An accident with an 18-wheeler can leave you with significant physical injuries, severe property damage, and devastating financial consequences. Fortunately, if another party’s negligence caused your accident, you may be able to recover compensation. Our team may be able to help you file a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit against the truck driver and their employer.
You can speak with a team member from our Lafayette office today at no cost to your family. We can assess your options and explain your next steps. We also will answer your questions about our legal services.
Potentially Recoverable Damages in an Andrew, LA, Truck Accident Case
In general, the recoverable damages in a truck accident case may include:
- All injury-related health care expenses
- Any injury-related loss of income
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers might be able to file an insurance claim and negotiate for an out-of-court settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, if they are unwilling to make you a fair settlement offer, we can take your case to trial instead.
Our wrongful death lawyers serving Andrew can also help with your claims. You may be eligible to pursue these damages if your family member died from their collision injuries in the 18-wheeler truck accident.
You can learn more during a free, no-obligation case review with a member of our team. You also can reach out to the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers main office in Lafayette to get started.
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Pursuing Compensation After an 18-Wheeler Collision in Andrew
What you do at the scene of the accident and in the days immediately afterward can play an important role in your ability to collect compensation. When you file a personal injury lawsuit or instigate an insurance claim, you may need to prove:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care
- Their actions breached the duty of care
- This negligence led to your injuries
- The total cost of your injuries
You may also need to identify the proper party to pursue, calculate your financial damage, assign a monetary value to your claim, and negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Our accident attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to handle all of these tasks on your behalf.
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Factors That Contribute to Truck Accidents in Vermilion Parish
Part of pursuing compensation for an accident with an 18-wheeler may be proving the cause of the collision. If you can prove your accident occurred because the truck driver was negligent, you may be able to collect compensation.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), some causes and contributing factors large truck accidents include:
- Poor brake maintenance
- Weather conditions that can increase stopping distance
- Truck driver fatigue that may occur if the driver exceeds the maximum number of allowable driving hours
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to investigate your accident and identify the liable party when we represent you. Depending on the nature of your accident, the liable party may be:
- A truck driver
- A trucking or shipping company
- A mechanic
- A parts manufacturer
- A municipality
- Another negligent party
Most 18-wheeler accident cases involve a concept known as vicarious liability. Under this legal doctrine, the truck driver’s employer, often a trucking company, may be vicariously liable for their driver’s actions behind the wheel.
You can count on our team to pursue a case against all liable parties. We may be able to offer you representation on a contingency fee basis with no upfront payments required. There are no attorney fees due unless and until you win your case and recover compensation.
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Evidence in a Louisiana Truck Accident Case
Our lawyer can collect evidence of your damages and their value as a part of investigating your 18-wheeler accident. However, you may already have certain pieces of evidence in your possession.
A car accident can generate an enormous amount of paperwork. Your paperwork may start with discharge papers you receive from the emergency department or doctor. Keep your discharge papers because they may contain important information about your injuries and physical condition in the accident’s immediate aftermath.
In addition to your medical records, reports, and bills, your lawyer might also request the following documents so that they can build your claim:
- The accident report: Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) § 32:398 makes a crash report mandatory for certain Louisiana accident types, including those involving injury. Obtain a copy of your crash report as soon as possible. It may contain a wealth of information and details about the accident.
- Your proof of income: Employment records and paycheck stubs to help prove the amount of employment income the accident forced you to miss. Tax records and other forms of proof of income may be necessary if you are self-employed or a business owner.
- Pictures or video: Photos may depict the extent of your recovery period and the severity of your injuries. Photos of your damaged or destroyed vehicle can also convey other losses the accident caused. Take pictures of your car from various angles and include photos from before the accident if you have them. Any images you have from the scene of the accident may also be useful.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to collect additional evidence from witnesses, accident reconstruction experts, or the trucking company. They may need to take action to preserve evidence held by the trucking company, such as issuing a spoliation letter demanding they protect the truck’s data, the driver’s records, and more.
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Take Action Soon After Your Andrew Tractor-Trailer Accident
According to the CC § 3492, you generally have only one year to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana. If you file a lawsuit after the one-year deadline passes, the court may dismiss your lawsuit, and you may be unable to recover compensation for your damages.
Contact a member of our personal injury team as soon as possible after your accident for information about the filing deadline that applies in your case. The sooner you call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, the sooner we can start working on your case.
Call for a Free Case Review From Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
A lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to handle your 18-wheeler accident case in Andrew while you focus on your recovery and treatment. They may be able to develop a claim or lawsuit against the truck driver and their employer and recover financial awards for you or your family.
To learn more about our services during a free case review, call the personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers by calling our Lafayette office today: (337) 777-7777.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
