Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyers

Dedicated to Holding Negligent Parties in the Trucking Industry Responsible for Their Actions

Commercial trucks are the lifeblood of American commerce. These massive vehicles transport over 70% of all freight in our country. Unfortunately, they also create a disproportionate risk of serious accidents on our highways. If you or a loved one were injured due to the negligent acts of a truck driver or others in the industry, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. Holding the liable party accountable often starts with speaking to a personal injury law firm — where a Lafayette truck accident attorney can help you understand your rights.

At The Law Office of Tony Morrow, our dedicated legal team has helped accident victims seek justice in the local community for three decades. We’ve seen the catastrophic injuries and life-changing outcomes of these collisions, and unfortunately, it’s rare for trucking companies, their insurance providers, and other liable parties to immediately do what’s right. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone. Instead of accepting lowball offers from insurance adjusters as you watch medical bills pile up, contact our law firm to schedule an in-depth consultation.

Our legal team is here to assist.

Do You Have a Valid Commercial Truck Crash Claim?

Large trucks can cause severe devastation when they’re involved in motor vehicle collisions. However, just because a big rig is involved in an accident does not mean injury victims have a valid claim. A person’s ability to successfully seek compensation will depend on if liability can be established in the case. Whether you’re filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim, there are several elements that must be proven to establish fault on the part of the defendant. These include:

Duty of care: A duty of care is a responsibility to not engage in actions that could harm others. Every motorist has a duty of care, but due to the potential devastation of accidents involving large trucks, those in the trucking industry have a higher level of duty
Violation of duty: In your Lafayette truck accident case, you’ll need to show that someone violated a duty of care. For instance, the trucker may have been going too fast for rainy conditions — or maybe they were behind the wheel after drinking alcohol
Damages: We’ve all seen a truck driver engage in unsafe behavior at some point, and such actions would typically qualify as violating a duty of care. However, liability is only established in a truck accident lawsuit if this violation results in actual damages
Causation: If a person is injured in a trucking accident, it’s also necessary to show that the actions of the trucker were a direct cause of the damages suffered. If the trucker’s negligence was not the direct cause of a collision, they likely will not owe compensation

If each of these elements is proven in a court of law, there’s a good chance that the judge or jury will award fair compensation. Of course, proving these elements is only mandatory if your case goes to trial. Doing so is not required during settlement negotiations. However, an insurance company is unlikely to offer a fair settlement if they don’t think you could successfully establish liability in court. This is one of many reasons why it’s ideal to have a Lafayette truck accident attorney on your side.

A legal professional can gather evidence and argue your case convincingly — in both settlement negotiations and litigation.

Who’s the At-Fault Party in Truck Accidents?

When serious truck accidents occur, it’s not uncommon for people to immediately blame the truck driver. In many cases, this is the correct approach. Unsafe driving by big rig operators is a common cause of serious injuries in truck accident cases. However, it’s also important to understand that many other parties may be liable. These parties could be responsible instead of or in addition to the truck driver. Just consider some of the many positions within the industry that could create hazards by simply acting negligently:

Truck operator
Maintenance company
Cargo loaders
Trucking company
Truck owner
Truck manufacturer
Freight brokers
Truck leasing companies

As it turns out, truckers themselves are responsible for an overwhelming minority of accidents involving tractor-trailer vehicles. In addition to those who work in the industry, your Lafayette truck accident lawyer may identify other parties who are at fault. This could include other motorists, government entities, unrelated businesses, and others. It’s even the case that the injury victim could also share liability, but since Louisiana is a comparative negligence state, this would not bar the victim from seeking financial recovery.

Clearly, liability can be a complex issue in Lafayette truck accidents. That’s why you need a team of experienced attorneys on your side. Contact The Law Office of Tony Morrow today for assistance.

How Can a Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer Help?

When someone is involved in a minor motor vehicle accident, it’s sometimes not prudent to seek legal assistance. If the only negative outcome was property damage and no one was harmed, securing a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider may be straightforward. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case in accidents involving tractor-trailer vehicles. Major trucking collisions typically result in catastrophic injuries and life-changing outcomes. When this happens, you might assume that liability is clear and that any court would take your side.

Unfortunately, the legal system and Louisiana’s trucking laws are not as clear and sensible as one might assume. Once you file an accident compensation claim, you can expect the defendants and their insurance companies to work hard to avoid liability. In some cases, this may mean soliciting an admission of partial fault from the victim. In other instances, they may be able to have a legal claim thrown out entirely based on a technicality. The simple fact is that neither the insurance company nor the liable parties have your best interests in mind.

You need someone on your side who understands the law and how to make it work to your advantage. That’s what you’ll find when you work with a Lafayette truck accident lawyer at The Law Office of Tony Morrow. There are deadlines for seeking compensation, so don’t wait to discuss your truck accident claim with an experienced legal professional. Contact us today to learn more.

What Compensation Is Available in Truck Accident Cases?

Your Lafayette truck accident lawyer can go over the specific damages for which you’re able to recover compensation. These specific damages are something that you’ll likely discuss during your initial consultation. In a perfect world, injury victims would be offered a fair settlement from the insurance company from the start. This would cover their current and future medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and even non-monetary losses. Unfortunately, this isn’t always how things work out.

If your case ends up at trial, your Louisiana truck accident attorney may be able to secure the following damages on your behalf:

Economic damages: These damages focus on reimbursing you for monetary losses. This could include lost wages, medical bills, property damage, and more.
Non-economic damages: Trucking accidents can be devastating, and the terrible outcomes are not always financial in nature. You may also be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, emotional trauma, and other non-monetary losses.
Punitive damages: These damages are meant to punish a defendant for particularly reckless behavior. Due to the high duty of care expected of those in the trucking industry, you may be in a better position to recover these damages than most.

Experienced truck accident attorneys can review your case and help you understand which of these damages you may be entitled to. Perhaps they can use the threat of these court awards as a way to secure a more fair settlement from the insurance company. Of course, they may need to prove your case at trial to get appropriate compensation as well. Whatever the case, the dedicated attorneys at The Law Office of Tony Morrow always work hard to secure a beneficial outcome for our clients.

Contact a Lafayette Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a semi-truck accident, you may be wondering about your options. You’re likely facing an onslaught of suffocating expenses, and this is occurring at a time when your family’s income may be greatly diminished. Fortunately, you might be in a position to recover compensation for all your losses. Whether it’s a tractor-trailer driver, the truck’s manufacturer, the carrier company, or any other party responsible for your injuries — having an experienced lawyer on your side can prove invaluable.

At The Law Office of Tony Morrow, we’ve helped victims who sustained injuries in some of the most devastating truck collisions in Louisiana. We’ve been serving our community for over 30 years. We understand the relevant traffic laws, the complexities of liability involving multiple parties, and insurance company tactics, and we have important professional relationships that help our clients win in the local system. Whether you were out of work for a week or suffered severe injuries that will last a lifetime, we’re here to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.