Lake Charles truck accident lawyers

Were you or a loved one injured in a truck accident? If so, you know firsthand the devastating consequences that can follow a collision involving a commercial truck.

With the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer, victims can seek justice and rightful compensation. Our skilled attorneys are committed to holding truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for negligent acts that cause accidents and injuries.

Steps to take after being hurt in a truck crash

Following these steps will protect your health and will help your Lake Charles truck accident lawyer build a strong case so you can obtain the compensation you deserve.

1. Call 911 – ask for police and an ambulance

Conduct a quick evaluation to determine if you or your passengers have any apparent or serious injuries, then call 911 immediately. Inform the dispatcher of all necessary information. The dispatcher will send emergency medical personnel and the police.

2. Move to a safe location

Your safety and the safety of your passengers is the priority. If you are able, put on your hazards, exit your vehicle, and find a safe place to wait for emergency personnel, preferably by the side of the road away from oncoming traffic.

If you have been directed to move your vehicle by emergency personnel, do not do so until you’ve taken plenty of photographs of the damage to your vehicle as well as the general accident scene.

3. Tell your side of the story to the responding police officer

Some people involved in an accident might assume they did something wrong. They’ll tell the officer they were probably responsible in some way, which can severely damage their case in the process.

Please don’t make this mistake. Be honest in giving your account of what happened, but don’t admit even the slightest amount of fault. The officer will write down everything you and the other driver(s) say, and the officer’s report will be a key piece of evidence in your case.

4. Gather evidence at the scene

Any evidence you can collect at the accident scene could be critical to your case. However, you should only try to gather that evidence if it’s 100% safe to do so.

Use your smartphone to take pictures of all involved vehicles and their positions on the roadway. You should also take photos of the surrounding scene, such as any road signs or guardrails that were damaged.

5. Visit Urgent Care or your primary care physician

If you don’t go to the hospital, at least visit your nearest urgent care clinic or family doctor soon after the accident. The longer you go without that treatment, the more likely the chances you’ll experience potentially serious complications.

It’s also important to understand that there are many types of injuries that aren’t apparent right away and don’t begin showing symptoms for hours or even days.

6. Notify your insurance company

You’ll need to report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you can because they can help provide assistance for repairing your car or medical damages while your case against the at-fault parties is pending. If you delay notifying them, they could use that delay to justify not approving your claim.

7. Consult with a Lake Charles truck accident attorney

Once you’re in a safe place and have been medically evaluated, your next step should be to hire a skilled and relentless attorney with The Johnson Firm.

We’ll immediately investigate the accident to determine what happened and who’s responsible. The sooner that investigation begins, the better the chances we’ll find the proof we need to make your case its strongest.

Make sure you meet the deadline to file a claim

The statute of limitations is a state-mandated deadline for victims of negligence to take legal action. In Louisiana, that deadline is one year from the date of the accident. If you don’t meet that deadline, you won’t be able to file a lawsuit, and you’ll be on your own when it comes to paying for your accident-related expenses.

Recoverable damages in a successful truck accident claim

“Damages” are the physical, emotional, and financial losses that you experienced as a direct result of the truck accident. These bills can add up quickly, but with the help of a highly experienced truck accident lawyer, you can recover damages for economic and non-economic damages like:

• Emergency transportation
• Hospital bills
• Prescription medications
• Rehabilitative care and physical therapy

• Missed work time due to injuries or medical treatment
• Loss of future earning capacity

• Vehicle damage
• Damage to personal property in the vehicle (jewelry, electronics, etc.)
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

We fight trucking insurance companies to get you maximum compensation

Many of the parties potentially to blame for the accident have insurance policies with high bodily injury limits. The stakes are going to be very high, so you can expect the insurance companies to aggressively protect those policies.

That’s why you need our team of skilled personal injury lawyers in Lake Charles by your side. Big insurance companies don’t intimidate us – we defeat them on a regular basis. We’ll use the evidence we gather to prove you deserve every dollar we’ll seek on your behalf.

Parties who may be liable for the crash

Both the truck driver and the trucking company can be held liable for negligence that leads to accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

In addition to the trucker and the trucking company, another party could be liable for a truck accident, including:

• Truck parts manufacturer
• Cargo company
• Maintenance company that inspected the truck

Ensuring that you sue all liable parties will ensure that you receive maximum compensation.

How your truck accident lawyer will prove liability

Our team of Lake Charles truck accident lawyers will conduct a full investigation of your accident and identify the factors that led to it in order to prove liability. As part of the investigation, our team will:

• Collect and analyze all pieces of evidence
• Examine the accident scene
• Seek medical expert consultations for your injuries and damages
• Work with accident reconstruction specialists
• Consult with leading trucking industry experts

Length of time you can expect your claim to settle

There’s really no way of knowing how long your case will take to settle. It could be a few weeks, months, or years. Sometimes the insurer might cause delays hoping that you’ll agree to a settlement that’s lower than what you’re entitled to, but sometimes it simply takes time.

Semi-truck “black boxes”: What they are and how they may be used in your case

Black boxes, also known as Electronic Control Modules, collect and store insightful information about a truck’s status. These boxes can determine liability (who is responsible for the crash), which can help prove your right to compensation.

Although black boxes can be extremely helpful in matters regarding your claim, they’re the trucking company’s property and it is common for them to be reluctant to provide you with the data unless a court order requires them to do so. Our determined truck accident attorneys will work to get a court order to gain access to the data from the trucking company to help support your case.

Common truck accident injuries

The injuries associated with a truck accident can be devastating and can result in a lifetime of disability. The following are just a few examples:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Internal injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Severe concussions
• Lacerations
• And many others

How to deal with insurance after a crash

The at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster is going to ask you a lot of misleading questions designed to make it look like you caused the wreck. If you answer those questions, the adjuster will record them and likely use them against you.

The best rule of thumb to follow is to simply avoid any contact with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Instead, refer them to your Lake Charles truck accident lawyers who know how to handle adjusters and other insurance company representatives.

Cost of hiring a truck accident lawyer

When you choose personal injury lawyers with The Johnson Firm, you won’t have to worry about spending one dime out of pocket. In fact, we won’t receive anything unless we win your case. Even then, you still won’t pay us out of pocket. Instead, we’ll receive a percentage of your settlement or your jury award.

Why you should visit a doctor as soon as possible

You might be injured worse than you think, and getting treatment could significantly reduce the time it will take you to recover.

Seeing a doctor can also establish proof of your injury, which is going to be essential to your ability to obtain money for your medical bills. Insurance companies will do whatever they can to deny you compensation.

Let us help navigate your truck accident claim

A serious truck accident can derail your life and leave you with injuries, neverending medical bills, loss of income, and emotional distress. Let our skilled Lake Charles truck accident lawyers focus on the complexities of the case to get you the compensation you deserve. Speak with The Johnson Firm today – call (337) 433-1414 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.