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.