Types of Truck Accidents We Handle
Commercial vehicles differ in size, weight, design, and purpose, but any of them can cause devastating injuries when something goes wrong. Hair Shunnarah handles truck accident claims involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, delivery vehicles, dump trucks, work trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout Louisiana.
Fully loaded tractor-trailers require more time and distance to slow down than passenger vehicles. Crashes may occur when a driver follows too closely, enters traffic too quickly, loses control, or cannot stop for changing road conditions.
What Laws Apply to Louisiana Truck Accident Claims?
Truck accident claims can involve both Louisiana law and federal motor carrier regulations. Which rules apply depends on the type of vehicle, how it was being used, where it was traveling, and the company responsible for its operation.
The records created under these rules may help show whether a driver or trucking company contributed to the crash.
Many commercial drivers and motor carriers must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations governing driving hours, driver qualifications, vehicle inspections, maintenance, cargo securement, and drug and alcohol testing.
For many property-carrying drivers, federal rules allow a maximum of 11 driving hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers are also generally prohibited from driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
Not every rule applies to every truck or driver. However, driver logs, inspection reports, maintenance records, qualification files, and testing records may help determine whether a safety failure contributed to the collision.
Why Truck Accident Liability Can Extend Beyond the Driver
A commercial truck is usually part of a larger operation. One company may employ the driver, another may own the tractor, another may own the trailer, and a separate business may load the cargo or maintain the vehicle. When a crash occurs, each company’s role needs to be examined.
Potential responsibility may include:
- The driver for fatigue, distraction, speeding, impairment, or another unsafe driving decision
- The motor carrier for unsafe scheduling, inadequate training, poor supervision, or violations of company and federal safety requirements
- The truck or trailer owner for allowing unsafe equipment onto the road
- A maintenance provider for failing to properly inspect or repair brakes, tires, lights, steering systems, or other components
- A shipper or cargo-loading company when an overloaded, unbalanced, or unsecured load contributes to the crash
- A manufacturer when a defective truck or component fails
- Another company involved in the shipment when its own decisions or control over the operation contributed to the collision
Determining who is responsible requires more than reading the company name printed on the truck. Employment records, carrier registrations, leases, maintenance agreements, shipping documents, dispatch communications, and insurance policies can reveal how the operation was structured.
That investigation can affect both how the crash is proven and which companies and insurance policies may be available to compensate the injured person.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents can cause injuries that require surgery, rehabilitation, long-term medical care, or significant time away from work. A claim should account for both the losses that have already occurred and the ways the injury may continue affecting the person’s health, income, independence, and family.
Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include:
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and medical equipment
- Anticipated future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional suffering
- Disability or permanent physical limitations
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death damages when a collision is fatal
There is no standard settlement amount for a truck accident claim. Its value depends on the severity and long-term effects of the injuries, the medical treatment required, time missed from work, permanent limitations, available insurance coverage, strength of the evidence, and allocation of fault.
When an injury affects someone’s ability to work or live independently, documenting future medical needs and reduced earning capacity can be just as important as calculating the expenses already incurred.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
The first priority after a truck collision is getting to safety and addressing any injuries. Once immediate needs are handled, collecting information about the truck and the commercial operation behind it may become important.
If you are able to do so safely:
- Call 911 and request medical assistance. A collision involving a large commercial vehicle can cause serious injuries even when symptoms are not immediately obvious.
- Photograph the entire scene. Capture the position and damage of each vehicle, skid marks, debris, road conditions, traffic controls, visible injuries, and any spilled or shifted cargo.
- Document the truck and trailer. Photograph the company name, USDOT number, license plates, identifying numbers, logos, and markings on both the tractor and trailer.
- Identify the driver and motor carrier. Obtain the driver’s contact, license, employer, insurance, and carrier information. The driver, employer, truck owner, and trailer owner may not all be the same company.
- Collect witness information. Other motorists, nearby businesses, or people at the scene may have observations or video that help explain what happened.
- Preserve everything connected to the crash. Keep photographs, medical records, damaged personal property, towing information, repair estimates, receipts, and communications from insurers or trucking representatives.
- Be careful when discussing the collision. A trucking company or insurer may begin investigating quickly. Avoid guessing about fault, minimizing your injuries, or providing information you are unsure about.
- Consider acting quickly to preserve trucking records. Driver logs, onboard vehicle data, dash-camera footage, dispatch communications, maintenance records, and cargo documents may not remain available indefinitely.
A prompt investigation can help identify the companies involved and preserve evidence before the truck is repaired, returned to service, or placed back under another company’s control.
Results
All settlements and verdicts were handled in partnership with co-counsel trial attorneys.
Ways We Can Support You
Every trial attorney on our team is trained to fight aggressively for your rights. Here's how our team will help throughout the legal process.
Free Case Review
We'll review your claim and explain the best legal options available.
Claim Investigation
Our team gathers evidence and builds a strong case from the start.
Expert Negotiation
We deal directly with insurers to secure the maximum recovery possible.
Court Representation
If a fair settlement isn't possible, we're ready to fight for you at trial.
No-Win, No-Fee
We guarantee that you don't pay us unless we win your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Louisiana
Talk to Hair Shunnarah About Your Truck Accident
If you were injured in a truck accident, Hair Shunnarah can investigate the driver, trucking company, and other parties involved and explain your options for pursuing compensation. Your consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fee unless we win your case.