Injured in an 18-Wheeler Accident?

September 1, 2020 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a big rig, semi-tractor, 18-wheeler, or other type of truck you can sue for money damages under Louisiana law. You will need the help and dedication of experienced Louisiana 18-Wheeler accident lawyers like the ones at Mansfield, Melancon, Cranmer & Dick LLC.

Our 18-Wheeler accident lawyers know how to find, collect, interpret, and present the necessary evidence. For example, there are many facts that might prove that the truck driver was at fault and caused the serious injuries suffered by the victims. Facts that must be explored include the following:

  • How long had the driver been on the road?
  • How much sleep did the driver have?
  • Was the driver distracted in any way?
  • Was the driver impaired by drugs or alcohol?
  • Did the driver violation any traffic safety rules or Louisiana traffic laws?
  • Was the driver speeding?
  • How much training and experience did the driver have?
  • Was the training up to date and consistent with current standards?
  • Was the truck loaded properly with the proper weight and type of cargo?
  • And more

In addition to the driver, under Louisiana law, the trucking company might also have committed negligence that was a contributing factor to the injuries suffered by the victim(s). There are several types of negligence that the trucking company might have committed, including:

  • Failure to properly control, monitor and enforce sleep, rest, and break schedules
  • Failure to properly control and monitor driver use of technology known to contribute to distracted driving
  • Failure to test for drug and alcohol use
  • Wrongful hiring and/or retention
  • Failure to monitor and enforce truck safety rules
  • Failure to properly maintain the truck mechanically
  • Violation of state and federal safety regulations with respect to load types and weight
  • And more

Big rig crashes in Louisiana are generally more likely to lead to fatalities and serious injuries than other types of vehicle wrecks. This is because there is a significant weight difference between a semi-tractor truck and a car or SUV. A typical tractor-trailer combination weighs about 35,000 pounds on average with most payloads adding another 35,000-40,000 pounds. Big rigs with fully-loaded double- or triple-trailers will be even heavier. By contrast, the average car or SUV weighs around 5,000-6,000 pounds. When there is a collision, the larger weight “wins” and the victims in the small vehicles are often killed or seriously injured. The higher weight of fully-loaded trucks also is a causal factor in these crashes. Because of the weight, semi-tractor trucks take far longer to stop and have much less room for maneuvering. This is what happened in a recent big rig wreck involving a tractor-trailer rig and three other vehicles on Interstate 20 in Bossier City. Two people died and several were seriously injured. See KSLA news report here.

Under Louisiana law, if a victim is injured or killed as a result of another person’s negligence in a big rig wreck, the victim or victims are entitled to sue for money damages. These damages are intended to compensate the victims for all of the injuries and damages that were caused by the collision. These include recovery for medical bills, hospitalizations, ambulance charges, surgeries, other treatments, medications, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, repairs to vehicles, rental charges, and more.

Contact Experienced Louisiana Big Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a big truck, semi-tractor, or 18-wheeler accident, contact the law offices of Mansfield, Melancon, Cranmer & Dick LLC. Our truck accident lawyers are here to help. We have a proven track record of getting the optimal results for our clients. Contact us by phone by calling one of our conveniently-located offices: New Orleans at (504) 500-1108, Baton Rouge at (225) 612-0800, or Lafayette at (337) 409-0003. You can also request a free consultation by using our online appointment page.