Tractor-trailer accidents can do devastating damage, and victims may be able to receive compensation for their personal injuries and other losses. The Lafayette tractor-trailer lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are available to help. Reach out to a Lafayette truck accident lawyer to discuss your situation.
Our personal injury law firm can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and handle all legal issues, allowing you to focus on your recovery. We will file legal documents in court in a timely manner, examine evidence and conduct investigations to assist in proving who was at fault, and take your case to trial if necessary.
We can help you obtain the settlement you are entitled to. Call a Lafayette personal injury lawyer today to schedule your free consultation.
Why Do Tractor-Trailer Accident Victims Hire a Lawyer?
As the victim of a tractor-trailer accident, you may be occupied with:
- Doctors’ visits
- At-home treatment
- Doctor-ordered rest
- Communicating with your employer
- Getting your vehicle repaired
- Your existing personal responsibilities
For many victims, the prospect of a lawsuit or insurance claim is too much to bear. So, if only to remain free from further physical and psychological stress, many victims choose to hire an attorney. In addition, many victims see a personal injury lawyer as better equipped to handle a claim or lawsuit than they would be.
Attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers offer:
- Legal training
- Empathetic representation
- Answers to questions that truck accident victims often have
- Invaluable experience handling tractor-trailer cases
- A network of resources, including paralegals, investigators, experts, and other attorneys
Our attorneys have the time and energy to complete your case—it’s their job. When you entrust your case to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, you know that we will pursue the maximum financial recovery for you.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientAccidents Involving Tractor-Trailers Pose Unique Challenges
Accidents involving tractor-trailers can be particularly complex in nature. Rather than dealing with a single liable driver, we may deal with a trucker, their employer, and other liable parties. Instead of investigating one or two passenger vehicles, we will need to review a tractor-trailer—a complex assemblage of moving parts.
The trucking company may possess certain valuable evidence. For example, data from a truck’s black box, driving logs, and the truck itself may be the trucking company’s property. As a result, we may need to file certain legal motions to access such evidence.
Trucking companies also have greater financial resources than the typical motorist.
As a defendant in your case, a trucking company can deploy a phalanx of attorneys to defend itself. These attorneys can intimidate you into accepting a lowball settlement or even admitting fault for your accident. We will defend you from such tactics.
A tractor-trailer case is not just any other case. So do not underestimate the possible challenges that lie ahead. Having a tractor-trailer attorney from our firm address these challenges could be the most logical move.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientProving Liability in Tractor-Trailer Accidents
The trucking industry is governed by state and federal regulations that influence how liability is determined. Tractor-trailer companies and drivers must meet federal and state regulations and comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules for driver’s license standards, safety fitness procedures, financial responsibility for motor carriers, driving hours allowances, and the inspection, repair, and maintenance of vehicles.
Our attorneys will work to prove that the negligent parties failed to follow these regulations and this negligence makes them liable for your accident. In addition, we will investigate the crash scene, interview witnesses, and examine truck logs, repair and maintenance records, and police accident reports.
There could be several parties responsible for the accident, including:
- The truck driver who may have driven unsafely or while impaired.
- The trucking company, which might have forced the driver to work beyond hour limitations
- The shipper, who may have loaded cargo unsafely
- The truck or part manufacturer if the truck or parts such as brakes or tires were defective.
- The municipality responsible for building or maintaining roads if road damage contributed to the accident
- The company responsible for the truck’s maintenance or repairs
Witnesses can be hard to locate, and evidence should be gathered quickly. Contact a Lafayette tractor-trailer attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers right away.
Call us at (337) 777-7777 today.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientPursuing Compensation from a Tractor-Trailer Crash
Because tractor-trailers are so large and heavy, they are difficult to maneuver, take longer to stop, and are prone to rollovers. They can also carry dangerous or toxic cargo. For all these reasons, motorists in smaller vehicles involved in accidents with tractor-trailers have the potential for serious property loss, injuries, and even death.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will fight to get you compensated for all losses caused by the crash. Compensation may include coverage for both your economic losses and your non-economic damages. Louisiana law divides these damages into two broad categories: general damages and special damages.
General Damages
This is compensation for non-economic damages, which may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium, including marriage and family relationships
Though they do not always have a clear monetary cost, non-economic (general) damages can be a significant part of your recovery.
Special Damages
Special damages are specific monetary losses. These may include:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Your current and projected lost wages and earnings
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Property and vehicle damage
Our firm accounts for every loss when seeking financial recovery for you.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientDealing with Insurance Companies After Suffering Personal Injuries
After an accident with a tractor-trailer, you will likely first file a claim with the other party’s insurance company. The trucking company’s insurance carrier may make an offer to settle your claim quickly. Keep in mind that insurance companies are working for themselves and not for your benefit. If you accept the first offer, which is most often a low one, you may lose your right to seek further compensation.
When you have a lawyer for tractor-trailer accidents take over your case, you do not need to worry about whether a settlement offer is fair or how to negotiate a higher settlement.
Louisiana Personal Injury Laws You Should Know
Louisiana has personal injury laws that can affect tractor-trailer accident cases. These include:
Statute of Limitations: Louisiana has a statute of limitations, which is a time frame during which you can file a personal injury lawsuit. Unless your case is an exception, Louisiana Civil Code § 3492 gives you only one year from the date of the accident to file, or you will lose your right to do so. If you fail to file within that time, you may be unable to recover the compensation you deserve.
Comparative Fault: Louisiana has a “comparative fault” rule, which means that if you were partially to blame for the accident, your settlement would be reduced by the percentage of blame the court determines you bear. Our personal injury law firm will fight to establish the other party’s liability.
Trust Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers with Your Tractor-Trailer Accident Case
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers is a law firm rooted in Louisiana; Lafayette included. We take it personally when truckers, trucking companies, or others put victims like you in harm’s way. But we will fight for the recovery you deserve, just like we’ve fought for clients before you:
- “Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers have gone beyond their job to check on me before my surgery and after to make sure I was OK. They reassured me that everything was being taken care of. I highly recommend them.” – Sherry, former client
- “Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are top notch. From the attorneys that handled my case to all the paralegals and other staff that assisted me with my case, all were awesome. Would highly recommend!” – Kyle, former client
We provide the same standard of representation to every client. You cannot go wrong with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.
Contact a Tractor-Trailer Attorney in Lafayette for Help with Your Case Today
If you or a family member was injured in a tractor-trailer truck accident, you do not have to face the challenges of navigating the legal system alone. A Lafayette tractor-trailer lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will take care of your case from fact-gathering to closing arguments. You pay us nothing upfront – any fees come out of your settlement or judgment. If we do not recover compensation, we do not receive payment. We offer a free consultation, so call us now at (337) 777-7777.
