Louisiana is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. However, like in any other state, car accidents happen every single day. Some of these accidents are minor fender-benders, while others are serious crashes that leave people injured or even killed. In 2021, 914 car wrecks took place in Louisiana, and there were 997 fatalities as a result. That’s almost three fatalities per day due to car wrecks.
How can you be sure you’re up-to-date on the latest Louisiana car accidents? If you or a loved one lives in Louisiana, it’s important to know how to find out about recent car accidents so you can take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. In this blog post, we will outline several methods for accessing information about recent car accidents in Louisiana.
Reasons to Find Recent Car Wreck Information
While the frequency of car wrecks in Louisiana is alarming, fortunately, there are several resources that can provide recent car accident information. Here we will discuss several of them. But first, why would you need to find information about recent Louisiana car wrecks?
You Are Worried About a Loved One
If you have a loved one who lives in Louisiana, you may be worried about their safety on the roads. After all, car accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Armed with the knowledge of how to find out about recent Louisiana car accidents, you’ll have more resources at your disposal to find out whether your loved one was involved in an accident and take immediate action to help if they were injured.
You Were in a Recent Car Wreck
If you were injured in a car accident in Louisiana, it’s important to get the official details about what happened. This information can help you understand your legal rights and options, as well as make sure you get the compensation you deserve. If you work with a Louisiana car accident attorney, they’ll need this information to negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
You Want to Stay Informed About Local Car Accidents
Knowing Louisiana car accident information can help you make decisions about whether living in a Louisiana area is a good idea, especially if you have children who are or will be driving soon. Statistics show Louisiana is one of the most dangerous states for drivers, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before making a decision about moving to a new area in Louisiana.
Where to Find Information About Recent Accidents
There are several ways to find out about recent Louisiana car accidents online, but with so much content available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are the best resources for finding reliable information about recent car accidents.
Call Local Hospitals
One of the best ways to get information about recent car wreck and accident victims is to call local hospitals. By speaking with hospital staff, you can find out if any car accident victims have been brought in for treatment. This is a great way to get first-hand information about the severity of the accident and the condition of the victim.
What about HIPAA? Will a hospital release that information to you? Hospital staff are allowed to release certain information about patients who were injured in a car accident. If the patient is able to ask for you and give permission for you to receive their information, you’re in the clear. If the patient is not able to give permission, but the hospital staff is reasonably sure you are family or a close friend, they are allowed to release enough information about the patient for you to find out if that person is who you are looking for.
Check With the Local Police Department
Another great way to get information about recent car accidents is to call the police department. The police are often the first responders to an accident, so they’ll have a good idea of what happened, how many people were involved, and what hospital any injured people were sent to.
Louisiana Crash Reports
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is a great resource for getting information on car accidents, particularly if you are researching the accident history of a particular area. The DOTD website has a searchable database of car accident reports. You can search for statistics about specific towns or highways in Louisiana. Or, if looking for information on a specific crash, you can enter the date, time, and location of the accident, and you will be able to view a report of the incident.
The Louisiana DOTD website sometimes includes a link to a police report, if one is available. The police report can provide valuable information about the accident, including who was at fault. But it’s important to note that not all car accidents will have a police report available.
In addition to the DOTD website, you can also check local news sources for information on recent Louisiana car accidents. Many news outlets will provide coverage of major accidents as they happen. This can be a great way to stay up to date on what’s happening in your loved one’s area as close to real time as possible.
How to Obtain a Car Accident Report
There are a few different ways to obtain an official car accident report for legal or insurance reasons. You can request one in person, by mail, or online.
If you request a car accident report in person, you will need to go to the Louisiana State Police Headquarters. The address is 7919 Independence Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You will need to bring a valid photo ID, and you will be required to pay a $10 fee.
If you request a car accident report by mail, you will need to send a written request to the Louisiana State Police Headquarters. Include a check or money order for the $10 fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Your request will be processed within 10 business days.
If you would like to request a car accident report online, you can do so through the Louisiana State Police website. Each report from this site will cost you $11.50 to generate, and there could still be a weeklong delay in some cases. However, same-day delivery is sometimes possible, and this resource is worth a try if you’ve exhausted all other options. You will need to provide credit card information.
How Soon Can I Get a Report?
Once you have requested a car accident report, it will take some time to process your request. Louisiana law requires all car accident reports be reviewed by a supervisor before they are released. This process can take up to 10 business days. After the review is complete, your car accident report will be mailed to you.
Car accident reports are confidential, and they can only be released to the parties involved in the accident, their attorneys, and insurance companies. If you need a copy of a car accident report for any other reason, you will need to obtain a court order.
Need Help With a Recent Louisiana Car Accident?
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Louisiana car accident, or could be at a higher risk of becoming injured in a car wreck, it’s important to have all of the information available. The Law Offices of Blaine Barrilleaux are here to help you. We have years of experience helping people who have been injured in a car accident get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.