Houma Personal Injury Attorney

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What you get on the first call

• A calm case triage: what matters, what doesn’t, and what the insurer is likely to do next.
• A 48–72 hour proof plan: specific items to preserve based on where and how the incident happened.
• Insurance talk-track: what to say, what not to say, and what not to sign yet.
• Next-step timeline: medical documentation, report requests, and how claims usually move.
• Fees explained before hire: contingency in many cases; terms are confirmed in a written agreement.
• Privacy first: keep details brief until we complete a conflict check.

Your first 48–72 hours (practical plan)

• Today: photograph vehicles, plates, skid/road marks, debris, and the wider scene; save dashcam footage; write down witness names/numbers; keep tow and storage paperwork.
• Next 24 hours: identify possible third-party video sources (nearby businesses, gas stations, banks, homeowners) and ask them to preserve footage before it’s overwritten.
• Next 48–72 hours: organize medical discharge paperwork and receipts; keep a short daily symptom log; avoid posting about the incident online.

Evidence to save (the short list)

• Dashcam footage (front/rear) and the original file (not just a clip).
• All photos/videos from the scene (including the “boring” wide-angle shots).
• Names, phone numbers, and a one-sentence description of what each witness saw.
• The crash report number (or incident number) and the investigating agency.
• Tow yard name, storage location, and any estimate/repair communications.
• Insurance declarations page (your coverage) and the other driver’s insurer if known.

What to say (and not say) to insurance

• You can report the basic facts (time, place, vehicles, injuries) without guessing about fault.
• Be careful with recorded statements: it’s reasonable to decline until you’ve had time to review what happened and gather documents.
• Do not sign early releases or accept quick payments that require broad paperwork before you understand the full medical picture.
• Avoid broad medical authorizations that request “any and all records” without limits.

Why people in Houma hire Babcock Injury Lawyers

We are not built for volume. We are built for leverage.

• Proof disappears fast: footage overwrites, vehicles get repaired, scenes change, and witness memories fade. We focus on preservation early.
• Insurance pressure is real: quick calls, quick forms, quick “help.” We help you slow it down and keep it accurate.
• Future care matters: serious injuries are not just ER bills; they can include follow-up care, time off work, and long-term limitations. We help document the full picture.
• Trial-ready posture: even if a case resolves without trial, being prepared like it could be tried changes how the defense evaluates risk.

For transparency: case results and client reviews are available. Past results and testimonials do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Houma local reality (what this means for proof)

Local context matters because it affects how quickly evidence is lost and how insurers frame the story. The Houma–Thibodaux Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2024 annual report included both a regional crash snapshot and a list of the top bottleneck locations contributing to travel delays in the MPO area.

Crash snapshot (2024)

In 2024, the MPO reported 95 fatal and suspected serious injury crashes across the three-parish region, with Terrebonne Parish showing 13 fatalities and 38 suspected serious injury crashes in that reporting. Source: Houma–Thibodaux MPO Annual Report (2024).

High-demand corridors and bottleneck points (2024)

These locations are listed as “Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024” in the MPO annual report. A bottleneck often means stop-and-go traffic, merging, and fast lane changes, which can make crashes harder to reconstruct unless proof is preserved immediately.

• LA-3040 S @ LA-3040-SPUR/S HOLLYWOOD RD: Preserve dashcam footage and identify nearby cameras you can ask to save video promptly. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-20 E @ PERCY BROWN RD: Photograph the wider approach lanes and traffic control devices as they were that day. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-3040 N @ ENTERPRISE DR: Preserve vehicle photos before repairs and keep tow/storage paperwork. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-311 S @ SAINT CHARLES ST: Capture witness names early; congestion corridors often have independent witnesses who leave quickly. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-308 E @ LA-20/N CANAL BLVD: Save phone metadata originals (do not compress uploads until you’ve preserved originals). Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-664 N @ LA-24/MAIN ST: If you can do so safely, take wide-angle scene photos showing lane layout and traffic flow. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-24 S @ MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD: Look for third-party video sources and request preservation quickly. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-57 N @ E TUNNEL BLVD: Keep a short written timeline while memory is fresh; avoid guessing about speeds or distances. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• LA-648 W @ W MAIN ST: Preserve the vehicle in its post-crash condition as long as reasonably possible (photos at minimum) before repair. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).
• US-90 E @ LA-182 (HOUMA): If the crash involved commercial traffic, keep carrier names/units/placards and any identifying numbers. Source: MPO Annual Report (Top Ten Bottleneck Locations, 2024).

After a crash in Houma: what to do next

1) Stabilize, document, and preserve

• If anyone may be seriously hurt, call 911.
• Photograph the scene, vehicles, and visible injuries.
• Get witness contact info and the investigating agency name.
• Save dashcam footage and keep the original file.

2) Medical documentation (no medical advice)

This is not medical advice. If you seek medical care, keep copies of discharge instructions, imaging orders, prescriptions, and follow-up recommendations. Consistent records can matter later.

Local hospital resources (official sites): Terrebonne General Health System Emergency Care, Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (Ochsner Health).

3) How to get the crash report (official sources)

Where you request the report depends on which agency investigated. These official links can help you start:

• Louisiana State Police (Traffic Records Unit) (crash report information and requests).
• Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office — Records Requests (records request guidance and fees).
• Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government — Public Records Request (public records request information, including crash report options/fees).

4) A simple rule for insurance calls

You can cooperate without handing over your entire case in the first conversation. Stick to basic facts, avoid guessing, and be cautious with recorded statements and broad paperwork before you understand the full medical picture.

Louisiana deadlines, fault, and venue (general information)

These are general principles, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules can vary based on the facts, the defendants, and the date of the incident.

Deadline (prescription)

Louisiana’s general prescriptive period for delictual actions is two years under La. Civ. Code art. 3493.11 (effective July 1, 2024). Different rules can apply depending on the date of injury and the type of claim, so confirm your specific deadline with a lawyer as soon as you reasonably can.

What if I’m partly at fault?

Louisiana applies comparative fault. In general, fault can be allocated among responsible parties, and damages may be reduced by a person’s percentage of fault under La. Civ. Code art. 2323.

Where a case may be filed (venue basics)

Venue often depends on where the defendants are located and where the wrongful conduct or damages occurred. General venue rules are in La. C.C.P. art. 42, and a commonly used tort venue provision is La. C.C.P. art. 74.

Where a Houma injury case may be filed (Terrebonne Parish orientation)

Houma is the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish. The venue depends on the specific facts and defendants, but many matters arising from incidents in Terrebonne Parish are handled through the Terrebonne court system. For general public information: 32nd Judicial District Court and Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court.

If you’re worried you’ll have to travel constantly, ask on the first call. Most steps (document review, evidence collection coordination, and updates) can often be handled by phone or video, depending on the case.

Ready to protect the evidence in Houma?

If you’re dealing with injuries, an insurer, or uncertainty about what to do next, start with the free Houma Injury Plan and a quick fact-check call. The goal is accuracy, proof, and a clean timeline.

More reviews. Testimonials do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Start my free case review

Use the form on this page to request a free review, or call (985) 777-5000. For privacy, keep details brief until we complete a conflict check, then we’ll tell you what to send and when.