Cargo Truck Accident Lawyer in Metairie

Sharing the roads with cargo trucks is a common experience, but when you are involved in an accident with one, the potential outcomes can be devastating. A Metairie truck accident lawyer can help you fight to recover from your physical, emotional, and financial losses.

Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers has represented thousands of clients and has secured over $100 million in collective compensation. A cargo truck accident lawyer in Metairie will put that experience to work for you in the effort to add your case to our successful history.

Different Ways Cargo Truck Accidents Happen

Loading cargo properly is a serious responsibility, as failures can lead to spills or imbalances, causing damaging accidents. When a truck is hauling hazardous or flammable chemicals, spills create slick surfaces that are dangerous for anyone to drive on. Those materials can also ignite upon collision, releasing toxic fumes or causing fires or explosions.

Load imbalances can result from improperly loaded or secured cargo. Cargo weight must be distributed appropriately. Restraint and securement methods must also prevent any cargo shifts during the ride. Uneven distribution or inadequate securing can put trailers off balance and lead to rollovers or jackknife accidents.

Navigating turns and lane merges is also challenging in cargo trucks. These massive vehicles are cumbersome and have blind spots. Inattentive or inexperienced truck operators may not see or know how to look for cars traveling in adjacent lanes and sideswipe them when attempting a merge. Our Metairie personal injury lawyers have experience representing clients in all types of truck accident scenarios.

Possible Liable Parties

Sometimes, the truck driver and truck company are liable for crashes. The driver may make an error or take an unsafe action. If they are employed by the company, the company can be liable. Companies are also culpable if their negligence, perhaps in hiring practices or failing to take bad drivers off the road, contributes to the crash.

Companies, inspectors, and mechanics can also be on the hook when improper maintenance leads to truck crashes. Cargo trucks are made of complicated systems that must be in top shape for every ride. No matter who is responsible for your accident, a Metairie cargo truck accident lawyer will fight to hold them accountable.

What a Cargo Truck Accident Attorney in Metairie Can Do for You

The team at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers knows how commercial truck accident lawsuits work and can manage the details of your case with skill from start to finish. Connecting with a Metairie cargo truck accident attorney soon after your crash is the best move, as it gives us early access to evidence and ensures we can file your claim on time.

Your attorney will gather critical evidence during a post-crash investigation. We may find physical evidence from the accident site or the involved vehicles. Witnesses and mounted cameras can also provide important information. Your lawyer can request access to the truck’s “black box” data to find out what was happening with the truck and driver in the moments preceding the accident.

All involved in a cargo truck’s operation have to comply with FMCSA regulations. The comprehensive rules govern everything from allowable hours on duty to cargo loading procedures. Exposing violations that played a role in your accident is another way a truck accident lawyer will help strengthen your claim.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Partnering with an attorney quickly also saves you from having to deal with insurance companies, especially those representing the at-fault party. Adjusters for the other side will probably reach out to you, asking seemingly harmless questions. Do not answer them.

A common insurance tactic is to get victims to make comments that can be turned into admissions of fault or other “evidence” that can be used against them. You are vulnerable after an accident. Pain and trauma may prevent you from recognizing potentially damaging questions. Refer all questions to your lawyer to avoid accidentally harming your claim.

Insurance representatives may also present you with an early settlement offer. No matter how tempting it may be to accept it and resolve your claim, do not agree to any amounts without consulting your attorney. We know what your claim is worth and can protect you from settling for less than you deserve, and we know that you need to reach maximum recovery.

The Far-Reaching Consequences of a Cargo Truck Accident Demand Compensation

Sadly, cargo truck accidents often cause very serious injuries. Occupants of much lighter and smaller passenger vehicles are particularly at risk. Statistics on road users from the National Safety Council (NSC) show other-vehicle occupants are most likely (70%) to be injured or killed in accidents with large trucks.

To get fair compensation for the consequences of your accident, you need to know the value of your losses. The at-fault party may dismiss some of your losses, perhaps claiming you are overstating your pain and suffering. They may try to minimize your injuries and property damage.

Your lawyer will account for every consequence when determining the value of your claim. The severity and effects of your injuries, income loss, and property damage all matter. Your physical and emotional trauma and diminished quality of life do, too. Our goal is to get you full financial justice for all of these losses.

How Negligence Laws Affect Compensation

Louisiana’s personal injury laws follow the system of pure comparative fault. As a victim of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to sue the at-fault party for damages, even if you bear some blame for the accident.

Your compensation amount is lowered, however, according to the percentage of fault you hold.

To avoid making a large payout, the at-fault party will try to assign you blame. An experienced cargo accident attorney in Metairie will challenge those attempts, working to protect you from unjust compensation reductions.

Contact Our Cargo Truck Accident Lawyers in Metairie Today

The team at Scott Vicknair Injury Law is relentless in the pursuit of victory. We never take shortcuts and always put the full force of our collective experience and resources into every case. You can expect nothing less when you enter a legal partnership with us.

Contact us today for your free case review. We are ready to fight for the win.