A truck accident can have devastating consequences. The commercial truck industry is crucial to day-to-day life and supply chains. There are many larger commercial vehicles on the road every day, and these vehicles can be in accidents, just like other vehicles. The damages from these accidents are much more serious than in other collisions, and filing a claim after such an accident can be very complicated. An experienced New Roads truck accident lawyer is a useful ally in these claims.
Recovering from a collision with a semi-truck is not easy, and it can take significant time. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of time to file a claim, and it’s important to act quickly. By hiring a skilled and compassionate attorney, you can take the time you need to recover while knowing that your claim is being handled. At Murphy Law Firm, we have 150 collective years of experience in handling personal injury cases between our team, and can we use this to support your case.
We focus on individualized legal care because we know that every situation is different. Your accident and injuries are unique, and so are your own personal wishes and financial abilities. This affects how you need an attorney to manage your insurance or civil claim. Our team can tailor our support to your needs.
Truck accidents, on average, result in more severe damage than other car accidents. Commercial 18-wheelers and semi-trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger cars, especially when fully loaded. These vehicles also need a much longer braking distance than other vehicles.
All these factors increase the severity of a crash when one occurs. Injuries are more likely to be catastrophic, disabling, and fatal. Because of this, any claim must be much higher to recover those losses. Negotiating a fair settlement becomes harder, as an insurance provider does not want to pay the full extent of those damages.
Truck accidents are also more complex than other collisions because it is harder to determine the at-fault party. There are many individuals and entities involved in putting commercial vehicles on the road. These include shipping companies, truck rental companies, trucking employers, truck maintenance crews, and more. If any of these parties are negligent in this process, it can cause an accident.
These accidents also often involve insurance providers that are hired by a truck company. These companies have far more resources available to them than most providers, and their primary goal is to limit a truck company’s liability. It can make negotiations much harder and litigation more aggressive.
An experienced attorney understands these complicated issues. That is why they can provide you with effective legal representation, a thorough investigation, a clear calculation of damages, and diligent negotiation with insurance providers.
Most truck accident claims in New Roads, Louisiana will allow you to recover compensatory damages, which include economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are damages with a specific value, including:
Noneconomic damages do not have a set value. They are emotional and similar intangible losses, but they are still considered by the court to be legally recognized losses. They include:
Some truck accidents in Louisiana may result in punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive and exemplary damages do not compensate you for a loss. They are awarded to punish the at-fault party. Punitive damages apply if the court finds that the at-fault driver caused the accident while under the influence.
A: How much you will get paid if an 18-wheeler hits you in Louisiana is not a set value. The range of these settlements is extensive and mostly relies on the specific damages that are sustained by the injured party. In addition to your damages, the amount you can get in a settlement will rely on factors like:
A: How much a whiplash claim is worth in Louisiana depends largely on its severity. There is no one value to a car accident settlement for whiplash. A more serious whiplash injury that has fractured bones and may require months of recovery will have a higher value than a whiplash soft tissue injury that will heal quickly. Whiplash claims are also affected by other factors, such as the percentage of fault you share in the accident and your ability to work as you recover.
A: Yes, Louisiana is an at-fault state for motor vehicle accidents. Insurance claims are filed with the provider of whichever driver was at fault for the crash. Determining the at-fault party is important after a crash, and this is often decided based on the accident report, investigation by all involved insurance companies, and your attorney’s investigation. If fault is contested, the support of a third party, like an attorney, is especially important to avoid being held wrongfully liable.
A: Who is liable in a truck accident in Louisiana is the party whose negligent actions or inaction led directly to the collision. In most car accidents, this is one or more of the drivers. In truck accidents, it can be a driver, and it can also be one of the many parties responsible for the maintenance, repairs, and operations of the commercial truck.
A truck driver may be liable for driving recklessly but if their recklessness was incentivized or encouraged by their employer to meet a deadline, their employer may be liable.
At Murphy Law Firm, we know the complex requirements of a truck accident claim. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a collision with a commercial vehicle, we can help. While monetary compensation cannot heal your losses, it enables you to hold the at-fault party accountable and maintain financial security as you recover. Contact Murphy Law Firm for a case evaluation today.
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