CALL US TODAY IF YOU WERE INJURED BY A NEGLIGENT TRUCK DRIVER OR TRUCKING COMPANY.

Hiring the Right Attorney After Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are not like car wrecks, and your trucking accident lawyer should not be like any other personal injury lawyer.  Big rigs and other commercial vehicles are much larger than the average passenger car, and these crashes often leave victims with serious injuries, costly medical bills, lost wages due to missed time at work, and other damages that impact their lives and financial future.

It takes a skilled trucking attorney to handle the complex process of litigating a truck accident case, including working with experts to reconstruct the accident, collecting medical records, securing expert medical testimony, and uncovering all the existing evidence.  Insurance companies aggressively defend against trucking injury claims and will often do whatever it takes to pay out as little as possible to the injured victim.  Be sure to hire a dedicated to attorney before going up against the big insurance companies.

Investigation

Federal regulations require that every trucking company maintain a driver qualification file (DQF) for each driver.  This information is critical in investigating any trucking accident.  The file contains driving records, including accident history for both the driver and truck; road test results; drug and alcohol test results; records for service hours; training certificates; vehicle maintenance records; copies of licenses; records of annual reviews; any medical certifications; personnel records, including the driver’s employment history and employment applications.

Breach of Duty

Truck drivers have a duty to drive responsibly and within the law, while the trucking company must maintain safe loading and maintenance practices.  If the truck driver or company fails to uphold those duties responsibly, they may be found liable.   This is known as breach of duty.

Common Causes

• Operator error
• Speeding, reckless driving, or failure to abide by other traffic laws 
• Driver fatigue or impairment
• Ignoring bad weather or poor road conditions
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Improper or overloading of cargo     
• Equipment failure
• Distracted driving

Common Injuries

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Neck and back injuries, including soft tissue and spinal injuries
• Paralysis
• Broken bones
• Amputations
• Burns
• Lacerations
• Organ damage
• Emotional distress
• Wrongful death
• Property damage

The personal injury lawyers at Bowes, Petkovich & Palmer, LLC are experienced at representing clients injured in truck accidents in the New Orleans area and across Louisiana.  Call us today for a free consultation.

Useful Resources:

Car Accident Checklist

Louisiana’s Direct Action Statute

Comparative Fault in Louisiana

 

Other Types of Injury Cases We Handle:

Automobile Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Work Accidents

Dog Bites

Slip and Fall

Premises Liability

Product Liability

Medical Malpractice

Wrongful Death & Survival