Mandeville Truck Accident Lawyers

Commercial trucks are an extremely common sight on the roadways of Louisiana. Every day, a wide range of products – from natural gas to petroleum oils, soya beans, corn, and chemicals – are transported across the state as well as to other parts of the country.

Many of these trucks pass through Mandeville regularly, which means drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians have to share the road with these trucks almost on a daily basis. It’s not easy, particularly when the roads are already congested, and many drivers always seem to be in a rush. The combination of all these factors can significantly increase the risk of truck accidents.

If you have been injured in a commercial truck accident, you need a skilled personal injury lawyer who can take on the insurance company and fight relentlessly to get you the compensation you deserve. At Trainor Law Firm, we have a team of lawyers who have extensive experience in handling commercial truck accident claims.

We can protect your rights, hold the truck driver as well as other at-fault parties accountable for their negligence, and fight hard to recover the maximum amount of monetary damages possible.

How do Commercial Truck Accidents Occur in Mandeville?

The common factors that contribute to commercial truck accidents in Mandeville include:

• Speeding
• Fatigued or drowsy driving
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Impaired driving
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Inadequate training
• Defective tires
• Mechanical failure

The Risk of Serious Injuries in Commercial Truck Accidents

The average commercial truck is significantly larger and heavier than the average passenger vehicle. For instance, a semi-truck with an empty trailer weighs around 35,000 pounds. When loaded with cargo, it can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. In contrast, the average passenger vehicle only weighs around 4,000 pounds.

This is why accidents involving commercial trucks and passenger vehicles almost always tend to be catastrophic in nature. In the event of a collision with a fully loaded truck, the occupants of the passenger vehicle are at risk of suffering serious injuries including broken bones, crush injuries, traumatic amputation, internal organ damage, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Getting Medical Care after a Truck Accident in Mandeville

Following a truck accident, it is critically important to get medical attention as soon as you possibly can – even if you are not visibly injured. For instance, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury, the symptoms might not appear right away.

Depending on the nature of the injury, it might take several days for the symptoms to appear. By not getting medical help right away, you might end up worsening your injury, which in turn can lead to life-long complications. 

Moreover, if you do not get treated right after the accident, the insurance company can make the argument that your injuries are not as serious as you claim, which can make it harder for you to get the settlement you deserve. The insurance company might also accuse you of intentionally delaying the treatment so that your injury might worsen, and you could demand a larger settlement from the at-fault party.

To avoid such disputes, you should get to the hospital as soon as you can after the accident and get treated for your injuries. There are many hospitals near Mandeville where you can get treated for your injuries. These include the Lakeview Regional Medical Center, AVALA Hospital, Saint Tammany Parish Hospital, and Ochsner Medical Center.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Commercial Truck Accident in Mandeville, LA?

The Truck Driver

If the accident was caused directly as a result of the inattentiveness or recklessness of the driver, they can be personally held liable for the accident. For instance, if the driver made a rolling stop at an intersection and rear-ended another vehicle, they can be held liable for the accident.

The Trucking Company

There are two ways the trucking company can be held liable for the accident caused by their driver.

Direct Liability

The truck company can be held directly liable for the accident under the following circumstances.

• If they hired an unqualified, untrained, or inexperienced driver
• If they hired a driver with a documented history of speeding, aggressive driving, DUI, and other violations
• If they violated Hours of Service (HOS) regulations by forcing the driver to drive without taking any breaks in between
• If they failed to inspect the trucks in their fleet and make sure they are in proper working condition

Vicarious Liability

The truck company can be held vicariously or indirectly liable for the accident if the driver in question was under their employment and was performing their work-related duties at the time of the accident.

Cargo Loading Company

If the accident was caused by improperly loaded cargo or cargo overload, the loading company can be held liable.

Truck Manufacturer

If the accident was caused by a defective part, the company that designed or manufactured the part can be held liable.

Legal Help is Available from Our Seasoned Mandeville Truck Accident Lawyers

At Trainor Law Firm, we have a team of highly skilled lawyers who have several years of experience in handling commercial truck accident claims. We know what kind of arguments truck companies make to deny liability and what kind of strategies claims adjusters use to deny fair compensation to injury victims. We can counter their arguments, prove the liability of the at-fault parties, and negotiate aggressively to get the best settlement offer possible.

We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible after a truck accident so that we can retrieve evidence from the truck’s data recorder to build a compelling case for damages.

We work on a contingency basis. You are not required to pay us a dime upfront. We get paid only if we win your case and recover monetary damages for you. Call our law firm today at 985-900-2250 or get in touch with us online for a free review of your claim by one of our reputable Mandeville truck accident attorneys.