Pursuing compensation after a truck accident presents specific challenges that distinguish these cases from typical car accident claims. With severe injuries, various liable parties to investigate, federal and state trucking regulations to consider, and unique evidence to preserve and obtain, attorneys must approach truck accident cases with extra care and consideration.
Here are some of the differences between car and truck accident claims:
18-Wheeler Accidents Involve More Liable Parties
Liability for commercial truck accidents often doesn’t rest with the truck driver alone. Your attorney must investigate the following parties:
- The Truck Driver: If the driver was distracted, fatigued, impaired, or driving recklessly during the accident, they may be responsible for your injuries.
- The Trucking Company: Trucking companies may be held liable if they engage in negligent hiring practices, fail to provide adequate training, pressure drivers into violating hours-of-service rules, or fail to maintain safe vehicles.
- Maintenance Contractors: Federal regulations require trucks to undergo regular maintenance. If the maintenance provider fails to do their job correctly, they may be liable when someone gets hurt.
- Cargo Loaders: Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo can cause devastating accidents. Your Lafayette truck accident lawyer in Lafayette must investigate the cargo loaders to determine if they bear any responsibility for the accident.
Federal Trucking Rules Complicate the Legal Process
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) outlines strict rules that truck drivers and trucking companies must follow. These regulations encompass hiring and training guidelines, restrictions on the duration of work without rest, and maintenance and inspection requirements.
Violations of FMCSA rules can indicate negligence in a truck accident claim, but identifying and proving these violations requires in-depth knowledge of the laws and careful analysis.
Truck Accidents Cause More Severe Injuries and Higher Damages
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which means accidents involving them can have catastrophic consequences. More severe, lasting injuries are common in these cases, which means insurance companies fight even harder to avoid compensating victims. Compensation for life-changing injuries is significantly higher than for injuries that heal completely.
Your Lafayette car accident lawyer must build a compelling case that proves the full impact of the accident on your life and finances to recover the compensation you deserve.
Investigating 18-Wheeler Accidents Requires Specialized Evidence
When it comes to truck accidents vs. car accidents, one of the most significant differences is the evidence available. Truck accidents have several forms of unique evidence, including:
- Black box data from the electronic control module
- Electronic logging data
- Driver logs
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Dispatch instructions
- Cargo documents
While this evidence can help establish liability so you can recover maximum compensation, preserving, obtaining, and effectively presenting it can require a determined attorney with in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in similar cases.
Contact The Thibeaux Firm for Trusted Legal Help
If you’ve suffered injuries in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced attorney to protect your rights. The Thibeaux Firm offers a team of hardworking, caring legal professionals who are dedicated to seeking justice on your behalf. Attorney Omar Tibeaux will fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on recovery.
Attorney Thibeaux is known as “The 25% Attorney” because, unlike other personal injury lawyers, he charges a flat 25% fee when he wins compensation for his clients. Most other personal injury lawyers charge between 33% and 40% of the settlement amount for their work. We strive to keep more money in your pocket.
When you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you need Attorney Thibeaux. Contact us today for your free consultation.
