Causeway Bridge Crashes

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, also known as the Causeway Bridge or merely the Causeway, is the world’s longest bridge over water. The longer a bridge is, the more likely accidents will occur on that bridge. Louisianans know this well, as the Causeway Bridge has seen more than its share of motor vehicle accidents—many of which have had devastating effects.

If you suffered an injury in a collision anywhere on the 24-mile-long bridge or any other popular causeways in a southern coastal area, you should hire a car accident lawyer to seek compensation. Your attorney will determine who caused your accident, how much compensation you deserve, and what strategy will most likely produce the compensation you deserve.

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Why Car Accidents Happen on the Causeway Bridge

The Causeway is an unusually long bridge. Like many bridges, the quarters along this span are tight, uncomfortably so for some drivers. Crossing this bridge safely requires a roadworthy vehicle, skill, attention, sobriety, and a desire to protect oneself and others.

With this in mind, a Causeway Bridge accident can happen because of:

Traffic

Traffic is a common hazard on the Causeway. The times of day commonly known as “rush hour” typically result in the densest traffic along the bridge. Such traffic may:

Reduce the amount of space between vehicles
Increase the risk that distracted motorists will hit the vehicle in front of them
Cause drivers to become frustrated, irritable, and prone to risky decisions
Produce more instances of dangerous passing as drivers attempt to avoid traffic-related delays
See a much higher risk of collision

Traffic alone does not cause accidents. However, traffic creates conditions where an accident may be much more likely. Motorists are responsible for preventing collisions even in the densest, most frustrating congestion.

Impaired and Distracted Drivers

New Orleans’ well-known reputation as a party city makes impaired driving an especially pressing concern for motorists on the Causeway. For example, a staggering 29 percent of motor vehicle accidents in Louisiana in a recent year were alcohol-related.

A motorist cannot control their vehicle safely and is more likely to cause an accident when they are:

Under the influence of alcohol
Impaired by one or more drugs, whether prescribed or purchased legally
Tired
Visually impaired
Engaged in distracting behaviors

A motorist who is angry, unusually sad, or emotionally or psychologically compromised in any other way is also a danger to themselves and others.

Fog and Other Weather-Related Hazards

Dense fog has caused severe, multi-vehicle collisions on the Causeway. Other hazardous weather, such as rain, hail, snow, and ice (a rare but possible phenomenon in places such as Louisiana and other southern coastal communities) can also contribute to motor vehicle collisions.

Even birds can be a hazard, as countless motorists have hit flocks while traversing the Causeway. Determining fault may be more difficult when environmental conditions contribute to a collision. Let an experienced attorney determine who is responsible for your crash.

Speeding

Speeding is one of the more reliable predictors of an accident. Speeding may be particularly dangerous on the Causeway, as a speeding motorist has no shoulder or neutral ground to swerve into if they cannot brake before hitting the vehicle.

Dangerous Attempts to Pass

Dangerous passing is always an accident hazard. This reckless act becomes even more dangerous on a bridge with less margin for error.

If a driver attempts to pass in a space where it is unsafe to do so (such as cutting a small gap between two vehicles), they are liable for any resulting collision.

Bridge Defects

Those who have driven on the Causeway know the slight bouncing feeling well. While this is an impressive landmark, the bridge’s construction is imperfect. One or more defects in the bridge can cause a collision. In such cases, car accident attorneys identify who is responsible for the defect and the resulting collision.

Who Is Liable When a Crash Happens on a Causeway Bridge?

This is one of many determinations your lawyer will make as they lead your case. As your attorney gathers evidence related to your accident, they will better understand who is responsible for your accident-related damages.

Some parties who can be liable for a collision on the Causeway are:

Any motorist whose negligence caused the crash
Any parties (such as engineers and municipalities) responsible for dangerous driving conditions
The manufacturer of a defective vehicle
Any establishment that overserved an intoxicated motorist

Drivers are most often responsible for collisions on the roadway. Even if driving conditions are not optimal, motorists must increase their distance from other vehicles, slow their speed, and take other precautions.

Allow your lawyer to determine who owes you compensation for your collision.

A Step That Can’t Wait: Hire Your Car Accident Attorney Right After Your Collision on the Causeway

You have probably already departed the scene of your accident, as clearing the Causeway is often a top priority after collisions. If not, accept medical care from emergency medical technicians (EMTs). If you have left the accident scene, seek medical care from a doctor as soon as possible.

Taking care of your health is most important and beneficial to your case. Hiring a lawyer is also essential after a Causeway accident because:

Liable parties may circulate: Reckless drivers, insurance companies, and other liable parties often know when they’re responsible for a crash. These parties may take urgent measures to avoid financial liability. Your attorney will take immediate steps to protect you from the destruction of evidence, pressure to make statements, lowball offers, and other tactics meant to harm your case.
You don’t need to worry about your case—your recovery is plenty. Recovering from accident-related injuries can be a full-time job. Handling your case may compromise your health. You may also be less capable of caring for yourself and handling your obligations if you don’t accept help with your case.
Lawyers know how to resolve Causeway accident cases efficiently: A collision on the Causeway can be traumatic. You probably want to move on as soon as possible. An attorney will want the same for you. More importantly, your lawyer will understand the steps necessary to resolve your case, and they will complete those steps as quickly as possible—while fighting for the best possible outcome for you.
You may choose to sue, in which case a lawyer is exactly who you need on your side: If you decide to sue after your accident, either soon or eventually, you won’t have to find an attorney to lead your case. You will already have one. Importantly, your attorney can help determine if filing a lawsuit is right.
There are deadlines for auto accident cases in: Both insurance companies and courts impose deadlines on accident survivors. Whether you resolve your case through an insurance claim or file a lawsuit, deadlines are a concern. If you hire your attorney soon after the crash, you virtually eliminate the possibility that a missed deadline will cause financial harm.

There are also many forms of support a lawyer brings to your case. Your attorney alone will invest much of their time and sweat into your case. They may also bring paralegals, professionals, investigators, and others who will substantially help your case.

Your Causeway Accident Lawyer Will Immediately Evaluate Your Case for Compensation

It’s up to you to find your Causeway car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Once you do, expect your lawyer and their team to immediately begin:

Evaluating Evidence

First, they will secure the evidence. Many cameras observe the Causeway Bridge, and your attorney may secure video of the accident from authorities that maintain those cameras.

Your attorney may also secure witness accounts, professional testimony about why the crash happened, and other evidence supporting your case.

Proving Your Accident-Related Damages

Accidents have a cost, and victims should not bear that cost. Your attorney will secure all documentation of your damages. This documentation will be the “invoice” your lawyer presents to liable parties and their financial demands.

Documentation of your damages may include:

Medical images
Healthcare bills
Direct testimony from medical professionals and mental health service providers
Bills for vehicle repairs
Receipts for any damaged property you must replace

Your testimony about the effects of the accident on the Causeway may also be valuable to your attorney. They will secure anything that indicates what you’ve lost or suffered because of the at-fault party’s negligence.

Creating a Unique Plan for Your Case

Each case requires a unique plan. This is what a lawyer will provide you.

Lawyers often start by seeking an insurance settlement for their clients. That said, some clients should sue immediately after the collision. Your attorney will likely give you their opinion about which strategy is right for your case.

Calculating a Case Value

Your medical bills, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs, and other damages will add up. Your lawyer will add these damages up for you, ultimately determining the total cost of your case.

Preparing for and Leading Settlement Negotiations

Settlement negotiations are not a casual event. These high-stakes meetings can produce a fair financial recovery for the accident victim. Your lawyer will take negotiations seriously and will:

Prepare diligently to present their arguments and settlement demands to liable parties
Have documentation of your damages organized logically and strategically
Be ready for liable parties to present counterarguments and try to poke holes in your case
Enter negotiations with a fearless mentality, as negotiations can become contentious

Each side in a settlement negotiation stands up for their interests. Your attorney will stand up for you, while insurance companies or other liable parties will try to protect their financial interests. Expect your lawyer to stand strong, making known that they’ll file a lawsuit if liable parties do not negotiate in good faith.

Helping You Decide Whether to Sue Liable Parties

If your attorney negotiates the settlement you deserve with insurance companies or other liable parties, the prospect of a lawsuit may be a moot point. In many cases, this can save you time and stress while ensuring you receive fair compensation for your injuries.

Some cases require legal action. Your lawyer will discuss the lawsuit if yours is one of those cases. Should you file a lawsuit, your attorney will fight valiantly for you in civil courts, working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome on your behalf.

Damages Accident Victims Deserve Fair Compensation For

Everything your lawyer does will be in the pursuit of your financial recovery. The financial recovery your lawyer seeks will reflect your accident-related damages, which may include:

Medical expenses, which can include the cost of ambulance transport from the Causeway to a medical facility, emergency services, imaging, and all other care you need after the crash
Pain and suffering, with examples including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain, emotional anguish, psychological distress, sleep loss, anxiety, depression, and lost quality of life
Property damage, which entitles you to compensation for the repair or replacement of that property
Lost earnings, as well as any other professional harm resulting from the car accident on the Causeway Bridge

If you are disabled or face other unique challenges because of the crash, your lawyer will reflect those damages in your case.

No Win, No Fee: Hiring an Attorney Costs Accident Survivors Nothing Out of Pocket

You can afford to hire a Causeway accident lawyer today, and you should do so. Most lawyers serving car accident victims don’t ask for upfront compensation from their clients. If they win, they only receive a fee directly from liable parties or your settlement or judgment. This means you can get professional legal representation without worrying about immediate costs, allowing you to focus on your recovery and getting the compensation you deserve.

Hire Your Causeway Car Accident Lawyer Today

Since there is no upfront cost to hire your attorney, you have no reason to wait before retaining yours. In fact, with deadlines potentially applying to your case, you have every reason to act quickly. The sooner you act, the sooner you can start working towards the compensation you deserve.

Find your Causeway Bridge car accident lawyer today. Hire them to handle every detail of your case while healing from accident-related injuries. Your lawyer can focus on the legal process so you can focus on your recovery.