prescription period with legislation effective July 1, 2024. According to Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, delictual actions have a two-year liberative prescription period starting from the date of injury or damage. However, crashes before July 1, 2024, are still subject to the prior one-year rule, making the collision date critical. Missing either deadline typically ends any right to compensation permanently.
Acting quickly remains essential regardless of any exception, since evidence fades and witnesses become harder to locate over time.
Shreveport drivers often confuse an insurance claim with a car accident lawsuit. An insurance claim is a negotiated settlement with the insurer, who controls the outcome. A lawsuit goes through the Louisiana court system, allowing a judge or jury to determine fair compensation. Insurance policies have reporting deadlines, often much shorter than the two-year legal filing period. Failure to promptly notify your insurer after a collision risks your coverage, even if the legal deadline is open.
The actions taken in the hours and days following a car crash directly affect the strength of any future claim. Under §398 of Louisiana law, drivers in a crash causing injury, death, or over $500 in property damage must immediately notify law enforcement, exchange name, address, and registration with involved parties, and cooperate with officers. These legal duties aside, the following steps protect your right to compensation:
If you’ve been in a car accident, this question has likely crossed your mind. How long after an accident can you sue? Delaying the answer has significant consequences, leading to the loss of evidence, deterioration of witness memory, and a reduction in negotiating leverage. The Monsour Law Firm represents Shreveport, LA, car accident victims from 401 Market Street, Suite 1300. We work on a contingency fee basis, with no upfront costs and no fees unless we win.
Do not let the deadline decide your case for you. Call our Shreveport, LA office today at (903) 999-9999 for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer who fights for the compensation you deserve.
Douglas C. Monsour, or Doug Monsour, is a trial lawyer who handles important and significant injury cases in Texas and across the nation. He is one of a handful of trial lawyers who have successfully tried multiple pharmaceutical, medical device, and mass tort product liability cases as the lead lawyer. He also vigorously represents injured oil field workers, victims of 18-wheeler wrecks, industrial accident victims, and those that have been severely burned.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Monsour who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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