Shreveport Trucking Accident Lawyer | Greenwald Law Firm

Shreveport Trucking Accident Lawyer

Trucking accidents are legally identical to a typical car accident, aren’t they? In a word: no. When a commercial trucking accident results in a personal injury lawsuit, it presents an entirely different and unique set of legal issues. This type of wreck is complex, and multiple parties are often involved. An experienced Louisiana truck accident lawyer can help you navigate this complicated situation.

At Greenwald Law Firm, our attorneys handle personal injury claims involving car and truck accidents quite frequently. This includes both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles and several other transportation accident claims. We understand the nuances involved in semi-truck and tractor-trailer accidents and have the necessary resources to represent individuals injured in these types of cases. That’s why, if you’re involved in a commercial truck accident, you need Shreveport trucking accident lawyer Joseph W. Greenwald, Jr. on your side to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your personal injuries.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Because of the structure of their salaries, semi-truck drivers have to make more deliveries to make more money. This leads to long stretches behind the wheel and debilitating truck driver fatigue and sleep deprivation, which is one of the biggest contributors to truck accident cases.
What’s more, the commercial trucks themselves are a danger to other drivers due to their immense size and weight. In addition, these trucks carry heavy cargo that can sometimes fall and endanger unsuspecting motorists.
The following are some more common causes of commercial trucking accidents:

  • Brake problems
  • Distracted driving
  • Traffic flow interruption
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Traveling too fast for road or weather conditions
  • Unfamiliarity with roadway
  • Roadway design flaws

Though these issues are not unique to commercial semi-trucks, truck drivers still have different and increased responsibilities when driving. Experienced truck accident lawyers will understand these issues and responsibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation into the origins of your trucking accident.

Read Also: Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Common Injuries After a Trucking Accident

Large commercial trucks typically weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. If there is a mechanical failure or if the driver loses control of what is often a 40-ton vehicle, the chance of a fatality or severe injury in a trucking accident increases. These injuries can be life-altering and disabling and often include:

Sadly, wrecks with commercial vehicles can also cause fatalities. In the case that someone loses their life because of a trucking accident, the victim’s family can file a wrongful death claim against the negligent parties involved, including the truck driver, truck manufacturer, and the trucking company. Attorney Joey Greenwald of Greenwald Law Firm can help you receive a fair settlement if you lost a loved one in a tragic big rig wreck.

shreveport trucking accident lawyer

Truck Accident Lawsuits in Shreveport and Bossier City

When you are in a wreck involving a big truck, it can feel like your entire world has changed forever. Many victims suffer serious injuries, both permanent and life-threatening, like head trauma, spinal damage, back injury, and even paralysis.

In a motor vehicle accident of any kind, proving the fault of the party or parties responsible will be one of the most critical tasks for your lawyer. As soon as an attorney-client relationship is established, your Shreveport LA attorney will get straight to work collecting evidence to support and prove your case. This may include:

  • Footage captured by surveillance cameras
  • Interviews with witnesses
  • Accident reports and police reports
  • Doctors’ reports and testimonies
  • Testimonies from expert witnesses

With a lawsuit prepared by our qualified truck accident attorneys, you can seek restitution for your injuries, recoup the necessary expenses for medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, and more. Depending on your circumstances, your attorney will consider three significant forms of lawsuits: negligence, product liability, and wrongful death.

Negligence

If a truck driver’s negligent behavior caused your accident, your lawyer might bring a lawsuit based on negligence. To make this kind of suit successful, your lawyer will have to demonstrate that the driver in question failed to act appropriately on the road and this led to your injury.

Common causes of negligence include:

  • Lack of experience
  • Overloaded or oversized trucks
  • Reckless driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Ignorance of traffic laws
  • Driver fatigue

Product Liability

When a truck driver’s driving habits align with industry expectations, it might be the truck itself that’s responsible for the accident. Suppose an investigation into an 18-wheeler accident finds the truck or one of its components was faulty and directly contributed to your accident. Your personal injury lawyer might file a product liability lawsuit in that case. Your attorney will need to demonstrate evidence, such as:

  • A defective part deemed unreasonable by the manufacturer with no change in performance since the truck was purchased
  • The driver did not exhibit any operational deficiencies

Wrongful Death

Sadly, many truck accident victims die due to the severity of their injuries. A family may attempt to file an insurance claim on behalf of their loved one to recover compensation when this occurs. Similar to a survivor of an accident who files a claim, a family must present proper evidence of negligence or product failure for a wrongful death case to succeed. Our Shreveport truck accident lawyer at Greenwald Law Firm helps families seek appropriate compensation and sometimes even punitive damages.

Read Also: Proving Wrongful Death for a Civil Lawsuit

shreveport commercial truck accident attorney

Liability in Trucking Accidents

The list of potential defendants in a trucking accident case is long. This is because multiple parties are responsible for the upkeep and safe operation of a commercial vehicle, and thus, may be held legally liable for any accident caused. A trucking accident lawyer must discover which of these parties is liable.

For example, the driver’s company or employer may be responsible for the accident in some cases. However, truck drivers don’t always drive for trucking companies. A trucker may be an independent contractor. This means they own their truck and accept short-term contracts to haul cargo. In these cases, a trucking accident lawyer must investigate the contracting company’s level of oversight.

These disparate parties will have individual insurance policies and different payout amounts. Experienced trucking accident lawyers can identify the responsible parties and work to secure the most significant possible payout for their clients.

What is Compensation Like for Trucking Accidents?

The legal representation you choose will work diligently to pursue damages for you in a trucking accident lawsuit just as they would in any personal injury case. Fair compensation helps the injured person get back to the life they knew before the accident.

Truck accident claims may entail compensation for the following types of damages:

  • Medical bills
  • Surgery and other medical treatment costs
  • Rehabilitation fees and procedures
  • Nursing home care costs
  • Lost income during the incident
  • Loss of earning capacity in the future
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental and emotional suffering
  • Disfigurement and permanent scarring
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of companionship or consortium

Punitive damages are also available in some instances. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate for injuries but rather serve as punishment for the defendant, kind of like a fine.

Read Also: Emotional Distress Damages After Injury

Trucking accidents often result in grievous injuries that leave the injured party with a mountain of medical bills. Unfortunately, some accident victims accept lowball settlements from insurance companies to pay their bills before speaking with a top Shreveport personal injury attorney.

Accident victims must remember that insurance companies want to settle a trucking accident as quickly as possible. For this reason, accident victims should hire a trucking accident lawyer immediately. Your attorney can advise you on the amount you should receive for a settlement as well as negotiate with the opposing party to ensure you get the appropriate amount.

Read Also: How Much To Expect From A Car Accident Settlement

truck accidents in shreveport la

Do I Need a Trucking Accident Lawyer?

If you get into an accident with a commercial semi-truck, you should always get an experienced attorney on your side as soon as possible. It’s critical that you choose an attorney with plenty of experience handling cases involving commercial trucking accidents and plenty of success in previous personal injury claims. Each commercial vehicle accident is unique and requires a background in personal injury law, vast knowledge of Louisiana trucking laws, and the skill it takes to settle cases quickly. They should also have proper courtroom experience, so you know they are prepared to represent you at trial, should your case require it.

Commercial Truck Accident? Contact the Personal Injury Lawyers at Greenwald Law Firm Today

If you or someone you know is seeking compensation after a trucking accident, be sure to contact the Greenwald Law Firm as soon as possible. Joseph Greenwald is an experienced trucking accident lawyer with nearly twenty years of experience fighting for the legal rights and best interests of Shreveport, LA residents, as well as those across the state of Louisiana.

For more information about trucking accidents or to speak to someone at the Greenwald Law Firm about your case, call (318) 219-7867 or fill out our online intake form for a free consultation.

In addition to personal injury, Joey Greenwald also handles a number of other practice areas, including Shreveport criminal defense, Shreveport estate planning, class action lawsuits, and more!

Greenwald Law Firm LLC has experience representing clients across Louisiana for almost 20 years. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, know your legal rights. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact our office at 318-219-7867.
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