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Lafayette Truck Accident Attorney

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Truck Accident Lawyer in Lafayette

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Get the truck accident injury settlement you’re owed.

We'll fight the goliaths for you.

The vast majority of collisions involving a passenger vehicle and a semi, tractor-trailer, or other large commercial vehicle result in serious or fatal injuries to passenger-vehicle occupants. This alarming trend underscores the need for skilled truck accident attorneys who understand the complexities of such cases.

The number of serious and fatal trucking collisions on the nation’s roads has continued to increase in recent years. While tractor-trailers account for just 1 percent of the vehicles on the nation’s roads, they are responsible for more than 5,000 deaths annually, or about 15 percent of the nation’s traffic fatalities. The expertise of truck accident attorneys is crucial in navigating these often-complex legal scenarios.

Factors such as the logistical challenges of the global economy, just-in-time shipping, a nationwide trucker shortage, and consolidation of the industry among large commercial trucking companies, which prioritize profits over safety, contribute to the increasing risks. Additionally, the growth of the internet economy, leading to more large delivery vehicles on neighborhood streets, further emphasizes the importance of experienced truck accident attorneys in advocating for the rights and safety of affected individuals.

Large trucking companies understand the risks and employ numerous strategies to limit liability. The nation’s largest insurance companies are equally experienced at fighting these claims, which often result in death or catastrophic injuries to victims.

Experienced truckers continue to retire and large carriers are offering their own training, often pushing young, inexperienced truckers onto the nation’s roads before they are ready. Additionally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has relaxed rules and reduced or eliminated age and experience limitations in an attempt to help mitigate the trucker shortage and alleviate supply constraints.

This is bad news for passenger vehicles forced to share the roads. Your 3,000 pound vehicle is no match in a collision with a tractor-trailer, which can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Whenever a collision occurs with a semi or other commercial vehicle, reaching out to an experienced Lafayette truck accident lawyer is vital to protecting your rights.

Trucking Injury Claims

These are among the most complex claims a law firm can handle for many reasons:

  • Trucking companies: Use many tactics to limit liability, including operating under limited liability corporations that hold few assets, hiring truck drivers as independent contractors instead of employees, outsources maintenance to third-party companies, and renting and leasing trucks and other equipment, rather than owning assets.
  • Insurance companies: These are among the most costly claims and insurers know it. Trucking companies are protected by some of the largest and most experienced insurers in the industry. An array of experts will be assigned from the moment a claim is reported with the goal of limiting your ability to collect damages at each stage of your case.
  • Regulations: Many state and federal regulations govern the trucking industry, including a nationwide distracted driving law for commercial drivers and hours-of-service regulations that limit drive time and mandate rest periods. Your trucking accident attorney must understand these regulations and use them throughout the process of determining fault and building a comprehensive claim for damages.
  • Damages: These collisions often result in permanent disability and impairment, as well as a life-time of medical treatment and home care or, at a minimum, extensive medical treatment and a lengthy period of rehabilitation and recovery. Your chosen law firm must have access to the financial and medical experts capable of determining the full extent of your losses before demanding a fair settlement or preparing your case for trial.

The experienced truck accident lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Brandt & Sherman represent clients and families throughout the Acadiana region, including the parishes of Lafayette, Saint Martin, Acadia, Iberia, St. Landry, St Mary and Vermilion, and the communities of Abbeville, Carencro, New Iberia, Crowley, Opelousas, Eunice, Jennings, Baton Rouge, Baker, Merrydale, Zachary, Scott, Broussard, Milton, Morgan City, Shenandoah, Denham Springs, Lake Charles, Youngsville and Thibodaux.

Contact the Lafayette truck accident lawyers at Brandt & Sherman today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (337) 800-4000.

Truck Accident Attorney Q&A

Yes! An experienced truck accident attorney is familiar with state and federal laws surrounding trucking regulations that the average person might not be aware of. The trucking company and the insurance company will waste no expense to fight your claim, no matter how outright it may seem. In their attempt to bury the facts, many who choose to forego representation are left without substantial evidence to prove their case. Information may be withheld, vehicles involved in the accident may be quickly and discreetly repaired, and the victims are left with their injuries and mounting medical expenses.

No! These companies may try to force false statements or present misleading questions to you without your knowledge to steer the story in their favor. Most companies use recording devices for all phone calls, and it will be used against you in court. Let your truck accident attorney handle these conversations, however, you are free to be present if you are able.

This answer varies from state-to-state, however in Louisiana lawsuits must be filed within one year of the accident. Contact a truck accident lawyer at Brandt & Sherman to discuss your situation.

Every case is different, and the length of time needed to resolve your case will vary. Some may settle quickly while others will drag out over the course of several years.

Stop! Do not leave the scene. If you must, remove yourself, your vehicle, and passengers from travel lanes.
Call emergency services immediately.

Quickly assess injuries to yourself and others at the scene, including passengers and other drivers.

If you’re able, take photos and video to formally document everything involved in the accident prior to the arrival of emergency services. This includes pictures/videos of the scene, each vehicle with different angles, injuries to yourself or others, and take note of skid-marks or debris on or near the road, without putting yourself in further danger.

Gather names, contact information, insurance information, and witness accounts. These facts will help to support your case.
Accept emergency services to assess for injury. You may not immediately realize you are injured due to a post-crash adrenaline rush, and serious complications may arise from unseen problems.

Allowing medical staff to treat you also helps to establish a paper trail to ensure that you have proof of your injuries.
Do not sign anything without having it reviewed by your truck accident attorney!

Avoid discussing the details with others outside your immediate circle and/or your truck accident attorney’s office. This helps to prevent these statements from being used against you to diminish the severity of your injuries.

There are several things that you and your truck accident attorney can use to corroborate your injury claim. Evidence includes but is not limited to witness statements, traffic camera footage, your own personal documentation of the scene, skid-mark analysis, medical records or bills, and police reports.

There are a wide variety of injuries that one can sustain in a trucking accident. Injuries may range from concussions to broken bones, or even death. No two accidents are alike, one person may sustain only minor to moderate injuries while a fatality is a result of another similar situation.

Driver negligence – from both parties – is a critical factor in many vehicle accidents. A skilled truck accident lawyer can help in identifying and addressing these issues:

  • Driving in truck blind spots. These are called “no-zones” in the industry. A truck will often feature a sign warning other drivers that if they cannot see a truck’s side mirrors, then it is likely that the truck driver can’t see them.
  • Miscalculating speeds and turning in front of them.
  • Improperly merging into traffic.

Truck driver negligence, a key focus for truck accident lawyers, can include:

  • Inadequate training.
  • Operator fatigue. The regulations on driving for long, interrupted periods of time are strict, but drivers are still allowed to go up to 8 hours without taking a break.
  • Incentives for speedy delivery, which can lead to speeding and other reckless driving behaviors.
  • Failure to adequately brake. Because of their momentum, trucks need to take special care when coming to a stop at intersections and in traffic. Failing to leave adequate space may result in a rear-ending collision.
  • Accidents while turning. Trucks often need the space of two turning lanes, and if a truck driver fails to use caution when turning, they may find themselves liable for any accident injuries
  • Trailer swing from sharp braking, which can be a complex issue in personal injury cases and requires the expertise of truck accident lawyers to navigate.

Additional Resources in Lafayette

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration - Provides comprehensive information on regulations and safety guidelines governing commercial vehicles, important for understanding legal aspects of truck accident cases.
Insurance Information Institute: Truck Accident Statistics - Offers statistical data on truck accidents, helping to understand the frequency and impact of such accidents in the U.S.
Truck Safety Coalition - A partnership between The Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) and Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT), providing advocacy and support for those affected by truck accidents, as well as promoting safer trucking practices.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Trucking Industry Safety - OSHA's page dedicated to safety in the trucking industry, offering guidelines and resources to prevent trucking-related accidents and injuries.

Recent Case Results

Big Rig Hits Passenger Car

Awarded:
$1,550,000

Company Pickup Hits Elderly Couple’s SUV

Awarded:
$3,500,000

Pickup Fails to Yield to Passenger Car

Awarded:
$913,338

Rear-Ended by a Car with Failed Brakes

Awarded:
$1,100,000

Faculty Tire Rotation Incurred Incident

Awarded:
$610,413

Loaded Item Falling Out of a Pickup Truck

Awarded:
$511,421
SEE MORE CASE RESULTS

Wondering How to Find a Lawyer Near You?

Contact Brandt & Sherman. We Fight Goliaths.

(337) 279-3588

What Our Clients Say About Us

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  • William

    Truck Accident Victim

    Abby

    Truck Accident Victim

    Priscilla Guidry

    Truck Accident Victim
    5-star rating
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    Priscilla Guidry
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    "Very good representation. Friendly."
  • Eric Coon

    Truck Accident Victim
    5-star rating
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    Eric Coon
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    "Met with attorney. Very kind and helpful."

    Warren Thomas

    Truck Accident Victim
    5-star rating
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    Warren Thomas
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    "Always quick response on phone calls did what the said they were going to and kept me updated no matter situation."

    Jeremy Andrew

    Truck Accident Victim
    5-star rating
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    Jeremy Andrew
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    "Very helpful throughout the whole process with anything and everything that I had need."
MORE TESTIMONIALS

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Injured? GET FREE CONSULTATION NOW!
Wondering how to find a lawyer near you? Contact Brandt & Sherman. We Fight Goliaths.
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Lafayette, LA
111 Mercury St. Lafayette, LA 70503

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