Louisiana Truck Accident Lawyer

The Murphy Law Firm offers compassionate and results-driven legal representation for victims of truck accidents throughout the state. We take time to listen to each client’s unique story, helping them to make sense of their legal options and guiding them through the difficult proceedings they face as they seek compensation for their damages. Our firm will do everything we can to help you fully recover in the shortest possible timeframe.

If you attempted to handle your recovery from a truck accident by yourself, you would be forced to contend with strict procedural rules while managing your medical needs and personal obligations. Even if you believe that fault for your accident is perfectly apparent, the formal legal process of establishing liability for your damages is likely to be far more challenging than you are prepared to face alone while recovering from your injuries.

Louisiana law follows the fault rule for all motor vehicle accidents, meaning you must prove fault for your recent accident before you can claim any compensation for your damages. This typically requires multiple forms of evidence, such as traffic camera footage if any cameras were situated near the accident site, drivers’ cell phone records, and testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen.

While many truck accidents happen due to the same causes as all other vehicle accidents, there are also additional risk factors and industry-specific details that may come into play in your case. For example, your Louisiana truck accident lawyer may aim to secure truck maintenance records as well as documentation from a trucking company showing whether they complied with applicable industry regulations.

Every driver in Louisiana is required to have personal auto insurance, and when a driver causes an accident, their insurance policy will pay for the damages they inflicted on others. Trucking companies and their drivers are also required to have appropriate coverage, and many of these business entities have greater coverage than is required for most drivers.

However, it does not mean you should assume you can fully recover your losses through insurance or that filing your claim will be easy. It is prudent to expect the insurance company to fight back against your claim in whatever way they can. Insurance company representatives and claim adjusters are trained to look for justifications for denying claims whenever possible or minimizing their settlement offers.

While the majority of truck accidents reported happen because of negligence, these incidents may also occur because of intentional and illegal misconduct, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When a driver causes an accident in this manner, they not only face civil liability for the damages but also criminal prosecution for breaking the law. If this applies to your case, your attorney can explain the potential implications.

When a truck driver causes an accident because they are intoxicated behind the wheel, they face prosecution for breaking the state’s laws against driving under the influence (DUI). This could not only result in fines, jail time, and suspension of their driver’s license, but their penalties may automatically increase due to them causing severe harm. Additionally, they are likely to lose their commercial driver’s license (CDL) in response to their actions.

The first major legal hurdle you must clear in the aftermath of a truck accident is proving fault for the accident. Once you have identified the cause of your accident and the party or parties responsible for your damages, your Louisiana truck accident lawyer can develop a legal strategy that aims to secure compensation for your damages. In most cases, it will begin with an auto insurance claim.

An experienced attorney can streamline the insurance claim filing process for you, reducing the time it takes for you to receive your settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurer. They can resolve any disputes that arise and then assist you in pursuing further recovery with a personal injury suit if necessary.

One of the most important steps you can take in the aftermath of a truck accident to preserve your ability to recover compensation for your damages is to connect with an experienced and reliable Louisiana truck accident lawyer as quickly as possible. The more time your attorney has to work on your case, the more likely you will be to secure compensation for your damages in a shorter timeframe.

Our goal for every client we represent is to help them secure as much compensation as state law allows for their damages by thoroughly investigating all avenues of recovery. We have years of experience dealing with the major insurance carriers and know the tactics they use to try to avoid paying out on claims, and we know how to construct effective and comprehensive personal injury cases on behalf of our clients.

When insurance will not fully cover your damages from a truck accident, a personal injury suit may offer your greatest chance of maximizing your recovery as much as possible. Success with any personal injury claim will require clear proof of fault for your damages. First, you need to determine who caused your accident and how they caused it; then, you must prove the extent of the damages they inflicted in the accident.

Success with your personal injury claim can yield various forms of compensation. An injured plaintiff has the right to seek compensation for the economic damages the defendant caused, which include all the direct financial losses they suffered from the accident, as well as compensation for their non-economic damages. Economic damages are generally easier to prove and more objective. These can include:

• Property damage, such as vehicle repair costs. While you may be able to recover some such losses through an auto insurance claim, a personal injury suit can enable you to recover any property losses that cannot be recovered through insurance.
• Medical bills. If you sustained physical harm because of another party’s actions, they are liable for the cost of all the medical care you will need to fully recover from your injuries. This includes both immediate and future medical expenses resulting from the accident, so it’s possible to secure compensation for any ongoing rehabilitative care you need to reach maximum medical improvement.