Tractor-trailer accidents can do devastating damage, but victims may be able to receive compensation for their personal injuries and other losses. The tractor-trailer lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are available to help. 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 papers in court in a timely manner, examine evidence and conduct investigations to prove who was at fault, and take your case to trial if necessary, to help you obtain the settlement you are entitled to.
Your initial consultation is free, so call (337) 777-7777 for assistance.
Proving Liability in a Tractor-Trailer Accident
The trucking industry is governed by both state and federal regulations that influence how liability is determined. Tractor-trailer companies and drivers must meet both 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 allowed, and the inspection, repair, and maintenance of vehicles.
Our accident attorneys will look to prove the negligent parties failed to follow these regulations and that this negligence makes them liable for causing the wreck. To do so, we will investigate the crash scene and interview witnesses, and examine truck logs, repair and maintenance records, and police accident reports.
There may 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 may have been defective,
- The municipality responsible for building or maintaining roads if road damage contributed to the accident, and
- The company responsible for the truck’s maintenance or repairs that may have neglected them or done them incorrectly.
Because witnesses may be hard to locate and evidence should be gathered quickly, it makes sense to contact a Lafayette tractor-trailer lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers right away.
Contact us at (337) 777-7777 today.
For a free legal consultation with a tractor-trailer lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 777-7777
Pursuing Compensation from a Tractor-Trailer Crash
Because tractor-trailers are so big, cumbersome, and heavy, they are difficult to maneuver, take longer to stop, and are prone to rollovers. In addition, they may carry dangerous or toxic cargo. For all these reasons, motorists in smaller vehicles who are involved in crashes with tractor-trailers have the potential for serious property loss, major injuries, and even death.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will fight to get you compensation for all losses caused by the wreck. Compensation may include coverage for both your economic monetary losses and your noneconomic damages for which exact dollar values cannot be calculated. Louisiana law divides these damages into two broad categories: general damages and special damages.
General Damages
This is compensation for noneconomic 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
Special Damages
Special damages are specific monetary costs and 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
Lafayette Tractor-Trailer Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Dealing with Insurance Companies After Suffering Personal Injuries
After an accident with a tractor-trailer truck, you will likely first file 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 to make profit, not for your benefit. If you accept the first offer, which is most often a low one, you may lose your rights to seek full compensation at a time when you may not even know the full extent of your personal injuries.
When you let an injury attorney take over your case, you do not need to worry about whether a settlement offer is fair and how to go about negotiating a higher settlement.
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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 there is a rare 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. You will still be able to receive the percentage of the settlement that the other party was at fault. Our personal injury law firm will fight to establish the other party’s liability.
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Contact a Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident Attorney for Help
If you or a family member was injured in a tractor-trailer truck accident, it is not necessary to deal with 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 making closing arguments, and you pay nothing upfront – fees come only out of your settlement award. If we do not recover compensation, we do not receive payment. We offer a free consultation, so call us now at (337) 777-7777.
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