Were you injured in a large truck accident in Metairie, LA? If so, call Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers for legal assistance. An experienced Metairie truck accident lawyer can help you fight to recover full financial compensation. Call us today at (504) 323-6000.
We are a trusted personal injury law firm with over 26 years of experience between us. Through our hard work and dedication, we’ve helped injury victims and their families recover millions of dollars in compensation.
You don’t have to let the truck driver’s insurance company dictate the terms of your compensation award. If you were involved in a truck accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who can help you maximize your financial recovery.
Why Should I Trust Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle My Truck Accident Claim in Metairie, Louisiana?
Truck accidents can be devastating. If you were injured due to someone else’s carelessness, you deserve to be compensated fairly. The process for recovering that compensation is almost always a struggle. The trucking company will deny liability, blame you, and make any argument possible to avoid paying the full compensation you deserve.
Trust our Metairie personal injury lawyer at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers to help you demand accountability. We know exactly how the insurance company operates. We have the tools to handle all legal issues that arise.
You can count on us to secure the compensation you deserve and:
- Independently investigate the truck crash
- Build the strongest evidence-backed claim possible
- Be prepared with a strong defense when you’re blamed for the crash
- Work with trusted experts who can strengthen your personal injury claim
- Reject lowball insurance offers
- Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf
- Fight to protect you in the courtroom, if necessary, to get the money you deserve
We’re prepared to put our proven track record of success to work for you. To get started, call today for a free consultation with our Metairie truck accident attorneys.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Louisiana?
Accidents involving large trucks can be particularly dangerous. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is tasked with regulating the trucking industry to reduce the risk of these accidents. Each year, the FMCSA also publishes data on accidents involving large commercial vehicles on a state-by-state basis.
In Louisiana, 3,678 traffic accidents involving large trucks were reported in a recent year. 1,819 people were injured and 102 others were killed.
What is My Metairie Truck Accident Case Worth?
Your compensation award should be significant enough to help you cope with the losses you’ve been faced with. All cases are different. That said, victims with more severe injuries tend to receive higher amounts.
As we’re building your case, we’ll evaluate:
- The general severity of your injuries
- Whether your doctor expects you to make a full physical recovery
- Your current medical treatment costs and other expenses
- Whether your doctor expects you to need ongoing medical care and rehab
- How much income you lose during recovery
- How your future earnings will be impacted by a long-term impairment
- Damage to your quality of life and mental health
- Available insurance coverage
- The impact of any allegations that you share blame
An experienced attorney can help you even the playing field and fight for a settlement that covers any loss you experience.
What Types of Compensatory Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims in Metairie?
Examples of the types of economic damages and non-economic damages you may be entitled to pursue include:
- Current medical bills
- Expected future medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- In-home assistance and nursing care
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium
Trucking companies and their insurance adjusters will work hard to diminish your losses. You’ll need solid evidence to prove the value of your claim. By working with our experienced lawyers in Metairie, you’ll have a team that knows exactly how to build a strong case that the insurance company will take seriously.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Truck Accident Claim in Louisiana?
Personal injury law firms work on a contingency fee basis. When you hire our team at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers, you’ll agree to pay us a percentage of any settlement or verdict we recover in your case. Our legal services cost nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Partially to Blame for a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
Louisiana has pure comparative negligence laws. Your damages will be reduced to the extent that you share any blame. For example, if you were 30% responsible for the truck wreck, your damages would be reduced by 30%.
Count on Our Attorneys in Metairie to Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Occupants in passenger vehicles are susceptible to severe and life-threatening injuries when they’re struck by a large commercial truck.
We often represent clients who have been forced to endure:
- Broken bones
- Chest injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Crushing injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Make sure to seek medical attention quickly if you haven’t already. Not all truck accident injuries are immediately obvious. Prompt medical care gives you the best chance at making a full physical recovery. It’ll also provide valuable evidence if you decide to seek compensation.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Trucks in Metairie?
Most truck and car accidents can be avoided. Trucking is a heavily regulated industry. Regulations impact everything from the driver’s qualifications to their work schedules to truck inspection and maintenance requirements.
Still, thousands of accidents involving semi-trucks and tractor-trailers occur every year.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Ignoring state and federal safety regulations
- Speeding
- Failure to account for longer stopping times
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Failure to check blind spots
- Fatigued truck drivers
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous and wide turns
- Failure to conduct proper pre- and post-trip inspections
- Failure to properly secure the truck’s cargo
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Braking errors
- Hazardous road conditions
- Vehicle defects
The success of your personal injury claim depends on determining why your accident occurred.
You can count on our Metairie truck accident attorneys at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers to conduct a detailed investigation and evaluate the results of any third-party investigations. Once we have the evidence we need, we’ll start fighting to hold all responsible parties accountable.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
In legal terms, you must establish four things to prove negligence:
- A duty of care existed
- The at-fault party breached their duty
- That breach was the direct and proximate cause of the accident
- You suffered damages
Examples of the types of evidence that can be used to prove your negligence case include:
- Electronic recordings from the truck’s black box
- The driver’s hours-of-service logs
- The driver’s commercial driver’s license qualifications
- Video footage from dash cams or traffic lights
- Truck inspection and maintenance records
- The trucking company’s formal policies and procedures
- Testimony from experts
- Eyewitnesses
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Evidence from the accident scene
Trucking is a hugely profitable industry. The trucking company is already investigating, searching for any evidence that can be used to reduce its liability. You deserve a law firm that will do the same for you. We’re always here to discuss your case, so call to learn about your legal options today.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Damages After a Trucking Accident?
Whoever contributed to the accident can be held responsible.
Responsible parties might include:
- A negligent truck driver
- Third-party motorists
- The trucking company
- A freight broker
- Truck leasing companies
- Government agencies
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts or safety equipment
- Employers of negligent parties
Most often, the trucking company will be responsible for carrying insurance to cover damages when their employees cause accidents. That means you’ll likely be facing off against a commercial insurance carrier.
What is the Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations in Louisiana is only two years. You have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Once two years pass, you’ll have lost your right to damages.
Contact an Experienced Metairie Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Do you have questions about your legal rights after a truck accident? An experienced Metairie truck accident lawyer at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Give us a call today to learn how.