Car Accident Lawyer in Covington

Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Covington

Whether you were hurt in a fender-bender on U.S. Highway 190 or a pileup on I-12, The Chopin Law Firm can help you pursue compensation. How your crash happened affects who may be responsible and where that compensation may come from.

As the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, Covington sees steady traffic from local drivers, Northshore shoppers, and commuters heading across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Here are the crashes we see most often and how we can help after each one.

Distracted Driving Accidents

If a distracted driver caused your crash, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injuries. We work to show what that driver was doing in the seconds before impact.

Looking at a phone, adjusting a GPS, eating, or talking with passengers can take a driver’s attention away from the road for only a few seconds. At highway speed, that is enough to cause a serious collision.

Along U.S. Highway 190, drivers often watch for store entrances and turn lanes instead of the car ahead. Interstate 12 also carries commuters and commercial traffic through Covington every day, making distractions even more dangerous.

Louisiana bans holding a phone while driving in most situations, but the other driver may still deny it. We may request phone records, look for surveillance video, and talk with witnesses to find out what really happened.

Rear-End Collisions

If someone rear-ended you, Louisiana law often presumes the driver in back was at fault. That presumption can be challenged, so solid evidence still matters.

Rear-end crashes often happen because of following too closely, distracted driving, or speeding. Even crashes at lower speeds can cause painful neck, back, and spinal injuries.

Traffic backs up on U.S. Highway 190 near the I-12 interchange and at the busy lights along the Northshore retail corridor. Drivers also face stop-and-go traffic on Interstate 12 and Louisiana Highway 21 during commute hours.

We work to determine why the crash happened and gather evidence that supports your claim. This may include photographs, witness statements, vehicle damage, and the investigating officer’s report.

Drunk Driving Accidents

If a drunk driver hit you, you may have an injury claim even while the criminal case is still open. When a driver’s intoxication helped cause your injuries, Louisiana law may let you seek exemplary damages, an added award meant to punish especially reckless conduct.

Downtown Covington’s restaurants and bars, along with large events like the Three Rivers Art Festival, draw crowds from across the Northshore. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Covington Police Department patrol roads such as U.S. Highway 190 and Interstate 12 for impaired drivers.

The criminal case punishes the driver. Your civil claim focuses on what you lost, such as medical bills, missed paychecks, and pain and suffering. If a lawsuit becomes necessary, it may be filed in the 22nd Judicial District Court in Covington. We can use evidence such as police reports and breath or blood test results to support your claim.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

You may still have options after a hit-and-run, even if police never find the other driver. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may help pay for your injuries.

The Covington Police Department investigates crashes within the city, while the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office responds in many surrounding areas of the parish. Security cameras along U.S. Highway 190 and at gas stations near the I-12 exits may help identify the vehicle involved. Businesses do not keep video forever, so we ask for it early.

Report the crash right away and ask how to get a copy of the police report. UM policies can have specific proof rules for hit-and-run crashes, especially if the other car never touched yours. We can review your policy and explain what it may cover.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

In a pileup, more than one driver may share the blame. You may be able to pursue compensation from each driver whose actions contributed to your injuries.

Interstate 12 between Covington and Slidell carries heavy commuter traffic and commercial trucks. Sudden slowdowns near the U.S. 190 and LA 21 exits can set off chain-reaction crashes. Rain and fog can also cut visibility on I-12 and on the approaches to the Causeway.

Expect every insurance company involved to blame a different driver. We may review crash reports, Louisiana State Police findings for interstate crashes, photographs, witness statements, vehicle damage, and video footage to piece together how the crash unfolded and which policies cover your losses.

E-Bike Accidents

If a driver hit you while you were riding an e-bike, you may be able to pursue compensation from that driver. Riders have little protection, so these crashes often cause serious injuries.

E-bikes have become more common in Covington as residents use them for recreation, commuting, and short trips around town.

Many riders use the Tammany Trace, which starts in downtown Covington and connects to Abita Springs, Mandeville, and Slidell. Where the trail crosses local streets, drivers do not always stop. Riders on downtown streets like Columbia Street and at busy U.S. 190 intersections face similar risks.

When a driver passes you on your e-bike, they must give you at least three feet of space, because Louisiana treats e-bike riders like bicyclists under traffic law. An e-bike accident may involve a distracted driver, a driver who failed to yield, unsafe road conditions, or another factor. When a faulty battery, brake, or motor contributes to the crash, the company that made the e-bike may also be responsible.

Injured in a crash in Covington or elsewhere in St. Tammany Parish? Call The Chopin Law Firm at (504) 447-8828 for a free case evaluation.