Truck Accident Attorney Near New Orleans

New Orleans is known for its lively celebrations, delicious food, and of course, its crazy highway traffic. The I-10 corridor alone carries thousands of cars every day through New Orleans, and when you factor in the Causeway, I-610, US-90, and all the other thoroughfares, it’s a wonder anyone makes it through the city at all.

Along with all the traffic coursing through New Orleans every day are hundreds if not thousands of big rigs, eighteen-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and delivery trucks.

Even though these trucks are safer now than they’ve ever been, and passenger cars are as well, big truck wrecks still leave victims’ bodies bruised, their families broken, and their property destroyed. If you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you could be the victim of a big truck accident in New Orleans.

If you’re one of the unlucky who’ve been hit by a truck, call the New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys to represent you, whether you’re negotiating with insurance or need to head into court. The trucking company and their insurance will work hard to keep you from getting your due compensation, and you need a dedicated firm to ensure you receive what you deserve.

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Common Causes of New Orleans Big Truck Accidents

In some ways, truck wrecks are the same as any other traffic accident—there are a wide variety of causes behind them, and they can leave a trail of destruction and pain in their wake. These massive vehicles can cause way more damage when something goes wrong.

Some, like drunk driving or distracted driving, are all too common (the second most common cause of crashes for large truckers, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).

Some of the most common causes include:

• Trucks’ big blind spots can prevent drivers from seeing other vehicles and colliding with them.
  
  
• Improperly loaded cargo can shift in transit or even fall off the truck, becoming dangerous projectiles that can slam into other vehicles.
  
  
• Driver fatigue can arise after long shifts behind the wheel, and while federal regulations require regular breaks, tight deadlines can cause drivers to push their luck.
  
  
• Overweight trailers can lead to jackknifing, tipping over, and other catastrophic accidents.
  
  
• A speeding truck is multiple times more dangerous than a speeding car because of its mass—a tractor-trailer weighs between 20 and 30 times more than a passenger car and takes that much longer to stop.
  
  
• Trucks are at greater risk for tire blowouts than other vehicles because of the greater wear and tear; these blowouts can eject tire parts in passing traffic and cause major accidents.
  
  
• and others

Types of 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Injuries in New Orleans

The fact that makes truck collisions utterly dangerous is their great weight and size: the average fully-loaded tractor-trailer weighs up to 30 times more than a passenger car, meaning that it impacts other vehicles with a similar amount of force.

In fact, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has reported that around two-thirds of deaths in large truck accidents occur in the smaller vehicles involved.

Even when the passengers of the smaller vehicle survive, their injuries can be devastating:

Head Injuries

• Including concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and others caused by the victim’s head striking hard objects within their vehicle.
  
  
• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), TBIs are a leading cause of disability: even when a victim survives, they can experience memory loss or permanent disability.

Spinal Cord Injuries

• Tragically common during truck accidents, spinal cord injuries can cause temporary or permanent paralysis.
  
  
• Paralyzed victims are often left unable to work, require assistive devices like wheelchairs, and could need long and expensive runs of physical therapy. Paralysis can also cause depression, irritability, anxiety, and other mental conditions.

Skeletal Fractures

• Broken & fractured bones are very commonly reported injuries resulting from a semi-truck accident.
  
  
• Not only are broken bones painful and debilitating—they can also increase the risk for other complications like blood loss and infection.

Other Common Injuries

• Amputations and other catastrophic injuries are more common in truck wrecks.

• Neck and back injuries, including whiplash, can leave long-lasting effects on victims’ bodies.

• Organ damage can be caused by crushing injuries and others.

• In the worst cases, victims can experience a wrongful death.

What Do I Do After Being in a New Orleans Truck Wreck?

Immediately after a collision with an 18-wheeler, victims are usually dazed, in pain, and unsure of their next steps. If this happens to you, try to remember the following steps to keep yourself and your passengers safe, and to prepare as well as you can for what lies ahead:

• Get to safety as well as you can. Pull over to the side of the road, away from the flow of traffic. Check your passengers and yourself for injuries.
  
  
• Call 911 immediately. Police and an ambulance should be dispatched to the scene. While first responders treat your injuries and stabilize your condition, the police officer on the scene will take notes, talk to witnesses, and record your statement for their official report. Make sure to ask for a copy of the police report.
  
  
• Call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free legal consultation to explore your options. A dedicated, caring lawyer will listen to what happened and provide advice as to the next steps.

After we’ve evaluated your case and you’ve signed with us, we’ll start collecting evidence, building your case, and getting you the compensation you deserve. If we don’t win your claim, you won’t owe us a dime.

How Long Do I Have To Pursue a Truck Accident Claim?

After a New Orleans truck accident, act fast. Gather evidence while it’s fresh – a lawyer can help navigate this. Trucking companies hold key evidence, so get your lawyer involved quickly to secure it (e.g., truck data recorders, dashcam footage, driver logs). This evidence can prove negligence and strengthen your case.

Statute of Limitation Changes in Louisiana

In 2024, Louisiana law extended the statute of limitations for personal injury claims occurring on or after July 1, 2024, from one year to two years. Any injuries that occurred before July 1, 2024, will still have a 1-year statute of limitation. Learn more about Louisiana’s New Statute of Limitations here.

• 1 year for injuries sustained before July 1, 2024.
• 2 years for injuries suffered after July 1, 2024.

The statute of limitations is a legal deadline that sets a time frame for filing a lawsuit. In Louisiana, this is known as the “prescriptive period,” which determines how long you have to take legal action against the responsible party after an injury occurs.

Who Is Responsible For My New Orleans Truck Accident?

Truck accidents in New Orleans can be tricky. Louisiana has a fault-based system, so figuring out who’s responsible for the damages depends on proving who caused the accident. It might seem simple – the driver who caused it is on the hook, right? Well, not always.

Here’s the twist: even if a truck driver is at fault, the trucking company they work for might be legally responsible. This means you might need to file your claim with the company’s insurance instead of just the driver’s. Because of this added layer, understanding fault and liability is crucial in truck accident cases.

Possible Compensation in a New Orleans Truck Accident

Most victims of truck wrecks win compensation ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on their injuries, the nature of the accident, and what role they and the truck driver played. Talk to an experienced Louisiana truck accident attorney to calculate the total costs of your damages, which can include

• The cost of hospital visits, surgeries, and ongoing treatment
• The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle
• Current and future lost wages if your injuries have left you unable to work
• Your attorney’s fees

In addition to these economic damages, some non-economic damages—those which aren’t as easily accounted for—can also be compensated for. These include

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish
• and others

Whatever you’re going through, know that you don’t have to handle your case alone. The team of New Orleans personal injury attorneys at Gordon McKernan are trained professionals with strong experience in New Orleans & Louisiana law, and we work closely with courts to ensure high compensation for our clients.

How Can a New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney Help Me

After a New Orleans truck accident, things can get complicated fast.

A lawyer specializing in these cases can be your champion. They know the ins and outs of Louisiana law and truck accidents like the back of their hand. Here’s how they can help:

• Digging deep: They’ll investigate your accident thoroughly, gathering all the evidence they can.
  
  
• Building a strong case: With the evidence they find, they’ll aim to prove who’s at fault for the accident.
  
  
• Dealing with insurance: Don’t get tricked: let our experienced lawyers handle negotiations with insurance companies, making sure you get what you deserve for your injuries, damages, and lost time.
  
  
• Fighting for you: Whether it’s a settlement or a court case, your lawyer will be your voice, fighting for the best possible outcome.

Consult With A New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyer Today

With 679+ years of combined legal experience & over $3 Billion secured for personal injury victims, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is dedicated to serving our Louisiana communities in their pursuit of justice & compensation.

Whether you were hit by an 18-wheeler, injured in a delivery truck wreck, impacted by a construction truck, or something else, we have your back.

Contact our truck accident attorneys in New Orleans today for a free consultation. We won’t charge you a dime until we win or settle your case, that’s the G Guarantee. Get Gordon and Get It Done!

New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me

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