18-Wheeler Truck Accident Attorneys
Truck accidents often cause serious injuries due to their size. A fully loaded 18-wheeler weighing 40 tons has the potential for massive destruction. Because of the danger to other motorists, trucking companies and over-the-road truck drivers are strictly regulated by state and federal laws.
When truckers and their employers put profit over safety by breaking the rules and pushing the limits, the accidents tend to be catastrophic or fatal. Our accident attorneys at The Townsley Law Firm in Lake Charles focus a substantial amount of their practice on complex 18-wheeler-accident cases and have secured numerous significant verdicts and settlements.
Our founding attorney, Rex Townsley, has more than 35 years of experience in truck accident cases. Call The Townsley Law Firm at 337-377-0584 for a free initial consultation.
We represent clients injured in tractor-trailer accidents on Interstate 10, I-210, and I-90 and throughout southwest Louisiana.
Our truck accident team has held numerous transportation firms and corporations accountable for serious personal injury and wrongful death in commercial truck accidents, including accidents involving timber trucks, dump trucks, petroleum trucks and chemical trucks.
Insurance Carriers Will Be Aggressive. So Will We.
Insurance carriers fight 18-wheeler crash claims hard because they know these cases tend to result in large settlements and verdicts. We fight back.
We invest the time and resources needed to win full compensation for our clients. If necessary, our proven trial lawyers will go all the way to a jury to obtain justice.
Experience Matters In Complicated Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident cases are unlike other personal injury cases. There are many factors at play. For example, you may be able to sue the truck driver for his or her negligent actions, but there may also be other liable parties, such as the trucking company. Truck and dump truck accidents also tend to involve more serious injuries, requiring the help of an experienced legal team that has the time and resources necessary to fight for full compensation.
Our attorneys have the background and knowledge needed to ask the right questions and demand certain documentation such as driver logbooks, truck maintenance records, “black box” crash data and driving history.
We work with accident reconstruction specialists and trucking industry experts to establish liability. In cases of major injury, we also work with medical experts, life-care planners, economists and other professionals to determine damages for medical care, lost income, disability, and pain and suffering.
What Caused Your Truck Accident?
Truck drivers are under pressure to cover more miles and meet deadlines. Trucking firms often cut corners to make more money. We excel at identifying the causation of trucking accidents such as:
- Driver fatigue from exceeding federal limits on hours behind the wheel
- Driver error such as unsafe speed, unsafe lane changes or tailgating
- Intoxicated or distracted driving, including cellphone use while driving
- Worn brakes, bald tires and other neglected maintenance
- Excess weight or improperly loaded freight
- Unqualified truck drivers (negligent hiring and training)
We will pursue actions against all liable parties, which may include separate owners of the truck cab and trailer, other motorists who contributed to the crash, and state or local governments responsible for dangerous roadways related to construction detours or unsafe highway design.
Helping Prove Negligence Against Trucking Companies For Over 20 Years
Typically, it is an occupant of a smaller vehicle who suffers serious or catastrophic injuries in a crash involving an 18-wheeler (also called big rig or tractor-trailer). Determining the cause of a truck accident can be critical for the long-term prospects of an injury victim. Some accidents can be traced to a traffic violation by the driver of the other vehicle. Weather, traffic congestion, defective roadways and mechanical failure can all trigger truck accidents.
A detailed investigation can help uncover the true cause of a truck accident. Very often, the cause turns out to be an error or errors on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company. Examples of trucking company negligence include:
- Training deficiencies
- Failure to properly screen drivers
- Failure to enforce driving regulations
Was The Truck Driver Guilty Of A Log Book Violation?
A truck driver’s log book is supposed to tell the story of trucking practices: how often the truck was inspected, how many hours the truck driver rested and so on. It is up to a trucking company to ensure that log books are properly kept. A trucking company should also preserve truck driver log books for the proper amount of time.
If our attorneys represent you after a serious truck accident, you can be sure that we will examine training records and the driver’s log book. We will also look at other evidence related to the trucker’s activities and the trucking company’s compliance or violations of trucking regulations.
Gas and oil production and other industrial enterprises are multiplying quickly in the region of Louisiana that includes Lake Charles. With the economic boom comes increased commercial vehicle traffic. Our law firm is here to advocate for people injured in truck accidents. If your truck accident was caused by a trucking company’s negligence, we are prepared to use that information to build a strong case for your compensation.
Our Community-Oriented Firm Investigates Cases Thoroughly
The Townsley Law Firm is a well-established personal injury law firm serving communities in the area of Lake Charles. The lawyers at our firm will look into the log book and other key factors if we represent you.
After a truck accident resulting in injury, it is important not to face the insurance companies alone.
Trucking Companies Are Liable For Maintaining Vehicles For Safety
Trucking companies have a responsibility to ensure all trucks, rigs and semis on the road are properly maintained and prepared for each trip they set out on. The trucking industry has strict regulations governing how trucks are to be inspected and maintained on a routine basis.
When a trucking company fails to comply with these standards or allows a semi out on the road in disrepair, other drivers may be left to pay the consequences. A single flaw in the truck can lead to a devastating — or even deadly — accident.
At The Townsley Law Firm, our attorneys fight for victims and their families following trucking accidents, particularly if the accident was caused by an improperly maintained truck. We are zealous in pursuing the trucking companies for maximum damages when their errors cause traumatic accidents.
We will thoroughly investigate how the truck was maintained, including looking at logs and evaluating what was done and what should have been done to keep the truck in repair. Our team of lawyers works with professionals and experts to evaluate the scene and determine how disrepair contributed to the accident.
Holding Companies Accountable For Causing Injuries
The trucking companies are skilled at avoiding lawsuits and minimizing the role they play in these accidents. We have the skilled and experienced legal team needed to hold them accountable for the pain and suffering they have caused, providing closure for victims and their families. Our liability attorneys assist people who’ve been injured due to trucks not being properly maintained.
We’re Familiar With Louisiana Freeways
Lake Charles lies along a vital commerce corridor that connects southern states along the Gulf Coast, regularly traveled by 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles. The highway system includes Interstate 10, which passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Sulphur, Vinton and Orange to the west, and Iowa, Jennings and Crowley to the east. Interstate 210 loops through the southern half of Lake Charles. U.S. Highway 90 runs roughly parallel with I-10, and U.S. Highway 171 connects the city with DeRidder to the north.
Our attorneys are natives of southwest Louisiana who are familiar with the freeways, highways and feeder roads in Calcasieu Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish and beyond. We care about the communities we serve, and our local knowledge is an important advantage when we take on out-of-state trucking companies and insurance companies.
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers In Lake Charles
For a free consultation with a Lake Charles 18-wheeler accident attorney, call The Townsley Law Firm at 337-377-0584 or email our firm.