Crashes involving large commercial trucks are far too common on our roads. In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, there were 494,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in the U.S.
Truck accidents are among the most devastating types of motor vehicle collisions, often leaving victims with life-altering injuries or causing tragic fatalities. In many cases, survivors face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges, and families of victims who lost their lives experience unimaginable grief.
At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, we understand the severe impact that truck accidents can have on individuals and their loved ones. Our team is committed to fighting for those who have been harmed in these devastating crashes, working tirelessly to hold negligent parties accountable and pursue the compensation our clients need for their recovery.
Whether you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a semi-truck accident, we are here to provide compassionate, experienced legal support.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons, but often they are caused by preventable actions or negligence. Here are some of the most common causes we see in truck accidents in Lafayette:
- Driver Fatigue (Hours of Service Violations): Truck drivers are required to follow strict hours of service regulations to ensure they get adequate rest. However, pressure to meet deadlines can lead to violations of these rules, causing fatigued drivers to operate large trucks while dangerously tired. Driver fatigue is a leading cause of accidents as it slows reaction times and impairs judgment.
- Distracted Driving: Like all drivers, truck operators can be distracted by their phones, GPS systems, or other in-cab technology, especially when bored on long drives. Unfortunately, even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to devastating accidents due to the size and weight of the truck.
- Improper Loading or Overloading of Cargo: Trucks carrying unbalanced or improperly secured cargo due to negligent loading can become unstable, increasing the risk of rollovers and difficulty stopping. Overloading trucks to boost profits can also lead to an increased risk of brake failure and tire blowouts, causing serious crashes.
- Mechanical Failure or Lack of Maintenance: Trucking companies are required to maintain their vehicles to ensure they’re in safe working condition. However, cost-cutting measures can lead to neglected maintenance, resulting in brake failure, tire blowouts, or other mechanical issues that cause accidents.
- Negligent Hiring Practices by Trucking Companies: Trucking companies have a responsibility to hire qualified, properly trained drivers. When companies fail to thoroughly vet and train drivers or hire individuals with poor driving records to save time and money, they can be held liable for accidents caused by their negligence.
Each of these factors contributes to truck accidents, and when trucking companies or drivers act negligently and harm innocent people as a result, they must be held accountable.
Types of Injuries in Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are notorious for causing severe, life-altering injuries due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks. Here are some of the most common and devastating injuries that victims may experience:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): A TBI can result from the impact of a collision or from objects (such as the window or steering wheel) striking the head during a crash. TBIs can cause long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, mood swings, and other neurological complications that may require extensive rehabilitation.
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: The force of a collision with a large truck can cause severe damage to the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries often result in permanent disability, limiting a person’s mobility and requiring lifelong medical care and accommodations.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: The violent impact of a truck collision frequently results in broken bones or fractures to those in smaller vehicles. Victims may suffer from complex fractures that require surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and long recovery periods, often leaving them unable to work or perform daily tasks.
- Severe Burns From Vehicle Fires: Truck accidents can lead to fires or explosions, particularly if the truck is carrying flammable cargo. Victims may suffer from severe burns that require skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and long-term care to manage pain and disfigurement.
- Internal Organ Damage: The blunt force trauma of a semi-truck accident can cause significant internal injuries, including damage to vital organs like the liver, lungs, or kidneys. These injuries may not be immediately visible but can be life-threatening without prompt medical attention.
These catastrophic injuries can forever change the lives of victims and their families, making it essential to seek legal representation to pursue compensation for the full extent of their damages.
Liability in Truck Accident Cases
Determining liability in truck accident cases can be complicated due to the number of parties involved and the strict regulations governing the trucking industry. Multiple parties may be held accountable for the damages resulting from a truck accident, and understanding the potential sources of liability is critical to building a strong case.
Truck Driver Liability
Truck drivers are responsible for adhering to road safety regulations, including obeying traffic laws—both general and commercial vehicle-specific, avoiding distractions, and preventing fatigue. When a truck driver is negligent—such as by driving recklessly, failing to follow hours of service regulations, or driving under the influence—they can be held liable for any resulting accidents.
Trucking Company Responsibility
Trucking companies are obligated to ensure that their drivers are properly trained, vehicles are regularly maintained, and cargo is loaded safely. If a trucking company neglects these responsibilities—such as by hiring unqualified drivers or failing to perform routine vehicle maintenance—they may be held liable for accidents caused by their negligence.
Liability of Third-Party Contractors
In many cases, trucking companies work with third-party contractors, such as cargo loaders or maintenance providers. If an improperly loaded truck results in an accident, or if a maintenance provider’s failure to properly service the vehicle leads to mechanical failure ending in a crash, these third parties may also be held liable for damages.
We Can Collect Evidence to Determine Liability
To successfully pursue a truck accident claim after a collision with a commercial truck, preserving critical evidence is essential. This includes black box data, which records the truck’s speed, braking patterns, and driver hours, as well as driver logs that track rest periods and hours of service compliance. Preserving this evidence can help establish fault and build a compelling case against the responsible parties.
Compensation in Truck Accident Cases
Victims of truck accidents often face severe, life-altering injuries that result in significant financial burdens. Pursuing compensation is essential to help cover these costs and provide relief for the physical and emotional toll of the accident. In truck accident cases, the compensation you may be entitled to can include a variety of damages.
Medical Expenses and Ongoing Care Costs
Truck accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries that require immediate and long-term medical care. Compensation can cover hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, physical therapy, and any necessary ongoing treatments. In cases of permanent disability, future medical needs must also be accounted for, including specialized care, medical equipment, and any necessary home modifications such as widening of doorways to accommodate wheelchairs.
Lost Wages and Future Earning Potential
If the injuries from a semi-truck accident prevent you from returning to work either temporarily or permanently, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. Additionally, if permanent injuries reduce your ability to earn a living in the future or perform as high-earning work as before the crash, compensation may be sought for loss of future earning potential, helping you and your family maintain financial stability.
Pain and Suffering
Beyond the financial impact, truck accident victims endure significant physical pain and emotional trauma. Compensation for pain and suffering acknowledges the distress caused by the accident and its long-term consequences, such as ongoing physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
Wrongful Death Claims (for Fatal Accidents)
If a loved one was fatally injured in a truck accident, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. This type of compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, and the financial contributions the deceased made to the family, with the goal of helping ease the financial burden for the survivors during such an emotionally difficult time.
Property Damage
In addition to personal injury, truck accidents often result in significant property damage, particularly to vehicles. Compensation can cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property, ensuring you are not left paying out-of-pocket for damages caused by the accident.
Why Hire Dudley DeBosier After a Lafayette Truck Accident?
Truck accidents are far more complex than regular car accidents, typically involving multiple parties, intricate federal regulations to navigate to determine fault, and often severe injuries. That’s why you need a legal team with not only the resources but also the dedication to handle such cases effectively.
Dudley DeBosier brings decades of experience and a client-first approach to every truck accident case, ensuring that our clients receive the compassionate care and powerful representation they deserve.
Extensive Experience Handling Complex Truck Accident Claims
With a proven track record of success, Dudley DeBosier has helped over 58,000 clients recover more than $1.2 billion altogether (past results are not indicative of future success). We understand the complexities of commercial truck accident claims, from federal and state trucking regulations to the nuances of dealing with large trucking companies and their insurers.
Our team excels at identifying every responsible party, whether it’s the truck driver, the trucking company, or third-party contractors like cargo loaders or maintenance providers. We tailor our legal strategies to the specific details of your case to maximize your claim.
Access to Industry Experts and Investigators
At Dudley DeBosier, we believe that thorough investigation is the key to a strong case. That’s why we partner with top industry experts, including accident reconstruction specialists and impartial trucking industry professionals as expert witnesses, to gather and analyze critical evidence. Our goal is to build the most compelling case possible, holding all liable parties accountable for their negligence.
Committed to Securing Maximum Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
We don’t settle for less—because when it comes to family, we fight for what matters most. Dudley DeBosier is dedicated to securing maximum compensation for truck accident victims. We work hard to ensure that our clients are compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and all other damages resulting from the accident. Whether through settlement negotiations or going to trial, our focus remains on getting you the best possible outcome, so you can focus on your recovery.
Contact Our Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you deserve experienced legal representation that will fight for your rights. At Dudley DeBosier, we are committed to helping you get the compensation you need to recover and move forward.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us start building a strong case for you.
This content has been reviewed by Chad Lederman of Dudley DeBosier’s New Orleans office.
