Lafayette and the greater area are home to several metal manufacturing, processing, and fabrication companies. It is not unusual to see steel or other metals being moved around the city. But heavy trucks like these with their cargo can cause severe damages during a collision.
If you sustained injuries during a wreck with a steel truck, you may be able to secure compensation to cover medical costs, property damage, and lost wages. A steel truck accident lawyer in Lafayette can help you build a case against the negligent truck driver, their employer, or both.
Damages You Can Recover in a Steel Truck Accident Case
If our Lafayette steel truck accident attorneys can prove that another party’s negligence caused your accident, you may be able to recover damages that include:
- Current and future treatment costs for your accident-related injuries
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Repair or replacement of your car
- Non-economic damages, such as mental anguish or disability
- Wrongful death damages
There may be other types of damages available in your case. We can conduct a thorough exploration of your damages, gather proof of their value, and include them in our formal requests for compensation when we represent you.
For a free legal consultation with a Steel Truck Accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 446-4571
Pursuing Compensation for the Accident Losses and Expenses You Incurred
To recover compensation for your accident-related losses and expenses, you may need to prove that the steel truck driver was negligent and liable for your injuries. This will allow you to build a case against the truck driver and may also allow you to hold their employer vicariously liable.
Per La. Civ. Code Art. 2320, companies must answer for the damages caused by their workers under certain circumstances. This usually includes situations when negligence occurred while the worker was on the clock and engaged in their job duties. When a steel truck driver causes an accident, they generally check all of these boxes.
In some steel truck accident cases, the liable party may be:
- A third party, such as a cargo loader or mechanic, whose negligent actions caused the accident
- A negligence municipality that caused the accident by creating or failing to remove a road hazard
As part of our services to you, the Morris Bart law firm can investigate your accident and identify all potentially liable parties.
Proving Negligence in a Steel Truck Accident Case
Because of their heavy shipments, there are specific rules in place about how steel trucks and other similar carriers must load and secure the cargo. Losing a load could cause significant harm to others on the road.
In addition, commercial truck drivers must follow all traffic rules as well as the regulatory requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These codes are in place to prevent accidents and protect both the truck driver and other motorists.
When a commercial driver violates one of the rules and causes an accident, this may support a negligence claim.
The Elements of Liability
In order to establish the liability of a steel truck driver, you may need to prove that:
- The driver was legally required to take a specific action, such as obeying a traffic law
- The driver failed to take that action
- Their failure caused the collision to occur
- You suffered harm and financial consequences as a result of the collision
Our steel truck accident lawyers in Lafayette help our clients collect evidence of negligence and assign liability. Then, we develop a strong claim to seek compensation on their behalf.
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Deadlines for Taking Legal Action in Your Case
Commercial trucking companies are known for having tough insurers that don’t like to play nice. While it may be possible to reach an out-of-court settlement in many steel truck accident cases, we sometimes need to sue the liable party to pursue our client’s damages.
Under Louisiana law, however, there are strict time limits on civil lawsuits. In general, accident victims in Louisiana only have one year to file a personal injury lawsuit under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492 and one year to file a wrongful death lawsuit under La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2. Note that there may be exceptions to these general rules that shorten the deadline in your case.
There are also other reasons why taking action to get started early could benefit your case. This may include the ability to preserve evidence held by the steel company and other factors that could result in a stronger claim.
Morris Bart Works for Steel Truck Accident Victims in Lafayette
A Lafayette steel truck accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm can represent accident victims in and around Lafayette following an injury collision. We are a contingency fee firm that helped more than 6,500 clients receive compensation in 2019 alone.
Our results in truck accident cases include:
- A $490,000 payout for a client in Hattiesburg with neck and back injuries
- A $337,500 payout for clients in Texarkana who sustained a concussion and a neck injury in a tractor-trailer crash
We have 15 offices and serve clients in four states: Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Our goal is to secure financial recoveries for our clients that cover their medical expenses and other accident-related losses.
Talk to Our Team About Your Lafayette Steel Truck Collision for Free
A lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm can help you with your claim after an accident with a steel truck. Reach out to our team today for a free review of your case. Our contingency fee firm helps clients build claims for compensation against steel companies, truck drivers, and any other parties whose negligence caused their injuries.
Call or fill out our online contact form to speak with a steel truck accident lawyer in Lafayette from the Morris Bart law firm today.
Questions?Call (337) 446-4571
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
