Thousands of 18-wheelers pass through Shreveport, Louisiana, on I-20 and I-49 every day. This means that the chances of getting in a truck accident are high. Trucks are a vital part of our nation’s transport system, but they do pose a risk to the public.
If you have been injured or had a loved one killed by a commercial truck, you owe it to yourself to contact one of our 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers in Shreveport at Morris Bart. We have the experience you need to win a successful claim against the truck insurers.
Why Are Trucking Accidents So Dangerous?
Truck accidents are different from other vehicle accidents because they are far more dangerous. Among some truck accident statistics, roughly 500,000 truck wrecks are reported each year in the U.S. When a crash happens with these vehicles, the forces are far higher because of their massive weight. A truck can be easily a dozen times heavier than your car.
Thus, cars that hit trucks are more likely to receive a huge amount of damage and severely injure the people inside, even at low speeds. Deaths in these kinds of crashes are common, especially if the car hits the trailer.
The height of trailers may help with loading and unloading, but it also creates a gap that a car can slip under in a crash. If this happens, the edge of the trailer can crash straight through the windshield. Death is the usual result.
For a free legal consultation with a 18-Wheeler Accident lawyer serving Shreveport, call (318) 553-5470
Who do I Make a Truck Accident Claim Against?
There are multiple possible parties that your truck accident lawyer can contact for compensation. Who they need to reach depends on the circumstances of your case. Possible avenues of compensation include:
- The driver
- The driver’s employer
- The mechanic on the truck
- Parts manufacturers
- The company that secured the load to the truck
- And more
Who to sue comes down to who was negligent in the case and has the insurance or assets to make a lawsuit worth it. Truck accident lawsuits can be worth a significant amount of money, so this search is important. Our Shreveport 18-wheeler truck accident attorneys will investigate the circumstances of your case to determine the liable parties.
Why Are Truck Accident Cases So Lucrative?
Unlike other drivers, truckers on the clock are held to a higher duty of care. They have to take special training and drive especially carefully because of their dangerous vehicles. When they make a mistake, the consequences are far worse.
The law also recognizes this, and recognizes that some trucking companies push their drivers further than they should. They may choose to award something called punitive damages. This is a punishment against the trucking company (usually) for running a sloppy business and getting someone hurt.
This payment is on top of your economic and non-economic damages. The results are plain to see from our prior truck accident client reviews and testimonials. There may be a chance of truly significant compensation, and you’ll need it to recover from your injuries.
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Understanding Negligence in Truck Accident Cases
The big thing that your 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer in Shreveport must prove is that someone’s negligence caused your injury. Negligence is when someone acts in an unreasonable manner to break their duty of care to someone else.
All drivers have an automatic duty of care to others to drive safely. This is why getting in a car crash is seen as a negligent act. The same goes for 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks, only their level of care is held to a higher standard.
If we can prove that someone’s negligence caused your injury, we can make a claim against your injuries, lost wages, and other kinds of legal damages.
What Damages Could I Receive in a Shreveport 18-Wheeler Accident?
“Damages” is a legal term for the costs of your injury. The most common kinds are economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are all the things that cause a direct financial loss after your injury, like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Medical device payments
- Rehabilitation
- Retrofitting homes for your disability
- Funeral expenses, in the case of wrongful death
Non-economic damages are all the intangible losses that come from your truck crash, like pain and suffering. These are usually calculated by using a multiple of the economic damages. After a wreck, your Shreveport 18-wheeler truck accident attorney can determine if punitive damages also apply.
Will I Need to Go to Court for My 18-Wheeler Truck Accident?
Likely not. Insurance was created to keep people out of court and settle cases. Thus, the first course of action by your lawyer is to try to get a fair settlement for your injuries. Using evidence and past cases, they will try to convince them to give you your true worth.
Often, just having a lawyer with strong evidence is enough to get a fair settlement. But sometimes it’s not. Then, you have to make the decision about whether to go to court. Your truck accident lawyer will help you weigh the pros and cons.
If you do pursue a trial, you may not have to appear. Your lawyer will handle the case for you so that you can focus on healing and working instead of scheduling court appearances.
Get Help from a Shreveport 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Lawyer Now
Whether you were injured or you’re a loved one eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim, the team at Morris Bart is ready to help you. Our experienced 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers in Shreveport, LA, want to hear your story. Contact us by phone or use our contact form to reach out to us.
Questions?Call (318) 553-5470
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
