Truck Accident Law in Lacombe

Commercial trucks are a common sight on the roadways of Lacombe. Every day, commercial trucks transport a wide range of goods – ranging from light petroleum oils to crude petroleum oils, liquid natural gas, soya beans, corn, and many more – across Louisiana. Many of these trucks pass through Lacombe on a regular basis.

While commercial truck drivers are highly trained and experienced, they can make mistakes at times due to negligence, fatigue, stress, pressure to meet deadlines, and many other factors. If and when they do, it can result in a catastrophic accident.

If you have been injured by a commercial truck, you need aggressive legal representation to recover the monetary damages you are legally entitled to. At Trainor Law Firm, we have handled several complex truck accident cases over the years and have recovered substantial settlements and jury awards for our clients.

We can hold the at-fault parties accountable for their negligence and fight tirelessly to recover every single dollar you are owed. Contact us today to talk to one of our proven Lacombe, LA truck accident lawyers.

Most Accident-Prone Intersections in Lacombe, LA

The most accident-prone intersections in Lacombe are:

• The intersection of West Chestnut Street and North Pontchartrain Drive
• The intersection of North Tranquility Road and US 190
• The intersection of Highway 434 and US 190

Hours of Service Regulations for Commercial Truck Drivers in Louisiana

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) developed hours of service (HOS) regulations to make sure that truck drivers get sufficient rest and stay alert on the job.

The most important HOS regulations that commercial truck drivers in Louisiana are required to comply with are:

• A driver can only drive for 11 hours consecutively following a 10-hour off-duty period.
• A driver must take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 hours.
• A driver must not drive for more than 60 hours in seven days or more than 70 hours in eight days.

The full list of HOS regulations can be found here.

Unfortunately, many trucking companies in Louisiana tend to violate these regulations and force drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines. As a result, drivers tend to stay on the road far longer than they should, engage in dangerous driving behaviors, and take prescription medications and drugs to stimulate themselves – all of which can increase the risk of accidents significantly.

The Role of Defective Parts in Commercial Truck Accidents

Apart from truck driver negligence and HOS violations by the trucking company, defective equipment is also one of the common factors that contribute to commercial truck accidents in Louisiana.

A defective part can cause the driver to lose control of the truck, as a result of which the truck could collide with other vehicles or run off the road and crash into other structures. It can also cause the truck to break down and stop abruptly, which can cause other vehicles to collide with the truck – resulting in a multi-vehicle pileup.

Common examples of defective equipment that can result in truck accidents include:

• Steering failure
• Transmission failure
• Suspension failure
• Brake failure
• Trailer hitch failure
• Tire blowouts

Importance of Black Box Data in a Commercial Truck Accident Claim

Data from the truck’s event data recorder (commonly known as the black box) can be a vital piece of evidence to support your claim. The black box can provide a wide range of information ranging from the truck’s wheel speed to tire pressure, engine RPM, anti-lock braking system, cruise control, engine usage history, critical event data, and many more.

The data from the truck’s black box can help your lawyer determine whether a defective part caused the accident and whether the driver engaged in risky or dangerous driving behavior at the time of the accident. It can be very helpful in establishing the liability of the at-fault parties.

It’s critical to note that the trucking company is not legally obligated to hand over the black box data to you following an accident. Your lawyer needs to send a preservation of evidence letter to the trucking company and ask them to preserve the black box data.

In the absence of a request from your lawyer, the trucking company is allowed to erase or write over the data in the black box. This is one of the reasons why you should get legal representation as soon as you possibly can after a truck accident. 

Factors that will Determine the Damages You Can Recover in a Lacombe, LA Truck Accident Claim

Our skilled truck accident lawyers in Lacombe, LA have a record of obtaining millions of dollars in financial compensation for injured victims through settlements or court verdicts. The amount of compensation you can recover depends on a number of factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries and the estimated cost of your medical treatment.
• Whether you are physically or cognitively impaired as a result of your injuries.
• Whether your impairment is temporary or permanent in nature.
• Whether your ability to perform activities of daily living is affected by your impairment.
• Amount of earnings you have lost and stand to lose in the foreseeable future due to your injuries.
• Amount of earnings and benefits you stand to lose in the long term due to reduced earning capacity.
• Whether you are permanently or significantly disfigured as a result of your injuries.
• Whether your marital relationship with your spouse has been affected as a result of your injuries.
• The at-fault parties’ insurance policy limits.

Choose the Most Trusted and Resourceful Lacombe Truck Accident Lawyers to Fight for You

A commercial truck accident can leave you with debilitating and disfiguring injuries. You need a capable and experienced truck accident lawyer on your side to recover the damages you are entitled to.

Attorney Brian F. Trainor is a former prosecutor with unmatched legal knowledge and courtroom experience. A South Louisiana native, Brian is committed to helping injury victims get the compensation they need to get their life back on track. He can provide you with the support and legal counsel you need at this difficult time, build a strong case against the at-fault parties, and fight aggressively to get the maximum amount of monetary damages possible. 

Call us today at 985-900-2250 or get in touch with us online to schedule a free consultation and case assessment.