Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer

Lafayette Truck Accident Attorney

When it comes to investigating the causes of severe 18-wheeler accidents, the complexity involved cannot be overstated. That’s why it is crucial to reach out to an seasoned and experienced Lafayette truck accident lawyer immediately after such a tragic event.

At The Law Office of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer, located in Lafayette, Louisiana, we specialize in personally handling every aspect of truck accident investigation. Our dedicated firm represents victims and families affected by 18-wheeler accidents across the State of Louisiana.

Causes and Impact of Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

Serious spinal cord and back injuries often result from accidents involving 18-wheelers, cars, or construction and manufacturing work. These incidents can lead to debilitating back injuries, such as slipped or herniated disks.

The most severe consequence of spinal cord damage is paralysis. While paralysis can sometimes be temporary or managed with extensive treatment, individuals with paraplegia or quadriplegia typically require lifelong care. We have resources through the best expert witnesses in the industry who can calculate the cost of the future medical care required of an injured person.

Both truck drivers and their employers bear the responsibility of adhering to state and federal interstate trucking safety regulations. To determine whether these regulations were followed, we conduct a thorough investigation that includes:

• Interviewing witnesses
• Reviewing trucking logbooks, weigh station receipts, fuel receipts, and other pertinent evidence
• Analyzing the police accident report
• Inspecting the truck itself, both at the scene and elsewhere, to preserve physical damage as crucial evidence
• Accessing the truck’s “black box,” which records vital information like speed, brake engagement, and applied force during the accident
• Scrutinizing the driver’s traffic history for any instances of negligence

Since we handle personal injury cases in Lafayette, Louisiana on a contingency fee basis, we only receive payment when you do. This arrangement ensures that we are fully committed to securing the compensation you rightfully deserve.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for Truck Accidents?

With multiple drivers, vehicles, and varying road conditions at play, a truck accident can occur for a number of reasons. Some of the most common in Lafayette include:

Driver Fatigue

Spending long hours on the road can cause fatigue at any moment. It’s why fatigue is one of the main causes of trucking accidents. When you are fatigued, the quality of your reaction times and decision-making starts to diminish. While there are certain regulations that limit how many hours a truck driver can be on the road, the pressure of meeting a tight shipment schedule or making more progress in one day can push these boundaries to an unsafe level.

Distracted Driving

Just like traditional vehicle drivers, truck drivers can get distracted when behind the wheel as well. Common reasons for becoming distracted include using a mobile device, navigating a GPS system, or even trying to adjust the music. When a driver becomes distracted by these activities, it diverts their eyes away from the road, which can cause them to miss a significant hazard.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Driving faster than the posted speed limit or operating your truck in an aggressive manner can be extremely dangerous for surrounding vehicles. This is especially true due to the sheer size difference between traditional vehicles and the volume and weight of a semi-truck. When speeding, a driver has less time to slow down to avoid a hazard. It will take a truck longer to stop and will exacerbate the severity of the collision.

Impaired Driving

Using alcohol, drugs, or even too much personal medication can make it more difficult to operate a truck properly. These substances can significantly impair an individual’s cognitive and motor functions which have a huge role in being able to keep a truck operating safely. The severity of impaired driving car accidents is why states like Louisiana have strict regulations that deter people from driving under the influence.

Poor Training or Experience

Truck drivers typically need to undergo extensive training before they are able to operate their new trucks. These trucks require a different type of skill set in maneuvering, loading, and responding to vehicle emergencies when driving. Anyone who is inexperienced with these trucks or was not properly trained is at a higher risk of making errors on the road that could lead to a serious semi-truck accident.

Equipment Failure

It is common for vehicles to experience mechanical failures. This could include the brakes malfunctioning, tires blowing out, or even issues with the transmission that lead to a catastrophic accident. Complying with regular maintenance checks and inspections can help to prevent these issues. However, equipment failures can still happen even if a truck is up to date on its maintenance needs.

Improper Loading

A problem specific to semi-trucks comes to how the vehicles are loaded. Loading these trucks correctly is key to maintaining their stability and control. When these have been improperly loaded or secured, it can unevenly distribute the weight and make the truck tip or veer out of control and wreck when on the road. This is especially true when the driver makes a sharp turn or needs to make a sudden maneuver.

Weather Conditions

Even if everything is fine with the truck’s condition, inclement weather could cause an accident. Adverse conditions such as rain, snow, or even fog can make it more difficult to operate the truck. These conditions typically reduce a driver’s visibility or make the road slippery to drive on, requiring slower speeds and greater caution when driving. If a driver neglects to accommodate their driving for the weather, it could lead to an accident.

Traffic Flow Interruptions

When traffic is congested, someone makes an abrupt stop, or a driver nearby performs an unpredictable action, all of these scenarios can disrupt the normal flow of traffic and create new hazards for a truck driver. Any of these examples would make it more difficult for the truck to stop or move as quickly as a smaller vehicle would be able to.

Aggressively Protecting Your Right to Maximum Compensation

In many cases, trucking companies dispatch their own investigators or insurance adjusters to accident scenes, who may attempt to downplay their driver’s liability. Witness statements may be manipulated, important physical evidence could be lost, faulty parts may be repaired, or black box data might be overwritten. Furthermore, drivers may be sent on long-distance assignments to prevent them from providing crucial statements during ongoing investigations.

I anticipate these challenges and counteract them by conducting extensive due diligence. Unlike other firms that rely on private investigators, I personally visit the accident scene to educate myself and examine evidence so that I know what questions to ask when the time comes. By conducting my own investigation, I am better prepared to vigorously pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.

FAQs for Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyers

Q: How Much are Most Truck Crash Settlements?

A: The total amount of a truck accident settlement depends on the combination of many different factors at play. This includes how severe the injuries were, the extent of the property damage, and how liable each party of the accident is. Because truck accidents often involve multiple vehicles which therefore brings in multiple insurance policies, all of these unique factors will influence the final figure. These figures can be high when long-term injuries are at play.

Q: How Much Do Lawyers Take from a Settlement in Louisiana?

A: There isn’t a universal settlement amount that all lawyers take in Lafayette, Louisiana. The figure can vary within a range from 30% to 50% of the final settlement. Some may take less or even more than that. This means that rather than being paid upfront by a client, the attorney agrees that they will only be paid a certain amount of the settlement if they win the case for their client. This is a great system for those who might struggle to afford legal services out of pocket.

Q: Can You Sue for Pain and Suffering in Louisiana?

A: Yes, you are able to sue for pain and suffering in the state of Louisiana. This includes suing for these types of injuries in a truck accident. This means that any physical or emotional stress that has been caused by injuries sustained from the accident can be compensated for. The more the injuries have an impact on the victim’s quality of life, the more funds they may be able to receive. Work with your attorney to quantify your pain and suffering for your case.

Q: Can You File a Lawsuit if a Truck Accident was Partially Your Fault in Louisiana?

A: Yes, Louisiana lets you still file a lawsuit even if you were partially at fault for causing the truck accident. This is because the state follows a “comparative fault” rule, which means that any compensation you receive is to be reduced by the percentage of fault you are found guilty of. For example, if you are found to be 30% guilty of a truck accident, a $100,000 settlement award would turn into $70,000.

Schedule a Consultation with our Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer

Schedule a Consultation with trusted Lafayette’s Truck Accident Investigation Lawyer If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, contact our dedicated attorney, Chris Villemarette, today at 337-232-3100. During a consultation, we will discuss your case in detail and provide the guidance you need to seek justice.