Baton Rouge Truck Accident Lawyer

Don't let a semi-truck accident leave you in shock and confusion. Reach out to an experienced Baton Rouge truck crash attorney who can help you get your due compensation. They have the knowledge and resources required to make sure you receive the justice you deserve.

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Interstate highways are home to many of the most hazardous vehicles, one of them being trucks. If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck accident, it is important to be informed of the potential risks and to understand the services of a Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer.

Trucks are a common site on roads in and around Baton Rouge, transporting goods to other parts of Louisiana and the United States. They play an invaluable role in supplying necessities such as food and household products. Despite their utility, trucks pose a risk to other vehicles on the road and must be handled with caution. The potential for harm doesn't make them any less useful, though.

Louisiana has a fault-based compensation system in place for victims of truck-related traffic accidents, allowing them to get financial settlement for their injuries and losses. Unfortunately, these collisions happen frequently, causing major suffering and damage to those involved. Recovering from a truck accident involves many variables and navigating the legal landscape can be difficult. Finding the responsible parties and getting due compensation for your injuries can be a complex process.

It is paramount to have legal assistance when claiming for a truck accident. If you're in the Baton Rouge area, Wright & Gray Truck Accident Lawyers can help you receive the remuneration you deserve for your injuries. We have an extensive variety of legal experience spanning more than two decades. During this time, we have been helping those who need it fight for the rights they deserve. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us today.

We understand the difficulty of dealing with major damage, and can assist you in your quest for compensation. Our team will provide guidance and support throughout the entire process to ensure you get the best outcome possible.

What Are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?

A large truck is classified as any vehicle with a gross weight capacity of more than 10,000 pounds. That includes semi-trucks, 18-wheeler, and tractor trailers but excludes buses and motor homes. Sadly, in 2019 there were a total of 5,005 fatal crashes involving large trucks in the U.S., according to Injury Facts. Over the past decade, there has been a steady upward trend in truck crash rates as measured by a 2% jump from 2018 and 43% increase since 2010. The involvement rate for every 100 million miles traveled of large-trucks has increased 5% from 2018 and 37% since 2010.

• In 2010, large trucks represented a significant portion of truck collisions in the United States. The following are the numbers for such incidents:
• 10% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes
• 4% of all registered vehicles
• 7% of total vehicle miles traveled

These figures demonstrate that commercial trucks are often responsible for crashes. But what could be the underlying causes of these collisions?

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

Truckers often take drugs to stay alert during long hours on the road. While this can be beneficial, it can also affect their mental capacity and lead to accidents if not managed properly. Drunk driving is a serious offense, especially for commercial truck drivers, who drive around carrying hazardous cargo. In Baton Rouge, the BAC limit is set at only 0.04%, which ensures that all drivers stay in control when they're on the road and prevent any unfortunate accidents. It should be noted that a truck driver who is under the influence of alcohol still faces criminal prosecution. Therefore, drink-driving should never be taken lightly as it can have serious repercussions.

Speeding

Over-speeding is a major contributor to truck accidents just like it is with cars or motorcycles. Driving a vehicle that could weigh up to 80,000 pounds at high speed can be fatal; such crashes are highly dangerous and can result in fatalities. It is essential for truck drivers to respect the speed limit on interstate highways, so as to ensure their safety as well as that of other motorists.

Fatigue

Tiredness is a frequent consequence of truck driving, particularly when FMCSA regulations are not followed. Fatigue can be risky and can lead to an accident. Therefore, it is important for truck drivers to get sufficient rest before embarking on a journey. To ensure safety and optimal performance, truckers must get ample rest, restrict their work hours as prescribed by the law and never drive when feeling fatigued.

Distracted Driving

Distractions can be very risky, especially when they lead to truck accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018, the U.S. had a disturbing statistic of over 2,800 people killed and 400,000 injured due to distracted driving. Driving while distracted can happen in multiple ways such as cognitive, visual, and manual. Given the size of trucks, it is essential that truck drivers stay focused on the road at all times for a safe commute.

Truck collisions can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:

• Reckless driving
• Blind spots
• Inadequate training
• Poor truck maintenance
• Wheel blowout
• Jackknifing
• Different Types of Truck Accidents

Common truck accident incidents include collisions with other vehicles, rollovers, tire blowouts, cargo spills, and livestock runaway. These types of accidents can be extremely hazardous and lead to serious injury or death.

• Head-on Collisions: Head-on collisions are catastrophic events that often result in fatalities or serious injuries. They happen when a truck and an oncoming vehicle collide with one another.
• Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions involving a commercial truck often have fatal outcomes. This could be when the truck hits another vehicle, or if it is the smaller vehicle that rear-ends the truck. Such accidents are extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
• Under ride Accidents: This is a very serious type of crash involving semi-trucks. It occurs when a truck applies the brakes suddenly and an approaching vehicle gets wedged under its trailer.
• Rollover Accidents: If a truck driver has difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle, the tractor-trailer may end up in an overturned state, which usually results in an accident. Additionally, it can lead to accidents and sometimes goods may be spilled during this process.

Connect with a Baton Rouge Truck Accident Attorney

Our legal team is experienced in dealing with truck accident injury cases. We can put our resources and knowledge to work in order to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. When you choose us, success is always within reach.

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What Are the Common Injuries in Truck Accidents?

Those who are involved in trucking accidents may sustain a range of injuries, from minor to serious, such as:

Back and Neck Injuries

Accident related injures affecting the neck and back can be very severe and may prevent you from doing your job or engaging in regular activities. These injuries could include minor issues like whiplash, but they can also be more serious problems such as dislocated discs in the spine. Note that these are different from spinal cord injuries.

Broken Bones

Truck collisions often result in broken bones, which can vary in severity depending on the force of the impact. Even in cases like underside accidents where intense pressure is placed on the body, there may be crushed bones sustained by the victim.

Head Injuries

Injuries to the head can have a huge impact on how you live your life. Traumatic brain injuries, when the skull is penetrated and the brain is affected, are especially serious. It's important to remember that some head injuries may not be noticeable right away so it's essential to get medical help immediately after a car accident.

Internal Injuries

A car accident can have serious implications on your body, especially if you experience blunt force trauma. You may end up damaging important organs like the liver, bladder, kidney and pancreas. Internal injuries often take some time to be detected and treated properly. Hence, it's essential to seek medical help right after an accident, even if you feel alright at the moment.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

After sustaining an injury from a collision, it is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This can help in preventing any permanent damage to the spinal cord, which could lead to paralysis. Getting MRI tests and X-rays will also help provide a better diagnosis of the situation and necessary treatments.

Besides lacerations, seat belt injuries and rib torso injuries, the unfortunate event of wrongful death can also be a result of truck accidents. When such an incident takes place, the legal heirs of the deceased generally file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain restitution. For a valid wrongful death claim, the deceased must have had a lawful right to the action before they passed away.

What Should You Do After a Commercial Trucking Accident?

If you've been injured in a truck accident, it is essential to take the right steps after the incident if you want to maximize your chance of receiving a fair compensation. To guarantee this, be sure to do the following:

• In case of an accident, it is important to stay at the scene until you've reported the incident to the necessary authorities. This can help ensure that your rights are protected and that authorities investigate any wrongdoing. Furthermore, a report can also help file any potential insurance claims.
• Getting proper medical attention is essential for your injuries, even if you don't feel severely affected by the accident. These records can provide evidence to support your personal injury claim in court. Don't take any chances and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
• Establish contact with the other parties involved and exchange relevant information, such as their contact details, insurance company name policy number, car registration details and driving license. This can help to settle any claims quickly and accurately.
• It's a good idea to try to ascertain who witnessed the incident and interview them. Make sure they are willing to provide their contact details in case you need to call upon them as a witness in an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
• Make sure to take detailed photos of the crash site and the parts of the vehicle that were damaged. Additionally, you should look into requesting traffic footage from any CCTV cameras that may have captured the incident.
• If you’ve been in an accident and believe you may have a personal injury claim, it is important that you consult with an experienced Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer. They can evaluate your case, determine the best strategy for pursuing compensation, provide legal advice throughout the process, and help protect your rights.

Who Can You Sue for a Truck Accident in Baton Rouge?

Truck accidents are usually the result of reckless driving, but this isn't always the case. In some cases, other parties such as traffic control officers, truck maintenance staff and truck manufacturers can be held accountable.

• The Truck Driver: Truckers need to be mindful that they have a responsibility to other motorists when on the road, and if it is found that their negligence has caused an accident, they are liable for compensating the victim for any resulting losses.
• The Trucking Company: Trucking companies are held responsible for their drivers' misconduct on the road under vicarious liability. Even if they unknowingly hire a driver with a record of bad driving behavior, they may still bear the consequences if they were aware of the risks beforehand. This is why thorough background checks are essential to ensure that only safe and reliable drivers join the company's ranks.
• Cargo Loaders: In the event of a truck crash due to cargo that wasn't properly secured, the party responsible for compensation would be the cargo loader. They would be liable for any recoverable damages to the affected victim.
• Truck Manufacturer: If the accident was caused by a defective part in a truck, then the truck manufacturer would be held accountable.
• Third-Parties: When another driver on the road falls short of the standard of care and results in an accident, they will be found liable. Even if it is the truck driver who makes contact with your vehicle, you would still receive compensation from a third party. Our auto accident lawyers located in Baton Rouge are ready to provide you with more details and information about third-party claims. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us today!

What Compensation Can You Get in a Truck Accident Claim?

Following a truck accident, victims may be eligible to receive economic and non-economic damages. This compensation is designed to address both physical emotional suffering caused by the incident, as well as any property damage. Examples of these damages include: Cost of medical care

• Loss of income
• Vehicle repair
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Out-of-pocket expenses

Wrongful death claims enable survivors to receive compensation for funeral burial costs. If a victim can provide proof of gross negligence, they have the option of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit; this could result in the awarding of punitive damages.

If you've been hurt in a trucking accident, we provide free consultations to help you get informed understand the legalities before taking any action. That way, you can make an informed decision that's best for your situation. Give us a call at 504-500-0000 or fill out our online contact form below.