Truck accidents can have catastrophic repercussions on the occupants of passenger vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4,014 people died in collisions with large trucks in 2020. Fifteen percent of the deaths were truck occupants, and 68% were passenger vehicle occupants.
If you suffered injuries or a loved one died in a truck accident, you can hold the negligent driver responsible. A Lafayette truck accident lawyer can fight for your rights and help you get justice and collect compensation.
What does Our Lafayette Truck Accident Attorney Do?
When you retain our commercial truck lawyer to handle your case, they can manage all the legal details. Your Lafayette personal injury lawyer will:
- Negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf
- Determine the liable parties
- Calculate the total cost of your damages, including medical expenses and non-economic damages like pain and suffering
- Investigate your 18-wheeler crash to determine how it was caused
- Collect evidence to prove the other party’s negligence
- Communicate with all other parties in your case, including insurance companies and lay or expert witnesses
- Prepare your case for court, if necessary
- Complete all the paperwork necessary for your claim or lawsuit
No matter how your accident was caused, you deserve to hold the responsible parties accountable. The team at the Morris Bart law firm will fight for your fair compensation.
The Cost of Hiring Our Lafayette Legal Team
At the Morris Bart law firm, we know how financially overwhelming auto accident cases can be. You are likely paying for expensive medical care and property damage costs. We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you will not have to pay us upfront for our services.
Instead, we collect payment after your case is won or settled. Our attorney’s fee is deducted from your settlement, so you can avoid paying us out-of-pocket.
For a free legal consultation with a Truck Accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 446-4571
Causes of Truck Accidents
Often, truck accidents are caused by negligence, either on the part of the driver, the trucking company, or another party. We will help you explore the avenues in your claim that will prove liability. Some of the major causes of truck accidents include:
Driver Fatigue
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy drivers have difficulty paying attention to the road and have slower reaction times. Truck drivers can be on the road for as long as 11 hours at a time, making driver fatigue a real possibility.
Improper Maintenance
Improper truck maintenance, particularly brake systems, is also a factor in crashes. If any of the truck’s systems are not working properly, we may be able to hold a maintenance technician responsible for your crash.
Distracted Driving
Drivers are more susceptible to distracted driving because of how much time they spend behind the wheel. Using their cell phone, eating, using a navigation system, drinking, or even changing the radio can take a driver’s attention off the road long enough to cause an accident.
Types of Injuries that Can Occur in Semi-Truck Collisions
Truck crashes can result in devastating or even fatal injuries. Some types of injuries that can occur in truck accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord often results in a complete or total loss of mobility or sensation below the site of the injury. These truck accident injuries are often the result of trauma to the back, chest, head, neck, and face.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Motor vehicle crashes can cause TBI-related hospitalizations. These injuries can affect movement, emotional functioning, vision or heading, or memory.
- Broken bones: The seriousness of this injury depends on the type of break, such as if the bone breaks through the skin or shatters in the crash.
- Internal bleeding: In some cases, internal bleeding does not become apparent until the condition becomes life-threatening. Trauma to the body in a truck accident can damage the organs, bones, and blood vessels.
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Laws that Could Impact Your Lafayette Truck Accident Case
Some laws you should be aware of include Louisiana’s statute of limitations and comparative fault laws. Per La. Civ. Code Art. 3492, you must file a lawsuit within one year of the date of the accident, or you are generally barred from recovering compensation.
Certain exceptions to the statute of limitations may give you even less time to file. We recommend you get started on your case as soon as you can.
Types of Recoverable Damages After a Lafayette Truck Accident
The types of damages you may be able to recover after a Louisiana truck accident will depend on the circumstances of the wreck. Some common types of damages you can recover after a truck accident include:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Future income, if you have lost your earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement or dismemberment
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Wrongful Death
If you are a family member pursuing a claim for wrongful death after your loved one passed away from a Lafayette truck accident, you may be entitled to:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical costs left to your family
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of benefits and income previously provided by the deceased
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident Claim?
In rare cases, your settlement can be handled fairly quickly. It may take months because of the defendant and their insurance company’s cooperation. Because trucking companies have a lot of insurance coverage, it can take longer to agree on a fair and adequate settlement.
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?
A Lafayette truck accident lawyer could look into the facts of your case to determine which parties may be liable. You may be able to sue more than one party for your truck accident injuries. These can include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company the driver works for
- Their insurance company
- The truck manufacturer
- The company that loaded the truck’s cargo
There is no law limiting the number of parties involved in a truck accident case. The number of individuals involved in litigation partly depends on the number of vehicles involved in the crash.
Call Morris Bart Today for a Free Consultation
Call the team at the Morris Bart law firm to find out what options you have for recovering damages after your Lafayette truck accident. We have worked on many cases like yours and are proud of our results.
Learn more about how a Lafayette truck accident lawyer may be able to help by calling our office today for a free consultation. We are ready to help you pick up the pieces and start over after a crash.
Questions?Call (337) 446-4571
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
