Lake Charles Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Lake Charles Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney

Truck drivers provide crucial services. Unfortunately, these drivers can be in accidents just like any other driver, whether it is their fault or not. Many of these commercial vehicles are significantly larger than other vehicles on the road, causing more significant damage when they crash. If you were injured in one of these crashes, you need a Lake Charles commercial vehicle accident lawyer to help you navigate the insurance claims process and recover compensation.

There are many potential causes of truck accidents and many entities and individuals who may be liable. You need a knowledgeable and diligent personal injury attorney to handle your case.

Sanchez Burke, LLC: Dedicated Commercial Truck Accident Attorneys

After a trucking accident, injured individuals can file with the insurer of the at-fault party to recover compensation. In commercial crashes, it is often the commercial company’s insurer. These insurers are particularly aggressive, and it is difficult to secure a fair settlement from them. Working with an attorney means they can handle negotiations with the insurer for you and protect your legal rights and financial interests.

At Sanchez Burke, LLC, our attorneys have over 60 collective years of legal experience, including experience with complicated motor vehicle and commercial vehicle claims. We understand the state and federal regulations that apply to commercial trucking industries and how violations of those regulations can impact your case.

We help you negotiate a settlement, and if a settlement can’t be reached, we represent you in trial. Our goal is to fight for your interests so that you can secure the financial stability you need to physically recover as much as possible.

How Are Commercial Vehicle Accidents Different From Other Vehicle Accidents?

Any collision between motor vehicles has the potential to be complicated and have significant repercussions for those involved. However, crashes involving commercial vehicles are especially complicated, especially large trucks like semi-trucks. Because of this, it is even more important that you find legal representation that understands these complexities and how to navigate them. Some ways that commercial crashes are different include:

• Increased damages. Most commercial vehicles, like tractor-trailers, are much larger. Fully loaded vehicles are also incredibly heavy. When these vehicles are in accidents, their size and weight make them much more likely to cause devastating damage.Injuries from a truck accident are often much more significant, requiring more costly surgeries and longer recovery periods. As a result, the compensation from a truck accident claim has to be much higher to recover these losses.
• Number of liable parties. Many parties are responsible for the use and maintenance of commercial trucks, and negligence by any of these parties can result in an accident. An investigation of a commercial vehicle collision has to be thorough in order to determine the cause and at-fault parties.One or multiple parties in the trucking company could be liable, as can third parties. Shipping companies, maintenance crews, the truck driver’s employer, the trucking company, the truck driver, the owner of the vehicle, and numerous other parties could be partly or fully responsible for the accident.
• Commercial insurance carriers. A commercial vehicle company will carry commercial insurance. This can be beneficial, as the coverage limits of these policies are typically much higher than personal car insurance. However, securing this compensation can be more difficult because commercial insurers are aggressive in limiting their liability.These commercial insurers are likely to be involved even if the final claim is not filed with them. They will work to undermine your claim and damages to avoid paying full compensation.
• Federal trucking industry regulations. Laws state how commercial vehicle companies must operate, particularly those with 18-wheelers. These laws include limits on how long drivers can operate their vehicles, weight limit requirements, rules for drug testing drivers, and maintenance requirements for vehicles. If a trucking company fails to follow these regulations, they can be held liable for damage caused because of that failure.

The right attorney in Lake Charles has the resources to properly negotiate with commercial insurers and give your claim its greatest chance of success.

FAQs About Lake Charles, LA Commercial Vehicle Accident Laws

How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

The value of most truck accident settlements is high because the damages in truck accidents are typically very serious. The value of each settlement is unique, however, because each accident and the damages that it causes are unique. It will be impacted by:

• The severity of your injuries.
• The amount of time it takes you to recover.
• Whether you are working with legal representation.
• The skill of your legal representation.
• Whether you are partially liable for the crash.
• Whether the evidence supports your case.

What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need to Sue a Trucking Company?

To sue a trucking company, you want to work with a personal injury lawyer with experience in commercial trucking accidents. Personal injury attorneys tend to handle a range of motor vehicle accidents and can navigate the insurance and civil claims processes as needed.

Truck accidents are more complicated due to higher damages, increased regulatory requirements, and commercial truck company insurers. An experienced personal injury lawyer is more likely to have the resources and abilities to handle these complexities.

How Much Is a Lawyer to Sue a Commercial Trucking Company?

When you hire a lawyer to sue a commercial trucking company for a personal injury in a collision, it is likely that you will not pay upfront attorney fees. Most personal injury attorneys charge on a contingency fee basis.

If your attorney is able to secure a successful outcome to the claim, then their fee will be a percentage of the final settlement. You want to discuss these costs with an attorney prior to working with them, including costs you may be responsible for, like court fees.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident?

The damages you can recover after a truck accident are whatever damages you suffered as a result of the accident, which may include:

• Medical bills, both past and current
• Future expected complications
• Lost income
• Disability and lost earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life

An attorney is exceptionally skilled in calculating all of these damages, helping you recover a settlement that truly covers your losses.

Work With Experienced Legal Support

There are many potential causes of truck accidents, from fatigued drivers to overloaded trailers to improper hiring procedures. A knowledgeable attorney at Sanchez Burke, LLC can investigate your commercial vehicle accident. Contact our firm today.