Big Truck Lawyer in Lafayette, Louisiana

No two truck accidents are the same, which is why we highly recommend that you contact an experienced attorney after the accident. Furthermore, truck accident cases are often complex and involve multiple parties such as the trucking company and the insurance company. This can make it difficult to determine who is legally responsible for damages.

After an accident, don’t wait to seek legal guidance as this could potentially impact your claim. In some cases, some injured victims wait to seek legal guidance and end up with little to no compensation.

Immediately following a truck accident, safety should be your number one priority. This means you should contact emergency responders to receive medical attention, and report the accident.

If possible, while you’re waiting for emergency responders to arrive, make sure to collect evidence. Evidence is crucial and can help support your claim against the responsible party. This can include taking photos of both your injuries and the accident scene, creating a video that shows the accident scene, collecting witness statements, and exchanging contact information.

Lastly, contact an attorney for legal guidance. It can be difficult to file a potential lawsuit without legal help.

According to the Federal Register, a commercial motor vehicle is considered, “as one having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more; designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver; or transporting hazardous materials in quantities requiring the vehicle to be placarded.”

If you’re unsure as to whether or not the truck involved in the accident is a commercial vehicle, contact an attorney. Your lawyer can investigate the vehicle and determine the type of truck, and assist you with your claim, if applicable.

Even if you don’t appear to be injured, it’s in your best interest to have an evaluation by a medical professional. In some cases, you may not feel pain from an injury until days or even weeks later.

Once you have been evaluated by a doctor, our team can determine if you’re entitled to compensation for damages. Truck accident cases are complicated and often involve multiple parties, which can make it difficult to file a lawsuit for damages.

Injuries after an accident can result in high medical expenses and lost wages, especially if you’re unable to work due to your injury. Our goal is to help injured victims receive the compensation they deserve to pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with the accident so they can move on with their lives.

The length of time you have to file a truck accident lawsuit depends on the statute of limitations laws within your state. These laws determine how long an injured victim has to file a lawsuit against the responsible party for damages.

In the state of Louisiana, an injured victim has one-year following the accident to file a lawsuit. Failing to file during the one-year time limit may result in little or no compensation. That’s why it’s in your best interest to file before the deadline.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “In 2017 there were 4,761 people killed in crashes involving large trucks.” Truck accidents happen more often than most people realize. 

Due to their massive size and weight, truck accidents can cause significant damage to those involved in the accident. This can lead to serious and/or life-altering injuries, property damage, and even emotional damage, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since trucking accidents can lead to serious damages, higher financial compensation may be available.

Determining liability after a truck accident is not always simple. There are multiple potential parties that may be liable for this type of accident. Those who may be held responsible for a trucking accident include:

• The truck driver – A truck driver may be held accountable for breaking laws such as distracted driving, running a red light, or failing to yield the right-of-way. 
• The manufacturing company – The manufacturing company that built the truck could be liable if a defective part resulted in the collision. 
• Cargo loaders – Occasionally cargo loaders fail to securely fasten the materials on the cargo bed; if the materials come loose, they can result in a serious accident.
• The trucking company –  A trucking company may be held responsible if they fail to follow safety procedures or inspections.

It depends. After a truck accident, determining who is liable for the property damage and your injuries can be a challenge. In some cases, trucking companies hire contractors that are not direct employees of the company. In this case, you would be unable to file a lawsuit against the company and would have to file a lawsuit against the driver.

Filing a lawsuit is time-consuming and navigating the legal system without proper representation can make seeking compensation much more difficult. For this reason, hiring a truck lawyer would be in your best interest.

Many times, people are uncertain about hiring legal guidance due to costs. The cost of hiring an attorney often depends on a variety of factors such as research, time, and court fees. But you don’t need to worry, because at The Law Offices of Blaine Barrilleaux, we work on a contingency-fee only basis.

This means you will not be required to pay any upfront costs, and your payment for our representation will depend on the overall success of your case. Keep in mind that every case is unique, and the result of your case will depend on a variety of factors.

If you want to learn more about your legal options and if you’re entitled to any compensation for damages, please contact our team. We’re dedicated to helping truck accident victims who suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence. Don’t hesitate to contact our team and let us review your case today.