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New Orleans 18-Wheeler Accidents

18-Wheeler
Accidents

A collision with a commercial truck or 18-wheeler can be particularly devastating, resulting in catastrophic injuries and massive property damage. Because multiple parties (the driver, the trucking company, third party maintenance companies, and others) could be liable, it’s vital to have an attorney with specific truck accident experience to handle your case.

18-Wheeler
Accidents

A collision with a commercial truck or 18-wheeler can be particularly devastating, resulting in catastrophic injuries & massive property damage. Because multiple parties (the driver, the trucking company, third party maintenance companies, and others) could be liable, it’s vital to have an attorney with specific truck accident experience to handle your case.
New Orleans 18-Wheeler Accidents

New Orleans
18-Wheeler Accident
Lawyers

It is not surprising to regularly see commercial motor vehicles transporting goods on roads all over Louisiana as New Orleans is a hub of economic activity. When a tractor-trailer is involved in a motor vehicle accident, it immediately increases the likelihood of the injuries being catastrophic or fatal.
18-wheeler accidents become much more complicated claims than traditional car accidents because there is always the possibility that multiple parties could be liable for damages. Even when truck drivers were clearly at fault for accidents, it may be possible that a trucking company could also be held liable in addition to certain other parties.

Learn more about
18-Wheeler Accidents

TYPES
CAUSES
COMPENSATION
Commercial truck crashes could be accidents that are totally unique to tractor-trailers, but some collisions could have the same casuses as any other motor vehicle accident. In virtually all cases, the simple size of a commercial vehicle is likely to make the damage caused far more serious. Common kinds of 18-wheeler accidents include, but are not limited to:
  • Jackknife Accidents
  • Rollover Accidents
  • Underride Accidents
  • Override Accidents
  • Lost Load Accidents
  • Rear-End Collisions
No matter what kind of accident you have been involved in, you will want to get an attorney involved as soon as possible so they can quickly commence an independent investigation. You can also help preserve valuable evidence at the scene of your crash by taking as many pictures as you can of the vehicles, people, and everything else involved in the accident.
Commercial truck accidents can have many different causes, but negligent truck drivers are frequently at fault for many accidents. Common kinds of truck driver negligence include, but are not limited to:
  • Driver Fatigue
  • Distracted Driving
  • Drug or Alcohol Use
  • Misjudging Speeds or Distances of Other Vehicles
  • Speeding
Trucking companies are also expected to properly maintain every vehicle in their fleet, but failure to maintain vehicles can also be a factor in many truck accident cases and could make a truck owner liable for damages in such cases. A truck driver may have been unable to stop because of brake failure that stemmed from a lack of needed repairs.
  • You will want to keep in mind that you are often entitled to a number of damages when you are involved in a commercial truck accident, but the insurance companies representing commercial trucking companies and their drivers will aggressively try to limit whatever they pay you. You need to avoid signing any documents you are presented at the scene of your accident or in your hospital room, and you should avoid making any recorded statement to an insurance company.
  • Most truck accident cases are resolved through settlements, but settlements are often based on the same kinds of damage considerations that would apply at trial. People could be awarded both economic damages and noneconomic damages, with the former applying to actual bills while the latter relates to more subjective awards.
  • Economic damages include not only past and future medical expenses and lost income, but people with serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or spinal cord injuries could incur other major costs, such as possible medical equipment costs or adjustments to homes to accommodate disabilities. The noneconomic damages relate to a person’s pain and suffering or emotional anguish, and people could also be compensated for possible loss of companionship or consortium issues created by their injuries.
  • Settlements are the more common resolution to most 18-wheeler accident cases because insurance companies usually do not want to pay the significant costs involved in taking a case to trial. It may take some time before the insurer becomes willing to pay what is truly deserved, but they frequently give in when the trial becomes more of a reality.

How Sossaman Law Firm Can Help

Over 40 Years of Legal Experience Sossaman Law Firm handles all kinds of commercial motor vehicle cases in the greater New Orleans area. The attorneys at Sossaman Law Firm have more than four decades of legal experience and represent people who have been involved in automobile accidents in the greater New Orleans area.
Over 40 Years of Legal Experience Our firm will be by your side and can fight to make sure that you are able to recover every dollar of compensation that you are entitled to.
Over 40 Years of Legal ExperienceWe will explore all of your legal options as soon as you call 504-455-3100 or contact us by clicking below to schedule a free consultation.
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