A truck accident can leave you feeling broken and financially drained. If you sustained injuries in a New Orleans accident due to a negligent truck driver or trucking company, you may be able to pursue damages based on the facts of your case.
Don't suffer alone and pay for your losses out of pocket. A New Orleans truck accident attorney from Boling Law Firm can review your case for free and help you seek financial recovery.
Causes of Truck Accidents in New Orleans
Truck accidents can cause severe damage to property and other vehicles. Our truck accident attorneys in New Orleans know how to get to the bottom of the cause of your wreck and gather the evidence necessary to prove your claim.
Unfortunately, most truck accidents involve other motorists. In one large study, The Large Truck Crash Causation Study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 73% of the accidents reviewed involved a large truck colliding with at least one other vehicle. The top 10 causes of these accidents include:
- Mechanical issues
- Problems with traffic flow, such as a traffic jam or another accident
- Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions
- Defects or hazards in the road
- A required stop, such as a red light, crosswalk, or stop sign
- Being unfamiliar with the roadway
- Failure to check blind spots
- Prescription or OTC drug use that alters driving ability
- Fatigue, including failure to rest when required
At Boling Law Firm, we know the most common ways truck drivers cause traffic accidents. When we review the facts of your case, we may be able to identify how the driver acted negligently and who might be liable for your injuries.
For a free legal consultation with a Truck Accident lawyer serving New Orleans, call 504-569-5904
Recoverable Damages Following a New Orleans Truck Accident
If you were injured in a New Orleans truck accident, we may be able to file a liability insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. This could result in the recovery of damages such as:
- Current and future medical treatment and related care
- Current and future lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages
If you lost a loved one as a result of a truck accident, Boling Law Firm's wrongful death lawyers in New Orleans can help you understand your options.
Pursuing Compensation in a New Orleans Truck Accident Case
Truck accident cases are complicated because of the vicarious liability as outlined in the La. Civ. Code Art. 2320. Under this article, the trucking company, employer, or another responsible party may be vicariously liable for a driver's negligence.
This means you can file an insurance claim to seek damages based on the trucking company's liability insurance policy. Your New Orleans truck accident lawyers can take on the trucking company's insurance company to pursue damages based on their large corporate policy. As a part of this process, our team can:
- Identify the vicariously liable party or parties
- Secure evidence to prove your claim
- Calculate a fair settlement estimate for your case
- Represent you to the insurance company
- File a personal injury lawsuit if necessary
Your Time to Pursue Compensation Is Limited
La. Civ. Code Art. 3492 sets the statute of limitations for most New Orleans truck accidents at one year. This deadline means you must take legal action before the first anniversary of the accident. It is important that your New Orleans truck accident lawyer learns as much about your case as possible, as soon as possible.
If you decide to take legal action, the immediate aftermath in the days following the accident are crucial to the success of your case. You should gather as much evidence as possible while the events are still fresh. If you feel overwhelmed, our lawyers can offer support throughout the process.
Truck accidents often leave a lot of evidence in the hands of the trucking company, and any piece of this evidence could make a difference in your case. We need to preserve this evidence quickly after your accident. This evidence could include:
- Information from the truck's data recorders
- Dashcam video of the accident
- The driver's rest logs
- Post-accident drug and alcohol testing results
- The driver's employment records
The sooner your New Orleans truck accident lawyer can take action to protect this evidence, the better chance we have of it remaining intact and available to us. We can use it to support your claim against the trucking company and to prove the truck driver acted negligently.
How Much does a New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
Boling Law Firm works on a contingency-fee basis. This means our legal fee is calculated as a percentage of your successful case award.
We don't ask our clients to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. We get paid when you do. We also offer truck accident victims a free initial consultation. This way, you can speak to one of our attorneys without paying us.
What You Should Do After a Truck Accident in New Orleans
After a New Orleans truck accident, you should visit a doctor. Your medical team can give you a treatment plan to follow, assess severe injuries, and prescribe you medications to alleviate some of the pain you feel. Commercial vehicles can cause significant damage, so you want to be seen by a doctor before your condition worsens. Your medical records and bills may even be used as evidence in your case.
While you are at the scene of the collision, you can also collect evidence if your injuries allow. Useful evidence can include the name of the trucking company, the contact information of any witnesses, and photos of the crash scene.
In the days following your accident, you may receive a phone call from the liable party's insurance company. You do not have to give them a statement. Insurers may try to undervalue your claim and offer you less money than you deserve. Rather than accepting a lowball settlement, leave your case to our personal injury attorney.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana Today
Truck accidents can be devastating for everyone involved. Make sure you get the compensation you deserve by hiring an auto accident lawyer at Boling Law Firm. Contact us online or at 504-569-5904 to schedule a Free Consultation today.