Truck Accident Lawyer New Orleans, LA
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you should consult a truck accident lawyer New Orleans, LA residents trust, such as Reddy Accident Law. Truck accidents can be devastating and often result in long-lasting pain, significant emotional distress, and thousands of dollars in medical debt. Your life might be forever changed. At Reddy Accident Law, we understand what you might be going through and would like you to know that compensation may be available.
If negligence caused you to be involved in a truck accident, the driver of the truck, the truck company, a manufacturer, or another party, might be liable.
What You Should and Should Not Do After an Accident
The vulnerability felt after an accident might be so intense that you might feel unable to take the necessary legal action. You might be stressed, confused, and unsure about how to deal with the insurance adjusters who are calling you, urging you to accept their settlement offer. To ease some of your concerns, please consider the following dos and don’ts after a truck accident. If you have questions, call a New Orleans, LA truck accident lawyer.
Do:
- Call 911 and/or notify the police
- Get immediate medical attention
- If possible, and safe, take pictures of the scene
- Get the contact details of any witnesses
- File a police report if one has not been filed already
- Stay as calm as possible
- Follow your doctor’s orders
- Complete all of your medical treatment
- Call a New Orleans, LA truck accident lawyer
Don’t
- Wait to get medical attention
- Wait to see what happens and how things play out
- Accept fault or partial fault
- Apologize to the other party
- Accept a private offer
- Sign anything given to you by the insurance company
- Accept a settlement from the insurance company without talking to a lawyer
- Post information about what happened on social media
It should be noted that truck accidents tend to be very severe. This means you might be unable to carry out some of the above things to do. Please make your medical care a priority. When you can, call a truck accident lawyer in New Orleans, Louisiana. If your loved one is incapacitated or died, you as a family member, can also call a lawyer.
How We Can Help You
When you choose Reddy Accident Law, you can feel peace of mind in knowing your case is in good hands. Our efforts are considerable and may include:
- A investigation of the accident
- Rebuilding or reconstructing the scene
- Asking witnesses for a sworn statement
- Reviewing the police report
- Communicating the other side’s lawyers and insurance company
- Arrange a medical lien
- Ensure you get the necessary medical care while you wait for a settlement
- Negotiate a settlement, or take your case to court
WHO IS THE TOP TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER IN NEW ORLEANS?
Big rigs, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and long-haulers. These are all different names for big trucks. Unfortunately, no matter what they’re called, they all have the potential to cause catastrophic damage in the event of an accident. Fortunately, although no amount of compensation can undo the harm that occurs in the wake of a truck accident, the victims of any given accident can seek compensation from insurance companies and/or the responsible party or parties with the assistance of a skilled truck accident lawyer New Orleans, LA residents trust. If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a large, commercial truck, please don’t wait to contact an experienced New Orleans, Louisiana truck accident lawyer at the Reddy Accident Law. Once our team understands the circumstance surrounding your accident, we can help you identify who the responsible parties are and can help you to hold those parties accountable for the harm you have suffered. The responsible parties in a truck accident aren’t always as they seem…
The Driver of the Truck
Truck drivers have a big responsibility to follow all the rules, regulations and laws that apply to big trucks on the road. If the driver is incompetent, drives under the influence, fails to perform certain safety tasks or makes one of a variety of other errors, that driver could be liable for the accident. An expert witness who is familiar with driving trucks could speak to the driver’s mistakes in the accident.
The Truck Owner
Sometimes the truck driver doesn’t own his or her truck outright. There are various possible owners of large trucks, including the cargo owner, a trucking company or a third party. In many cases, an owner separate from the driver will have the responsibility to inspect the truck, perform maintenance tasks, complete repairs and check on the function of the truck. If that owner fails to do those things, he or she may be held responsible for an accident.
The Cargo Loader
There are certain truck accidents that occur due to the cargo being packed and secured incorrectly. Part of the load could fall off the truck and damage other vehicles on the road. The cargo could shift, resulting in the truck fishtailing. In those and other situations, the individuals or company that loaded the cargo could be held liable.
The Manufacturer of the Truck
There are a lot of parts that go into the construction of a big truck. Even if one little part malfunctions or doesn’t get installed correctly, it could cause a big accident. Sometimes the manufacturer of the truck or the truck parts will be liable for the accident if they malfunctioned or broke while the driver was on the road.
The Trucking Company
There are some situations in which the trucking company that employs the operator will be liable for an accident. Some trucking companies own their own fleet and are responsible for inspecting the trucks. Sometimes they are responsible for maintenance and repairs. Just like any other party, if the trucking company is negligent in these things, they could be held responsible. Similarly, if a trucking company pushes a driver to ignore safety rules in favor of the company’s bottom line, an experienced New Orleans, LA truck accident lawyer could potentially help a victim hold that reckless company accountable for their unsafe choices.
What Can I Include In a Truck Accident Claim ?
Victims of truck accidents often find themselves in shock in the aftermath of the collision. The injuries tend to be severe, and life threatening; however, even minor injuries can cause serious financial losses.
Luckily, for many victims, compensation is available. This is typically true when negligence is a factor. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please call Reddy Accident Law.
Available Medical Expenses
As you prepare yourself to take legal action, your truck accident lawyer in New Orleans, LA will encourage you to keep all related bills and invoices. These may include:
- Doctors bills
- Hotel bills (if you have to travel a long distance for medical care)
- Gas receipts
- Any medical equipment bills
- Prescription medication bills
- Long term care bills
- Rehab and therapy bills
- In-home care
- Home modification bills
- Vehicle modification bills
- + More
In addition to these things, a lawyer will need to consider the expenses associated with the injury. The following are examples of these costs:
- Spinal cord injuries can cost over 1 million dollars in the first year
- A broken limb costs around $3,000, without surgery
- A traumatic brain injury can cost between $600,000 and $2 million
- A limb amputation can cost between $25,000 and $100,000
- Ambulance transportation may cost $1,000, not including air transportation
- One night in the hospital can cost $2,000 to $5,000, or more
The above costs are only related to your injuries and medical care. Most likely you will have been unable to work for any given period of time. This means your lawyer will need to consider:
- Whether you were unable to work
- How long you were out of work
- Whether you will be able to return to the same position
- Whether you’ve lost any earning potential
A New Orleans, LA truck accident lawyer will take your lost wages and loss of income into consideration, and include an appropriate amount into your claim. In addition to these economic losses, non-economic losses such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium will likely be included. In the event that maliciousness caused you to be harmed, a lawyer might seek punitive damages. These are available in an average of ten percent of cases, and can be substantial as they are intended to punish the defendant.
Knowing the Value of Your Case
Any good lawyer will tell you that it is not possible to know what your case is worth without knowing the details and circumstances. If a lawyer is guaranteeing you a certain amount before knowing very much about what happened, you should choose another legal advocate. If you are concerned about the value of your case, you should call Reddy Accident Law. That being said, as a general rule of thumb, the worse the injuries are, the more compensation may be available.
Learning More
A truck accident is nothing to take lightly. If you were involved in an accident with a big truck, contact an experienced New Orleans, LA truck accident lawyer to learn more about your legal options, your rights, and the kinds of compensation you may be entitled to at this time. Our team looks forward to speaking with you.