Driving on the roads of Lake Charles shouldn’t be a dangerous activity. And yet, each year, thousands of residents are involved in serious crashes. Negligent drivers turn routine commutes into devastatingly painful events with lasting physical and financial consequences. An expert Lake Charles car accident lawyer from Morris & Dewett helps you fight against powerful insurance companies that prioritize profits over fair compensation. 

Morris & Dewett: Skilled Car Accident Lawyers

After a serious collision, having a dedicated car accident lawyer in Lake Charles, LA, can dramatically change your recovery outcome. Insurance companies use sophisticated tactics to minimize payouts, taking advantage of victims during their most vulnerable moments. Without experienced legal representation, you face corporations with teams of adjusters and law firms whose sole purpose is to reduce your compensation. 

Morris & Dewett levels the playing field with decades of experience fighting for Lake Charles car accident victims. Our accident lawyers understand Louisiana’s unique legal system and how to deal with insurance companies that don’t have your best interest at heart. We handle all aspects of your case, from collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to getting expert consultations and negotiating settlements so you can focus entirely on your recovery.

Local Expertise in Lake Charles, LA

For years, our attorneys have built deep connections throughout the Lake Charles community. Our team regularly appears before local judges, which gives us invaluable insight into their preferences and decision-making patterns. This established presence means court staff and insurance representatives recognize our reputation and willingness to take cases to trial when necessary.

Our local knowledge extends beyond courtrooms to the specific hazards of Lake Charles roads. We understand the unique dangers of the I-10 bridge, the traffic patterns around major industrial employers, and other local factors that contribute to serious accidents. This community-specific expertise lets us build more compelling cases tailored to where and how your accident occurred.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Lake Charles

Calcasieu Parish has specific roads and intersections that are hotspots for crashes. According to the most recent Center for Research and Analytics for Transportation Safety (CARTS) data, the parish had 2,322 intersection crashes and 1,102 roadway departure crashes in 2024 alone. These accidents contribute to the parish’s concerning rate of 15.22 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. 

At Morris & Dewett, we have represented victims injured on some of the most unsafe roads in Lake Charles. The most dangerous intersections in the parish are:

• US-90 interchange with US-171: This major highway interchange can easily cause catastrophic high-speed collisions as vehicles merge from one highway into the other.
• Kirby Street and Ryan Street: Poor visibility and heavy commercial vehicle traffic make this intersection especially dangerous for pedestrians and smaller vehicles.
• Common Street and Kirby Street: The confusing traffic patterns of this intersection and inadequate signage lead distracted drivers to cause accidents in this busy downtown intersection.
• Hodges Street and 7th Street: Long-time residents know to approach this intersection with extreme caution due to its history of serious accidents.

The infamous I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge is another serious crash hotspot. Its narrow 11-foot lanes provide minimal margin for error compared to standard 12-foot lanes, and its steep approach grades force vehicles to climb and descend sharply with minimal visibility. Originally designed to handle only 37,000 daily crossings, this bridge now struggles under 90,000 daily crossings. All these defects have earned this bridge the nickname of the “death trap” by Lake Charles locals. Our deep local expertise in circumstances like this helps our attorneys build stronger cases for Lake Charles injury victims to maximize compensation.

Typical Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents

Beyond the twisted metal and shattered glass, car accidents leave victims with deep physical trauma that often lasts long after vehicles are repaired. While some lucky victims walk away with minor bruises, many have to deal with extensive recovery plans that require surgeries and permanent lifestyle adjustments. Some of the types of injuries we most commonly see in Lake Charles car accidents are:

• Whiplash and neck injuries: Your neck absorbs tremendous stress during collisions, stretching delicate ligaments and muscles beyond normal limits. Symptoms often develop gradually, with pain, stiffness, headaches, and limited mobility showing up days after the accident when the adrenaline subsides. 
• Traumatic brain injuries: Your brain collides with the interior of your skull during impacts, which can cause bruising or bleeding. Even mild concussions can cause major concentration problems and sleep disturbances for months. More severe TBIs may require hospitalization and cause permanent cognitive impairments that fundamentally change your ability to work.
• Broken bones and fractures: Crushing forces inside collapsing vehicles can break limbs in multiple spots. A complex fracture requires intensive surgical intervention with screws or rods to heal bone fragments and restore function. Recovery takes weeks in casts or braces that will very likely stop you from returning to work for a while.
• Spinal cord injuries: Damaged vertebrae can crush or sever the spinal cord, causing partial or complete paralysis below the injury site. These catastrophic injuries transform every aspect of victims’ lives, requiring extensive home modifications and even lifelong personal care assistance. 
• Internal organ damage: Hidden beneath the skin, your injured organs may bleed internally without showing any external symptoms. Liver lacerations and ruptured spleens may require emergency surgery and intensive care. 
• Psychological trauma: Beyond physical wounds, car accidents inflict invisible psychological injuries that can be just as debilitating. Post-traumatic stress disorder manifests through flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and driving phobias that last long after the bones heal. 
• Facial injuries and scarring: Shattered windshields and impact with the steering wheel cause facial trauma, from minor lacerations to severe fractures. These injuries can leave permanent scars that affect both appearance and function, potentially requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries. 
• Wrongful death: Tragically, many Lake Charles accidents cause injuries too severe for survival, leaving families to deal with overwhelming grief alongside unexpected financial burdens. Beyond the immeasurable emotional devastation, these families suddenly face funeral expenses and the permanent loss of income and support the deceased would have provided. 

Special Legal Considerations in Lake Charles

Only Lake Charles injury lawyers with deep local experience truly understand the unique legal system of Lake Charles, LA. National firms and out-of-town attorneys lack familiarity with our local court systems and judges’ preferences. This local knowledge makes the difference between adequate settlements and truly fair compensation. When your future hangs in the balance after a serious crash, you need a car accident lawyer in Lake Charles who knows exactly how to handle these cases. 

Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations

The clock starts ticking immediately after a car accident in Lake Charles, and you don’t have a lot of time. Louisiana cuts off your right to pursue compensation two years from the accident date. Missing this deadline by even a single day will cause you to lose your ability to recover damages permanently.

This short timeframe makes it even more important to act fast. Evidence disappears quickly, and documentation becomes harder to obtain with each passing week. Reach out to a qualified car accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Navigating Comparative Negligence

Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault system that allows you to recover damages even when you share blame for the accident. Unlike states that bar recovery above certain fault percentages, you can receive compensation even if you are 99% responsible. However, the amount you’re able to recover is reduced by your fault percentage. For example, if you were 20% responsible for a $100,000 claim, then you may only obtain up to $80,000.

Insurance adjusters exploit this system by aggressively asserting shared blame to minimize payouts. They’ll scrutinize your actions before and during the crash, looking for any behavior they can characterize as contributing to the accident. Without knowledgeable legal representation, many victims face unfair fault allocations that dramatically reduce their compensation. An experienced Lake Charles car accident attorney knows how to counter these tactics with evidence that accurately assigns responsibility.

Steps To Take After a Car Accident

The moments following a car crash tend to pass in a confused blur, yet the actions you take during this critical time can have a massive impact on your physical recovery and financial future. Making smart decisions in the chaos helps protect both your health and legal rights when you’re at your most vulnerable. Follow these steps after any Lake Charles car accident to set yourself up for the best possible outcome:

1. Move to a safe place: Move vehicles out of traffic when possible to prevent secondary collisions that can be even more dangerous than the initial impact. Set up warning triangles or flares if available, and turn on hazard lights to alert approaching drivers. Remove yourself and passengers from dangerous roadway positions if you can move safely.
2. Call 911 and report the accident: Request police and medical response even if injuries seem minor. Symptoms can develop hours or even days later as adrenaline subsides, and getting the police to create an official record is extremely important for personal injury claims.
3. Document the scene thoroughly: Use your phone to take pictures of all vehicles from multiple angles before they’re moved. Capture all damage, weather conditions, traffic conditions, and relevant traffic signs. This visual evidence can come in handy when it’s time to assign liability.
4. Gather witness information: Collect names and contact information from anyone who saw the accident before they leave the scene. Neutral third-party accounts carry tremendous weight with insurance adjusters and in court proceedings. 
5. Seek medical evaluation: Visit an emergency room or urgent care center within 24 hours, even if you feel relatively unharmed. Many serious injuries develop symptoms gradually, and having medical documentation connects your condition directly to the accident. 
6. Notify your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurer within the timeframe specified by your policy, which is usually within 72 hours. Give it basic facts without elaborating or speculating about fault. Remember that these conversations are usually recorded and may be used against you later if you make inconsistent statements.
7. Avoid speaking with other drivers’ insurance companies: Decline requests for recorded statements or settlement discussions from other parties’ insurers before speaking with your attorney. Their adjusters try their hardest to get information that will minimize your claim rather than help you. 
8. Preserve evidence of damages: Keep all medical bills, repair estimates, medication receipts, and documentation of missed work. It’s also a good idea to start a journal recording pain levels, limitations, medical appointments, and how injuries affect your daily activities. This record shows how the accident impacted your life beyond medical expenses.
9. Contact a Lake Charles car accident attorney: Schedule a free legal consultation before accepting any settlement offers or signing any insurance documents. Having an experienced legal professional on your side early on prevents costly mistakes and helps you maximize your chances of obtaining fair financial compensation. 

Why Choose Morris & Dewett To Handle Your Car Accident Case?

Morris & Dewett has been a powerful advocate for car accident victims throughout Lake Charles and Louisiana. Our longstanding presence in the region gives us intimate knowledge of Calcasieu Parish roads and courts that outside firms simply cannot match. Unlike high-volume settlement mills that process cases like assembly lines, we provide personalized representation tailored to your unique circumstances and needs. Meet our team of attorneys who will personally handle your case from initial consultation through final resolution, helping you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Our track record speaks for itself through the life-changing results we’ve secured for clients facing devastating circumstances:

• $409 million for the wrongful death of a child due to a collision in a commercial vehicle accident
• $49 million for a client seriously injured by an impaired driver causing a collision
• $13 million for victims of an 18-wheeler accident
• $12.1 million when a commercial vehicle ran a red light and caused severe injury
• $7 million for severe injuries from a rear-end motor vehicle accident
• $4.1 million when a commercial vehicle rear-ended a client because of distracted driving and caused severe injuries
• $4 million for vehicle safety violations resulting in severe neck and back injuries

While past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, they show our commitment to pursuing maximum compensation rather than quick settlements that fail to address our client’s long-term needs. Our extensive resources allow us to handle complex cases involving catastrophic injuries that smaller firms cannot often properly litigate. 

Types of Damages and Compensation We Obtain for Clients

Car accident victims deserve compensation for both tangible financial losses and the profound personal suffering these crashes cause. Louisiana law recognizes two primary damage categories with distinct characteristics. 

First, economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses with specific dollar amounts like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages address the human impact of injuries, like physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety,  and diminished quality of life. While harder to quantify, these subjective losses tend to make up the largest part of settlements or compensation awards. In extraordinary cases, judges may choose to award punitive damages to the victim if the at-fault parties engaged in egregiously negligent behavior.

We take a comprehensive approach to identifying and fighting for both economic and non-economic damages to the fullest extent. The most common damages we recover for Lake Charles car accident victims are:

• Medical expenses: From emergency room visits to long-term rehabilitation, car accident injuries generate massive healthcare costs that shouldn’t burden victims. We recover compensation for ambulance transportation, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic testing, physical therapy, and medication expenses already incurred. More importantly, we include projected future medical expenses for ongoing treatments when we calculate damages to help you be set for life. 
• Lost wages and future earnings: Missing work while you recover can be financially painful when income stops coming in, but bills continue. We pursue recovery for every dollar of lost income during your healing period, including salary, hourly wages, commissions, bonuses, and benefits you would have earned. For permanently disabling injuries, we calculate your lifetime earning capacity reduction with the help of economic experts, factoring in career advancement opportunities that you may have lost due to your physical limitations.
• Pain and suffering: You deserve to be made whole as much as possible after the accident, and receiving compensation for the physical pain you endured is a big part of the equation. We pursue damages for the intensity and duration of your suffering, from acute pain immediately following your accident through chronic conditions that last well after the event. We consult medical professionals to build compelling evidence of this subjective but very real consequence of another’s negligence.
• Emotional distress: Beyond physical injuries, car accidents can cause massive psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic stress disorder. We document these conditions through psychological evaluations and testimony about how emotional distress has disrupted your relationships and daily functioning to secure adequate compensation for these invisible but debilitating injuries.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: Serious injuries can prevent you from participating in activities that used to give you joy and a sense of identity. We document specific hobbies, recreational pursuits, family roles, and personal projects that you can no longer perform or must significantly modify due to your injuries. This compensation acknowledges that quality of life includes more than mere survival and work capacity by honoring the value of enjoyment and leisure.

Getting the Compensation You Deserve

Don’t face powerful insurance companies alone after a serious Lake Charles car accident. Morris & Dewett’s experienced car accident attorneys offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain your legal options without obligation. Reach out to us for legal assistance today, and let us put our proven legal team to work for your rights.

FAQs

When Should I Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Lake Charles?

Call an attorney immediately after you receive medical treatment. Louisiana’s two-year filing statute of limitations approaches quickly, while evidence disappears even faster. Consulting an attorney early prevents you from making costly mistakes with insurance companies and maximizes your potential for obtaining a fair settlement. The sooner you secure representation, the stronger your position for maximum compensation.

How Can a Lawyer Help After a Car Accident in Louisiana?

An experienced attorney handles all insurance communications, investigates liability, calculates complete damages, identifies all coverage sources, and builds compelling evidence of the other driver’s negligence. Your lawyer manages the entire legal process while you focus on recovery, preventing insurance tactics designed to minimize your compensation. This helps you secure settlements considerably higher than what unrepresented victims receive.

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Car Accident Claim?

Car accident victims can generally recover medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Louisiana’s pure comparative fault system allows partial recovery through car accident claims, even when you share some responsibility for the crash. 

What if My Car Accident in Westlake Happened Near the Refinery?

Accidents near industrial facilities like the Westlake Corporation refinery can be a bit harder to litigate, as they tend to involve commercial vehicles and corporate liability. Working with an experienced Westlake car accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for your damages, even if it means going up against the powerful defense attorneys of this massive corporation.

Can I Get Legal Help if My Accident Happened in Sulphur?

Absolutely. Speaking with a Sulphur car accident lawyer from Morris & Dewett will help you pursue compensation for all damages you endured after the crash, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and PTSD. Our attorneys have represented hundreds of car accident victims all over Louisiana, including the city of Sulphur.