Were you injured in a crash with an overweight commercial truck caused by someone else? If so, you’re likely wondering how you’re going to pay your medical expenses and your regular household bills while you’re healing from the injuries you sustained in the accident. You could be entitled to compensation from the at-fault truck driver or their company, but how do you go about getting that money?
The wise way to pursue the compensation you need is to hire a Lafayette overweight accident lawyer from The Thibeaux Firm to take your case. Our founding Lafayette truck accident lawyer has more than two decades of experience helping injured people recover the compensation they deserve after being hurt by others.
Call our office today for a free consultation.
Why Choose Attorney Omar Thibeaux for a Lafayette Overweight Truck Accident Case?
When you’ve been hurt in a Lafayette accident with an overweight or overloaded truck, you need an experienced lawyer to protect your rights and pursue the financial compensation you deserve to cover your injuries and accident-related costs. At The Thibeaux Firm, we are committed to protecting the rights of truck accident victims and ensuring negligent parties are held accountable.
Our office is in Lafayette, and we’re an active part of our community, as our founding partner, Attorney Omar Thibeaux, is Senior Pastor at the Philadelphia Christian Church here in town. When you work with us, you will be our priority. We’ll keep you informed about the status of your case, and we’ll be responsive to your calls and emails.
Attorney Thibeaux is known as “The 25% Attorney” because we believe you shouldn’t get charged unfair fees for our work. We charge a flat 25 percent rate when we obtain compensation for you. Unlike other Lafayette personal injury lawyers who may charge between 33 and 40 percent for their fees, we aim to keep as much money in your pocket as possible to cover your accident-related costs. And, you only pay us if we win your case.
In our 20 years of experience, we’ve secured millions for our clients, including $1 million in a truck accident case. One of our satisfied clients wrote,
“I was at the red light on Louisiana Avenue…and…a truck…sideswiped me while I was turning…The settlement amount of my case was $40,000. I was beyond happy with my settlement…The Thibeaux Firm is your firm to go to.”
‒ Brooke H.
When you work with our personal injury law firm, we can:
- Investigate the accident
- Identify the at-fault party
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Handle all communications with the insurance company
- Assess the value of your personal injury claim
- Send a demand letter to the insurance company
- Negotiate a fair settlement
- Take your case to trial if no settlement can be reached
Contact us today to take advantage of a free case review.
Why Overweight or Overloaded Trucks Are Dangerous on Lafayette Roads
Fully loaded commercial trucks are dangerous because of their sheer size and 80,000 pounds of weight. However, overweight and overloaded trucks are even more dangerous on the roads. The reasons these behemoths are more dangerous include:
- Slower acceleration/deceleration: Heavier vehicles require more time and energy to change their speed.
- Impaired maneuverability: Overloading a truck stresses parts not intended to withstand greater weights than they were designed for, which can lead to accidents caused by part failure.
- Infrastructure damage: An overloaded or overweight truck can damage the roads, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure intended for weight-compliant vehicles.
- Lost or imbalanced load: Overweight cargo may be improperly loaded to fit it all onto the truck, which means the cargo may be poorly secured and could fall from the truck bed. Additionally, an imbalanced load may increase maneuvering difficulty, particularly on turns taken at higher speeds.
Any of these issues can result in overloaded or overweight truck collisions.
Louisiana Truck Weight Limits and Regulations for Commercial Vehicles
Louisiana has regulations that govern the maximum weight limits for commercial vehicles. The maximum gross weight allowed depends on the number of axles. The maximum legal gross weight of any truck with any axle configuration is 88,000 pounds on non-interstate highways in Louisiana and 83,400 pounds on interstate highways.
In addition, overside loads must be no longer than 65′ and no taller than 14′. The rules make an exception for specialized equipment. For example, boat transporters, dromedary units, and other large transports can be up to 75′ long. The front overhang cannot exceed 3′, and the rear overhang cannot exceed 4′. Detailed rules govern projecting loads, twin trailer combinations, trailers and towed vehicles, and farm vehicles and equipment.
Violations of these weight statutes can lead to a presumption of negligence under the doctrine of negligence per se if the violation caused the crash.
Common Causes of Overweight Truck Collisions
Overweight and overloaded truck accident crashes happen in Louisiana due to a variety of circumstances, such as:
- Loading cargo improperly: Improper securement can result in shifting and imbalanced loads can cause rollovers, jackknife accidents, or loss of control.
- Exceeding weight limits: Putting too much weight in a truck can place undue stress on the trailer’s structure, as well as on the shocks and tires, which can fail and cause accidents.
- Rushing to meet unsafe delivery deadlines: If a driver speeds to meet their employer’s unrealistic delivery deadlines, or if a trucking company dictates or heavily influences a driver’s schedule, they are at risk of being unable to stop in time to prevent an accident or to safely maneuver the vehicle in response to events happening on the road ahead.
- Distracted driving: Phone or GPS use, eating, drinking, or daydreaming can all take the driver’s eyes, hands, or mind off the task of driving.
- Violating hours-of-service rules: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created rules on how many hours drivers can be on the road without a break and how many hours they may work within a specific period. Ignoring these rules results in fatigued driving, which leads to accidents.
- Failing mechanical features: In addition to failures caused by overloading, commercial trucks can experience system or component failures that can cause accidents.
Truck accident cases often involve multiple parties and complex regulations, making legal representation essential for navigating these challenges effectively.
Who Can Be Held Liable in an Overweight Truck Accident?
Determining liability in an overweight truck accident often requires a thorough investigation, as multiple parties may be held responsible for the crash. The truck driver can be held liable if they failed to follow safety regulations, drove recklessly, or ignored weight restrictions. Trucking companies may also be responsible if they overloaded the truck, failed to properly maintain the vehicle, or hired drivers without adequate training. In some cases, manufacturers of vehicle parts may be liable if a defective component contributed to the accident.
Identifying all responsible parties is crucial to ensuring that victims receive the full compensation they deserve. A Louisiana truck accident attorney will work diligently to investigate the circumstances of the accident, gather evidence, and pursue compensation from every party who played a role in causing the crash. By holding all liable parties accountable, your attorney can help you secure the justice and financial recovery you need after an overloaded truck accident.
Contact a Lafayette Overweight Truck Accident Lawyer for Help
If you were injured in a collision with an overweight truck in Lafayette, you need the help of an experienced Lafayette truck accident lawyer to seek the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact “The 25% Attorney” at The Thibeaux Firm for a free consultation about how we can pursue maximum compensation for you.