Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA

Drivers in the Lafayette area are likely to encounter large commercial trucks on interstate highways like I-10 and I-49, as well as on smaller local roads. These vehicles are essential for many businesses in the area, but when they are involved in collisions, they can cause devastating harm and raise complex legal questions. The law firm of Gauthier & Granger serves victims of truck accidents in Lafayette, LA and all throughout Acadiana. If you have been hurt in such an accident, you need to consult a Lafayette truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Representing Truck Accident Victims in Lafayette

Gauthier & Granger provides focused and results-driven legal counsel to injured clients in Lafayette and the surrounding communities of Acadiana. Our team has deep roots in the local community, and we have a strong record of successful legal representation in some of the most challenging accident cases.

When you hire our firm to represent you in a truck accident case, you can trust that we will address the unique complications you have encountered in the aftermath of the accident and do everything we can to maximize your recovery. Truck accidents may happen for many of the same reasons as standard car accidents, but they can be more challenging to resolve in several ways. It’s important to have experienced legal counsel on your side for this type of accident case.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Lafayette

According to the National Safety Council, there were 5,375 large trucks involved in fatal crashes and 114,552 large trucks involved in injury crashes throughout the US in 2023. Nearly 70% of the victims of these accidents were occupants of smaller vehicles. Whenever a large commercial truck strikes another vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle have a very high chance of suffering severe or fatal injuries.

In Louisiana, when multiple vehicles are involved in an accident, whoever is at fault for causing the accident is liable for the resulting damages. When you believe another driver caused your recent truck accident, you need to hire a truck accident lawyer who can gather the evidence needed to firmly establish liability before you can claim any compensation for your damages. Truck accidents can happen due to:

• Moving violations, which can include improper lane changes, illegal turns, failure to yield the right-of-way, or failure to stop for stop signs or red lights.
• Intoxicated driving, which is one of the most cited illegal causes of accidents in Lafayette and throughout Louisiana each year. If a truck driver causes an accident this way, they can face criminal charges and loss of their commercial driver’s license in addition to civil liability for the damages they caused to others.
• Speeding. Any vehicle speeding is dangerous, but large trucks require more time and distance to stop or slow down to avoid collisions. Accidents that happen at higher speeds are not only more likely to cause accidents but also more likely to result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.
• Trucking industry regulatory violations. The trucking industry is heavily regulated, and businesses that employ truck drivers must carefully follow applicable laws and always enforce applicable regulations. If a trucking company failed to do so in any way that contributed to an accident, the company could be held vicariously liable for resulting damages.
• Faulty truck maintenance. Large commercial trucks have greater maintenance requirements than most other vehicles. If faulty maintenance results in an accident, the party responsible for performing that maintenance can be held responsible for the resulting damages.

These are only a few possible causes of commercial truck accidents in Lafayette. Whether you recall how your accident happened or you have no memory of the event due to your injuries, you will need to hire a truck accident lawyer who can gather the evidence you will need to firmly establish liability for your damages. Some of this evidence may not be available for long, so it’s vital to connect with experienced legal counsel as soon as possible after the accident.

Proving Liability for a Truck Accident in Lafayette

Various forms of evidence could be crucial to prove fault for your recent truck accident in Lafayette:

• If you are physically able to do so after the accident, take photos of your injuries, your vehicle, and the surrounding scene while you wait for first responders.
• Your attorney can obtain cell phone records to help you prove that an at-fault driver was distracted by their phone when they caused the accident.
• Vehicle computer data can show the speed at which the vehicle was travelling the moment before a crash, potentially showing the other driver was speeding.
• Police reports will include the responding officers’ initial findings from the scene of the crash, as well as the statements provided by everyone involved.
• Your attorney can seek documentation from the trucking company. This could help prove that some type of regulatory noncompliance contributed to your accident. If so, the trucking company could face fines and other penalties, and your attorney can advise you as to how this could influence your case.
• Eyewitness statements are often crucial for proving fault for vehicle accidents. Your Lafayette truck accident lawyer can identify witnesses who saw your accident happen firsthand and obtain their statements as soon as possible so they can support your case.
• In complex cases, witness testimony can help clarify technical matters. Your Lafayette truck accident lawyer may consult engineers or accident reconstruction professionals to help you establish fault for the accident.

Once fault is established for the accident, the Gauthier & Granger legal team can then determine your most viable path to recovering compensation for your damages. Should any disputes of liability arise, you will need to resolve these issues before proceeding with an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury case.

Recovering Compensation for a Truck Accident in Lafayette

Louisiana law requires every driver to have auto insurance that meets minimum requirements for bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. When a driver causes a crash, their insurance policy can pay for resulting damages up to the coverage limits of the policy. Trucking companies and their drivers usually have commercial policies that provide more coverage than the average policy, but it can still be difficult to obtain a fair settlement offer.

It is important to understand that insurance companies will try to avoid paying out settlements whenever possible. At the very least, they will do everything they can to minimize a claim payout. It’s a good idea to hire a truck accident lawyer before attempting to negotiate a claim settlement with any insurance company. Do not wait for the insurance company to deny or devalue your claim to speak with an attorney.

Proving Fault

If you must file a personal injury case to recover your losses, success with your case will hinge on your ability to prove that the defendant is directly responsible for causing your claimed damages.

In Louisiana, the plaintiff in a personal injury case has the right to seek compensation for any economic and non-economic damages caused by the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. If you have the right attorney on your side, you can recover:

• Compensation for your medical expenses. The defendant who injured you is liable for any medical treatment costs arising from your accident. This includes both immediate and future medical care you may need if you have suffered any type of catastrophic injury that requires ongoing care.
• Lost income. You may not be able to work while you recover from your injuries. If so, the defendant is liable for the income you cannot earn during this time. Additionally, you have the right to claim compensation for your lost future earning capacity if you have suffered severe injuries that diminish your capacity to work and earn income.
• Property damage. It’s possible to seek compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, as well as the value of any personal property that was lost in your accident.
• Pain and suffering compensation. A plaintiff has the right to seek financial compensation for the physical pain, psychological suffering, and emotional distress they have suffered because of a defendant’s negligence or misconduct. Your Lafayette truck accident lawyer will know how to maximize this aspect of your recovery.

It is also possible for other factors to affect the outcome of your case and the amount of compensation you receive. For example, if your accident resulted from any type of illegal misconduct, the defendant could be forced to pay punitive damages in addition to your other civil damages. You could also face a diminished recovery if you are found partially liable for the accident under Louisiana’s comparative negligence statutes.

Find YourLafayette Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Ultimately, a commercial truck accident can have devastating effects on those involved, and you are likely to have many complex questions that you will not be able to answer for yourself in the aftermath of your accident. The Gauthier & Granger legal team has years of proven experience helping injured clients in the Lafayette community with all types of vehicle accident cases, and we are confident we can guide you to a positive conclusion to your truck accident case.

We accept personal injury cases on contingency, so you will not pay any upfront fees for our representation, and we will only charge our client a fee after we have won their case. The contingency fee is a percentage of their final case award or settlement, and if there is no recovery for any reason, the client pays no fee.

You have limited time to pursue accountability and compensation for your damages, so contact Gauthier & Granger today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Lafayette truck accident lawyer. We look forward to helping with your recovery.