Combined with the density of tourism, commercial trade, and everyday use, Louisiana’s roads are a hotspot for accidents involving large trucks. To promote the safety of others, it is the responsibility of truckers and their employers to take precautions that avoid these deadly collisions. Unfortunately, these conditions are not always met.
If you were the victim of a truck accident– or lost a loved one due to their injuries–you could be entitled to compensation for your damages. After surviving such a traumatic incident, you may find yourself buried under a mountain of both economic and noneconomic losses. You should not have to shoulder this burden alone. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we strive to put the needs of our clients first. A Catahoula truck accident lawyer can help you. We pride ourselves on working on a contingency basis, meaning that you are under no obligation to pay us any fees until we secure compensation for you. For a free consultation, call us today at (337) 777-7777.
Call a Catahoula Truck Accident Lawyer Immediately if Negligence Caused Your Accident
Compared to other states, Louisiana does not have a very generous statute of limitations timeframe. You have one year from the date of your injuries, or your loved one’s death, to file a civil action against the responsible party per Louisiana State Legislature 3492. With this in mind, it is vital to contact a legal professional as soon as you are physically and emotionally able.
Truck accidents are unique in that they can sometimes feature multiple parties that bear liability. When a collision occurs between two cars, negligence typically rests on whoever breached their duty of care. However, with a truck accident, it is not always this simple. Your legal team may be able to seek compensation from the individual trucker, their employer, and even the company that manufactured the truck itself.
The Truck Driver
Truckers are held to especially high standards of care, as their behaviors not only reflect on themselves, but for the company under which they operate.
There are many actions a motorist can take that puts others at risk of injury.
These can include:
- Failing to practice defensive driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue
- Violating traffic signals or posted signs
- Engaging in distracted driving, such as texting, eating, drinking, or addressing others
- Speeding to meet “by the mile” delivery incentives
- Braking suddenly
When you work with a Catahoula truck accident lawyer, they can examine traffic surveillance footage, the police report, and even the trucker’s logbook to determine how they contributed to the crash.
The Trucking Company
The driver may not be the only one who acted negligently. The trucker’s employer can be held responsible under respondeat superior, a doctrine that can assign vicarious accountability to an employee’s supervisor.
A business operator may be at fault if they acted negligently by:
- Not conducting thorough background checks into truckers’ driving history and traffic records
- Not administering regular, comprehensive drug screenings
- Hiring drivers who do not have the licensure to operate a commercial vehicle
- Failing to comply with industry regulations
While pursuing compensation from the trucker’s employer may open additional avenues for recovery, this does, in fact, add another layer of complexity to the legal process. Often, this will involve going toe-to-toe with corporate lawyers. A Catahoula truck accident lawyer can help you with this entire process.
The Truck’s Manufacturer
If a truck’s defective part contributed to your accident, you may have the grounds to seek compensation from the vehicle’s manufacturer. Expert assistance may be called to weigh in on the truck’s condition. If a mechanical element, such as the brakes, steering system, or trailer hitch, was found to be defective, you may be able to pursue compensation from that party.
We understand that this investigation can be complicated and given Louisiana’s short window of action for personal injuries, doing so alone can be close to impossible. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to learn about what we can do for you at (337) 777-7777.
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A Lawyer Can Handle Your Case From Start to Finish
In the aftermath of an accident, your attention should fall completely on recovering from your injuries, and if you have lost a loved one, mourning your loss. A lawyer can step in to handle any legal responsibilities that come with pursuing compensation.
Some of the tasks that your Catahoula truck accident lawyer can handle may include:
- Filing paperwork to get your claim started
- Keeping you informed of all developments in your case
- Staying in touch with counsel for the defendant to remain aware of any settlement offers that arise
- Obtaining any evidence of negligence that could help your case
- Completing all the legal steps to bring your case to a conclusion, which may be either a judgment or settlement
- Calculating your losses, including any medical bills for injuries you have sustained, and asking the court to hold the defendant liable for them
The primary purpose of a Catahoula truck accident lawyer is to prove that the defendant or defendants in your case were responsible for the accident. Doing so on your own and failing to provide such evidence may forfeit your right to compensation.
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Possible Recovery in a Truck Accident Claim
The type and extent of injuries you sustained in your accident will determine the compensation for which you are eligible.
If you are seeking awards for injury-related expenses, you may be able to recover the cost of:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
If you are pursuing compensation in a wrongful death claim per the guidelines of Louisiana State Legislature 2315.2, your eligible expenses may cover:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of household benefits
- Loss of inheritance
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering experienced by the decedent
These are just a few possible forms of compensation. You may be entitled to additional awards not listed above.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
Call Our Team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Our team wants to help you pursue the justice that you deserve. We are eager to get to work relieving you of your legal and financial burdens. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
