In the first hour
- Get safe and get checked. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Accept medical evaluation even if you feel fine; adrenaline masks injury.
- Photograph everything. Both vehicles, all four corners, the road, skid marks, signage, weather, and any visible injuries.
- Exchange information, not opinions. Name, phone, insurance, plate. Do not say "I'm fine" or "it was my fault."
- Get the police report number. In Alexandria that is APD or Rapides Parish Sheriff. State Police for highways.
- Identify witnesses. Names and phone numbers. They leave fast.
In the first week
- See a doctor within 72 hours if you have not already. Gaps in treatment are the first thing an adjuster points to.
- Report to your own insurer. Your policy requires prompt notice. Stick to facts.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. You are not required to. Politely decline until you have talked to a lawyer.
- Do not sign anything from an insurance company. Medical authorizations and "quick settlement" releases give away rights you cannot get back.
- Start a file. Every bill, every receipt, every missed workday, every text from an adjuster.
Deadlines
- Most Louisiana injury claims arising after July 1, 2024 must be filed within two years (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1). Earlier incidents: one year.
- Suits against a city, parish, or the State carry extra procedural traps, including requesting service within 90 days of filing (La. R.S. 13:5107(D)).
- Use the Deadline Calculator for your date.
What a lawyer actually does for you
Preserves evidence before it disappears, manages the medical-records paper trail, deals with the adjuster so you do not have to, negotiates liens, and prepares the case as if it will be tried. That last part is why most cases settle well.
General information, not legal advice. Talk to an attorney about your situation.