Protecting Clients By Identifying Those Responsible For Truck Accidents

It is our experience that these parties will often attempt to deny responsibility – no matter how obvious the cause of a wreck may be – or will not offer you proper compensation for your injuries. So, it is also important that you work with a skilled Louisiana truck accident lawyer to identify that at-fault party and pursue the maximum compensation that you deserve.

In 2016, of the 34,439 fatal crashes on the nation’s roadways, 4,079 (11.8 percent) involved at least one large truck or bus. In addition, there were an estimated 7,242,000 nonfatal crashes, 537,000 (7.4 percent) of which involved at least one large truck or bus. In 2015-16, there were 175 fatalities from large trucks and buses on Louisiana roads, according to statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

If you have been in an accident with an 18-wheeler that wasn’t your fault, we encourage you to contact the Louisiana truck accident attorneys at Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards to schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case. In identifying those who are responsible for a truck accident, we will look closely at several factors to defend your rights, including:

Truck Drivers

Driver error is a common cause of big rig accidents. Factors that can contribute to a driver causing an accident include:

• Driver fatigue
• Driver distraction
• Impairment from drugs or alcohol
• Speeding, or other traffic violations, such as ignoring lights or signals
• Violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours of service regulations
• Reckless or aggressive driving.

All truck accidents demand a thorough investigation. Our Louisiana truck accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your accident, including the driver, to determine if the truck was speeding or if other illegal actions led to the crash.

Trucking Companies

The trucking companies have a duty to hire qualified drivers to operate large commercial vehicles. These companies also must frequently test their drivers for drug and alcohol use. If the trucking company fails to uphold its duty, the company may be held liable for a truck accident. This includes:

• Employing drivers who do not hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Failing to adequately train drivers for their responsibilities
• Allowing or forcing drivers to violate hours of service rules
• Hiring drivers with drug or alcohol violations, or poor driving records.

Parts Manufacturers

Large trucks have many moving parts and demand constant maintenance. A commercial truck accident may be caused by a defective vehicle part or mechanical failure. If this was the cause of your accident, the manufacturer of the defective part or component could be held liable for your injury, including:

• Transmission failure
• Brake failure
• Steering system failure
• Tire blowouts
• Defective lighting
• Defective hitch

These issues can be the result of poor maintenance. Prior to long-distance trips, trucking companies are required to perform regular maintenance inspections. Our attorneys will review the truck’s maintenance logs to determine if inadequate maintenance was the reason for the crash, or if the vehicle’s parts were known to be defective.

Loading Companies

Commercial trucks carry cargo across the country. The contents must be secure and safe, and that is often the responsibility of a company that loads the cargo. Our Louisiana truck accident lawyers will determine which company was responsible for safely loading the truck’s contents and securing the load. A loading company may be held liable for a truck accident if the cargo was not secured, was exposed, fell from the truck or caused the tractor-trailer to tip over.

We Can Help You After A Truck Accident

An experienced and knowledgeable truck accident attorney can help you recover the fair compensation you are entitled after being injured in a collision with an 18-wheeler.

The Louisiana truck accident lawyers of Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards know the commercial trucking industry and the applicable laws. We have helped injured people from across Louisiana pursue the compensation they deserve after being injured in an accident.

Find out what legal options you have available after being injured in a truck accident. Schedule a free consultation with our Lafayette truck accident lawyers. We serve our clients a contingency fee basis, so there are no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

An experienced personal injury lawyer will help your case

We will do everything we can to help you, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve after an accident. Our law firm works on a contingency fee system, meaning we charge no legal fees unless you receive compensation. Learn more about our practice areas helping people in Louisiana communities and beyond: