Did you recently get into a truck accident in Lafayette, Louisiana? Have you suffered injuries because the truck driver or the trucking company was negligent? Call Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Our Lafayette truck accident lawyers will fight to hold them accountable for the injuries, pain, and suffering you’ve endured.
Truck accident victims and families in Lafayette trust our attorneys to help them take on powerful trucking services and insurance companies after life-changing accidents. As award-winning Louisiana litigators with decades of combined experience, we’ve helped clients recover millions in financial awards.
Don’t settle for less than your truck accident case is worth. Let our top-rated law firm fight for you. Ready to get started? Reach out to our law office in Lafayette, LA, today to schedule your free consultation or call (337) 473-2991.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident in Lafayette, LA
It’s easy to get stressed out and overwhelmed after a truck accident in Lafayette.
Who’s at fault? Why did the accident happen? Can you sue the trucking company? What happens if the truck driver refuses to admit fault? What if they try to blame you? How can you know if the insurance company’s settlement offer is fair?
The good news is that you don’t have to navigate a truck accident claim on your own. Our Lafayette personal injury lawyers can handle your case from start to finish, keep you in the loop, and give you the peace of mind you need to really get better.
At Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve been distinguished as leaders in personal injury law by Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and other top organizations. We care about the good people we represent and work hard day in and day out to help them win millions.
When you turn to us for help with your truck accident case, we will:
- Gather evidence, including truck black box data, dashcam footage, photographs of damaged property and the scene of the truck accident, witness statements, cell phone records, the accident report, medical records, and more
- Conduct a thorough investigation into your crash with the help of trusted specialists in accident reconstruction, forensics, and more
- Enlist expert witnesses to consult and help us calculate what your truck accident case is worth
- Determine if the truck driver and/or trucking company violated any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety regulations
- Handle the administrative components of your claim, including filing it with the local court and/or insurance company
- Strategically pursue a substantial settlement offer during negotiations with the insurance company and other liable parties
- Help you understand your options and offer guidance when you have to make tough decisions
- Have a respected Louisiana trial attorney argue your case before a Lafayette Parish jury, if necessary
When you hire our Lafayette personal injury attorneys, we don’t just become invested in your truck accident case. We become invested in your future. Count on us to do everything possible to help you get your life back on track by securing the top-dollar monetary award you deserve.
We represent truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis. You’ll pay nothing unless we win compensation for you. Reach out to our law office in Lafayette to get started today.
Louisiana Truck Accident Statistics
Every year, thousands of accidents involving big rigs, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial trucks happen across the state of Louisiana.
According to FMCSA crash data, Louisiana had a reported 3,355 truck accidents in 2023.
2,146 people were injured, and 98 people were killed because of these Louisiana truck accidents.
On an average day in The Pelican State, there are about 9 truck accidents in which between 5 and 6 people are injured.
Fighting For Victims in All Types of Lafayette Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident cases can be very complex. The trucking company and its insurer will have experience navigating claims like yours. If you want to win, you’ll need to have an experienced, resourceful law firm in your corner, too.
At Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of top-rated Lafayette truck accident attorneys have decades of experience representing clients in cases involving:
- Truck rollovers
- Squeeze play accidents
- Underride accidents
- Lost load accidents
- Blind spot truck accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Frontal collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Fatal truck accidents
Let our award-winning legal team help you secure the substantial monetary award you need to cover medical expenses, make up for lost wages, and compensate for the trauma you’ve experienced. Call our Lafayette law office to set up your free consultation now.
Who Could Be Liable For the Injuries I’ve Suffered in a Lafayette Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, it’s critical to understand why it happened so that you can determine who is at fault. In Louisiana, anyone who causes a tractor-trailer accident can be liable for a victim’s resulting damages.
Potentially liable parties could include a:
- Truck driver
- Driver of another passenger vehicle
- Vehicle passenger
- Property owner
- Cargo owner
- Transportation company
- Truck owner
- Freight broker
- Government agency
- Negligent party’s employer
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will carefully investigate your Lafayette truck crash. Once liability is clear, we’ll begin working on a strategy to help you get the accountability you deserve.
What Can Cause a Truck Accident?
Unfortunately, most accidents involving large trucks can be avoided. Truck drivers and trucking services are required to comply with strict safety regulations that impact every aspect of trucking operations. When these regulations aren’t followed, it’s easy for a large truck to cause or contribute to an accident.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Overloaded trailers
- Unevenly distributed cargo
- Unsecured cargo
- Driver fatigue
- Drug and alcohol use
- Speeding
- Illegal turns
- Unsafe passing
- Following too closely
- Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Vehicle defects and malfunctions
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
- Inexperienced and/or unqualified drivers
- Negligent hiring
Sometimes, things outside of a driver or company’s control – like bad weather or road defects – can also cause an accident with a big rig.
What Compensation Can I Recover After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Lafayette, Louisiana?
If you’re a truck accident victim in Lafayette, you may have the right to request compensatory damages through a legal claim.
This can help you obtain economic and non-economic awards for:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Costs of a funeral
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
Punitive damages can be awarded by a Lafayette jury if there’s evidence of intentional misconduct or recklessness. Typically, these additional damages are saved for only the most serious of situations, like those involving an extremely drunk truck driver.
How Can Shared Fault Affect My Louisiana Truck Accident Settlement?
Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence law applies to truck accident cases. As a result, sharing responsibility for a car accident involving a semi-truck will impact your ability to recover compensation.
The more liability you share, the less compensation you can recover for resulting damages.
For example, if you’re 25 percent responsible for a Lafayette trucking accident, your financial recovery will be reduced by 25 percent. This could mean having a settlement max out at $750,000 when your case is valued at $1 million.
Our Louisiana truck accident lawyers will be ready to defend against claims of shared fault. We’re here to protect your rights and help you recover every cent you deserve.
Seeking Damages For Your Catastrophic Truck Accident Injuries
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue compensation for any injuries you’ve suffered in a recent Lafayette truck accident, including:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Amputation
- Degloving injuries
- Chest injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Concussion
- Eye injuries
- Neck injuries
- Quadriplegia
- Leg injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a family member
Make sure to report your truck accident to the Lafayette Police Department and seek prompt medical care. Then, contact Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to talk about your case and learn more about what legal rights and options you may have. We’re always available to take your call – 24/7/365.
What is Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Lawsuits?
As of 7/01/2024, Louisiana gives you two years to file a personal injury claim after a truck accident. However, if your trucking collision occurred prior to that date, you may only have one year to take action.
The statute of limitations is very strict, with few exceptions. You have to file your legal claim before time expires. Once the deadline passes, you’ll lose the ability to seek justice from a negligent driver, trucking company, or other at-fault party.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer
Count on Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to make a positive impact in your life after a truck accident in Lafayette, LA. Our Lafayette truck accident lawyers can offer the determined, trustworthy, effective legal help you need and deserve right now.
We’ve helped our clients win millions from insurance companies, corporations, and other powerful adversaries. Now, we’re here to invest our decades of collective experience into your future.
Call our Lafayette law office today to get started. Your first consultation is free.