Were you or a loved one hurt in an accident involving a large semi-truck or big-rig in Gretna, LA? While you may deserve significant compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more, the trucking company is probably already working to diminish your case value. An experienced Gretna truck accident lawyer at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers can fight for the maximum compensation possible.
Our attorneys have over 26 years of experience in personal injury law. Our proven track record of success includes millions of dollars recovered on behalf of accident victims and their families.
Truck accidents can cause a shocking amount of damages. Our lawyers are here to help you hold those responsible accountable. Call our law offices at (504) 323-6000 in Gretna, Louisiana to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After a Truck Accident in Gretna
Truck accident injury claims can be tricky. They typically involve multiple parties who share blame. Proving liability requires understanding various legal theories. In itself, standing up to a large commercial insurance company can be overwhelming, and even more so when they’re trying to pin the blame on you.
An experienced Gretna personal injury attorney at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers can act as your shield and handle any legal issues that arise. We won’t let the insurance adjusters and defense teams take advantage of you.
Our Gretna personal injury lawyers can help by:
- Conducting a thorough investigation
- Analyzing every piece of evidence as we build a custom strategy in your case
- Determining who owes you compensation
- Evaluating the value of your claim
- Handling the paperwork and insurance requests
- Defending you when you’re blamed
- Protecting against other insurance scare tactics
- Negotiating with the insurance company for a full settlement
- Taking your case to trial if necessary
The sooner you take legal action, the stronger the evidence is likely to be. Call our Gretna personal injury lawyers to get started today.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Louisiana?
According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publication, 3,678 motor vehicle accidents involved large commercial trucks during 2024.
Those crashes caused 102 fatalities and more than 1,800 injuries.
What Is My Gretna Truck Accident Case Worth?
Cases involving catastrophic and permanent injuries tend to be worth more than minor injury claims. That said, calculating damages is a complicated process. Our lawyers have to review the details before we can provide a valid estimate.
The key details that will determine how much your personal injury case is worth include:
- Whether you will make a full physical recovery
- The amount you’ve spent on medical treatment, rehab, and assistance
- The value of any income you’ve lost due to the injuries
- Long-term and permanent impacts, including future medical costs, therapies, and care
- How a permanent disability will impact your future earning capacity
- Personal losses and trauma, including damage to your quality of life and enjoyment of life
- The impact of Louisiana’s shared fault laws, if any
Since every case is so different, speaking to an experienced Gretna truck accident attorney is essential. The insurance company will never offer a full settlement outright. You’ll have to prove every aspect of your damages to get a fair deal.
To learn more about your right to compensation, call our law firm today. Once we understand the details, we can offer more information about your case value.
What Types of Compensatory Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims in Gretna?
The facts and circumstances will dictate the types of damages you can recover. As a general rule, you can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to cover your financial losses, including:
- ER visits, hospitalization, surgeries, follow-up care, and other current medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential
- Rehabilitation, therapy, and any future medical costs
- Property damage to your vehicle and belongings
Non-economic damages are often called “pain and suffering” damages, and compensate for things like:
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Ongoing mental health issues
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Damage to relationships
- Loss of consortium, or loss of a spouse’s companionship, in wrongful death cases
Identifying the losses you have experienced is the first step toward establishing the value of your damages. Even then, putting a dollar value on your personal losses can be difficult. Insurance companies often pressure victims into accepting “standard” settlement amounts. With an experienced lawyer by your side, you’re in a much better position to negotiate for the full amount you deserve.
Who Is Responsible for Paying Damages in Louisiana Truck Accident Cases?
Identifying the responsible party is also a burden placed on the victim. In a typical car accident case, another driver is typically the defendant. Truck accident claims are different. Trucking is a complex industry, and multiple parties are involved in getting the vehicle on the road.
Some possible examples of responsible parties include:
- A negligent truck driver
- The trucking company, as the at-fault driver’s employer
- Companies hired to inspect and maintain a fleet of trucks
- Cargo loading companies
- Truck leasing companies
- Manufacturers of defective parts
- Government agencies charged with road maintenance and industry oversight
When multiple parties share fault, each can be responsible for their share of the damage.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Louisiana?
Like most Gretna personal injury law firms, we operate on a contingency fee basis. Your attorneys’ fees are based on the compensation your lawyer recovers. That way, you won’t have to cover upfront retainer fees to get legal representation.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
Louisiana has adopted pure comparative negligence laws. Plainly put, you’ll be responsible to the extent you share any blame. After liability is divided between all responsible parties, each pays their share. As the victim, your compensation is reduced to account for your own liability.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Commercial vehicles are large and heavy–sometimes weighing upwards of 80,000 pounds when they’re fully loaded. They’re capable of causing any type of injury imaginable.
Call our lawyers at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers if you’ve suffered:
- Broken bones
- Chest injuries
- Facial and eye injuries
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
We also have the tools to fight for grieving families who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. If you’re suffering after a truck wreck, look to our lawyers in Gretna for help getting the full compensation you deserve.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Gretna?
Trucking services are highly regulated, both by federal and state law. Truck drivers must first obtain a commercial driver’s license before they can operate a semi-truck. That’s no guarantee that they won’t cause accidents.
Most tractor-trailer accidents are caused by preventable actions, including:
- Distracted driving
- Hours-of-service violations and truck driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous and wide turns
- Improperly secured cargo or hazardous cargo
- Failure to plan for longer stopping times
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Not performing adequate inspections before and after trips
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Dangerous road conditions
As soon as you hire our truck accident attorneys in Gretna, we’ll start investigating to identify the cause of your crash.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
Victims always bear the burden of proving liability after an accident.
If you were injured in a truck accident, you’ll most likely have to prove the other party was negligent, meaning:
- They owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty through some careless or reckless act
- That breach directly caused the accident
- You suffered damages
Truck accident investigation can be complicated.
Our lawyers will be searching for various types of evidence as we build your case, including:
- The truck’s electronic recording device, or black box, if one exists
- Statements from witnesses
- Police reports
- Skid marks, vehicle damage, and other evidence from the accident scene
- The driver’s service logs
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Employment records
- Medical records
Testimony from experts can also be critical to the success of any personal injury claim.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations in Louisiana is only two years. While there are circumstances that can change the deadline in your case, you’ll typically lose your right to damages if you don’t act within two years of the truck crash.
Contact a Respected Gretna Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Our lawyers at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers have years of personal injury experience. We know how to protect you during this difficult time. If you were injured, call an experienced Gretna truck accident lawyer to discuss your case today.