Danny Russell Named a TOP 10 BEST Personal Injury Attorney for Louisiana by American Institute Of Legal Counsel
The American Institute of Legal Counsel has named Danny Russell a Top 10 Best Personal Injury Attorney for Louisiana. American Institute is an impartial third-party attorney rating organization that compiles an exclusive list of the “10 Best” attorneys they find for each state. To make the “10 Best” list, each Attorney must have:
(1) Been formally nominated by the Institute, client, and/or fellow Attorney;
(2) Attained the highest degree of professional achievement in his or her field of law; and
(3) Done so with an impeccable Client Satisfaction rating.
“Our primary focus at the Russell Law Firm has always been to protect our clients’ legal interests by providing fierce but personal legal representation, tailored to the individual needs and circumstances of each client,” says Russell Law Firm owner, Danny Russell. “It feels good to be acknowledged for the hard work we put into each case.”
Russell Law Firm offers a variety of legal services for individuals throughout the State of Louisiana, in the areas of:
- DWI/DUI Defense;
- Personal Injury Litigation;
- Car Accidents;
- 18-Wheeler and Big Trucking Accidents;
- Wrongful Death & Survival Actions;
- Wills/Testament Drafting & Execution;
- Expungments;
- Family Law (divorce, child/spousal support, child custody, etc.);
- Business Formation; and
- Oil & Gas Law.
Danny Russell, admitted to practice in:
- All Louisiana District Courts
- All Louisiana Appellate Courts
- Louisiana Supreme Court
- U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana
- U.S. Western District Court of Louisiana
- U.S. Eastern District Court of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
BY PRODUCING, MAKING, PUBLISHING, AND DISSEMINATING THIS POST, NEITHER DANNY RUSSELL, RUSSELL LAW FIRM, NOR ANY OF ITS LAWYERS OR STAFF ARE REPRESENTING OR IMPLYING IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER, THAT RUSSELL LAW FIRM PROMISES OR CAN OBTAIN ANY TYPE OF RESULTS FOR ANYONE; OR THAT RUSSELL LAW FIRM, DANNY RUSSELL, OR ANY OF ITS LAWYER’S SERVICES ARE BEING COMPARED WITH THE LEGAL SERVICES OF OTHER LAWYERS. THIS POST IS ONLY MEANT TO SHARE WHAT THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF LEGAL COUNSEL, AN INDEPENDENT, THIRD-PARTY RANKING COMPANY, HAS RECOGNIZED THE RUSSELL LAW FIRM FOR AS THE RUSSELL LAW FIRM IS HONORED TO ACKNOWLEDGED FOR ITS TRUSTWORTHINESS AND CLIENT SATISFACTION .
5 Ways to Avoid 18-Wheeler Blind Spot Accidents
Blind spots are areas around a vehicle that a driver is unable to see by looking at the rear view or side mirrors. Because of the massive size of 18-wheelers and other big commercial trucks, they have many blind spots. For instance, 18-wheelers have a blind spot at the front-end of the truck, on both sides; just below and behind the driver-side window; and directly behind the truck. Additionally, most motorist are unaware that 18-wheelers have blind spots throughout the entire right side of the truck, from the cab to the end of the trailer. That is why it is critically important to avoid passing an 18-wheeler on the right side, even during slow traffic.
When changing lanes in either direction, truck drivers are required to “head check.” That involves taking their eyes off of the road for a second or two, to check if another vehicle is obstructing his or her turn. As our country’s highway systems expand, more lanes are added, making them more and more dangerous to motorists while changing lanes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 840,000 blind spot accidents occur each year. It is important to know how to reduce the chances of being involved in a blind spot accident.
Here are 5 Ways to Avoid Blind Spots of 18-Wheelers:
- Stay Away from Blind Spots: Beginning with the most obvious, stay away from the truck’s blind spots: front-end of the truck on either side; just below or behind the driver-side window; and its entire right side.
- Do NOT Tailgate: 18-wheelers have blind spots directly behind them and tend to have bumpers that ride high off the ground, which could collide with your windshield if you rear end them. Generally speaking, you should allow a 4-second following distance while traveling behind an 8-wheeler (approx. 20 car lengths).
- Drive Slow: Large semi-trucks can not respond very quickly when it drives upon an obstacle, so the more time that you give them to react by not speeding, the safer it is for you.
- Mirror Image: Always look for the driver’s face in the mirror before attempting to pass; and
- Stay Alert to the Truck’s Signals: Trucks make wide turns at intersections (especially right turns) and require additional lanes to maneuver, so you need to be alert of its turn signals so that you don’t get trapped in its path.
Truck Accident Attorneys On Your Side
At the Russell Law Firm, our legal team works relentlessly to obtain justice for victims of vehicle wrecks caused by negligent tractor-trailer drivers. Our talented Baton Rouge, Louisiana truck accident attorneys serve clients throughout Louisiana.
Explore your options for legal recourse by contacting the Russell Law Firm for a complimentary, no-obligation, private consultation. After discussing the circumstances of your blind spot truck accident, Russell Law Firm attorneys can determine if you have a viable claim and pursue damages for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, property repairs, and other losses. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we will not charge any legal fees unless a settlement or positive verdict is procured on your behalf. Make the RIGHT CALL, RIGHT NOW! Call the Russell Law Firm at (225) 307-0088.
By: Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area personal injury attorney, licensed in Louisiana and admitted in the following courts:
– All Louisiana District Courts
– All Louisiana Appellate Courts
– Louisiana Supreme Court
– U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana
– U.S. Western District Court of Louisiana
– U.S. Eastern District Court of Louisiana
– U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
**Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice. The photographs are not depictions of any actual even or scenes, but merely dramatizations.
5 Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents
Commercial trucking accidents are responsible for thousands of injuries and deaths every year in the United States. With so much commercial trucking traffic moving through Louisiana on a daily basis, the potential for 18-wheeler accidents is high. Some of the 5 common causes of 18-wheeler accidents include:
1) Driver Fatigue – Unrealistic schedules and expectations of trucking companies encourage drivers to speed to their destinations without breaking or resting, causing physical or mental exhaustion and stress on the driver. Fatigue combined with speeding, poor weather conditions, and other factors, can increase the risk of a crash.
2) Overweight or Unbalanced Truck Loads – “Overweight” truck loads can cause a tire blowout, rollovers from an increase center of gravity, and an increase in speed, making it difficult to slow down and/or stop the truck. That often occurs when the truck is traveling downhill. “Unbalanced” truck loads cause the weight of the truck to shift to the rear, making it difficult for the truck driver to control the vehicle’s movement and speed.
3) Cellphones & Text Messaging – Talking or texting on cellphones can cause the truck driver to take his/her eyes off the road and become distracted from the road conditions.
4) Inadequate Training – In most situations, driver trainees have approximately 5 days in the classroom to soak-in information for the first time, about safety, mechanical procedures, and logging requirements. Thereafter, the truck driver spends just a few hours learning about inspections and test driving, before taking the truck weighing nearly 80,000 pounds, through highly trafficked areas, moving at high rates of speed. Lack of adequate training on how to handle such a vehicle and how to react to the various roadway conditions often presented, are ingredients for destruction and devastation.
5) Truck Driver Drug & Alcohol Use – Recent data collected by the Federal Motor Safety Administration of crashes between passenger vehicles and large trucks within 17 states, revealed that 3,757 deaths occurred, and 88,000 injuries were sustained by individuals involved. The data also revealed that alcohol and illegal drug use by truck drivers while behind the wheel was prevalent and a significant cause of many of those accidents.
Regardless of why trucking accidents occur, they can cause horrible injuries and even death. Because truck accident injuries are so often catastrophic and disabling, the cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation, equipment and possibly lifetime care can be extremely high. If poor maintenance or defective equipment played a role in causing an accident that results in serious injury or the wrongful death of your loved one, you may have more options and sources for financial recovery. Compensation from the trucking company and its insurer, or other responsible parties, can go a long way toward making life easier for your family and your injured family member after a serious truck crash.
The Russell Law Firm represents injured victims of 18-wheeler, trucking, and car wrecks throughout the State of Louisiana. Our firm is experienced and highly skilled in handling injury and wrongful death claims arising from 18-wheeler, trucking, and car wrecks. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries from an 18-wheeler, trucking, or car wreck, make the Right Call, Right Now and contact the Russell Law Firm, at 225-307-0088. We’ll take a fierce but personal approach towards getting you the compensation you deserve.
**Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice.
By: Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area personal injury attorney, licensed in Louisiana and admitted in the following courts:
– All Louisiana District Courts
– All Louisiana Appellate Courts
– Louisiana Supreme Court
– U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana
– U.S. Western District Court of Louisiana
– U.S. Eastern District Court of Louisiana
– U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
****THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE IS NOT A DEPICTION OF ANY ACTUAL EVENT OR SCENE, BUT MERELY A DRAMATIZATION.
18-Wheeler Accident: Lawsuit Deadline
Someone who sustains bodily injuries and/or property damages (“damages”) resulting from an 18-wheeler accident in Louisiana, has one (1) year from the date the “injury or damage was sustained,” to file a lawsuit against the the driver of the 18-wheeler, the owner of the 18-wheeler, the insurance company insuring the 18-wheeler, and any other parties responsible for compensating you for the damages you’ve sustained. The date the “injuries or damages were sustained,” is usually the date that the accident occurred.
Given that you have only one (1) year, it is important to make early contact with a personal injury law firm experienced in handling 18-wheeler accidents in Louisiana if you’ve suffered damages from an 18-wheeler accident. Before filing a lawsuit, it is crucial to collect all necessary evidence from the scene of the accident, the 18-wheeler, and others, which can take months. If some of that evidence is lost or destroyed, it could severely impact the outcome of your case.
The Russell Law Firm represents clients injured in 18-wheeler accidents throughout the State of Louisiana, including the parishes of East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, Plaquemines Parish, Livingston Parish, Ascension Parish, Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, St. Charles Parish, Terrebonne Parish, Assumption Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Lafayette Parish, St. Landry Parish, Evangeline Parish; and the cities of Baton Rouge, Livingston, Denham Springs, Walker, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Port Allen, Brusly, Addis, Lafayette, Napoleonville, Kenner, Harvey, Marrero, Estelle, Gretna, Metairie, New Orleans, Terrytown, Westwego, Ville Platte, Eunice, Opelousas, Thibodaux, Houma, Belle Chasse, and Hahnville.
Our firm is experienced and highly skilled in 18-wheeler accident cases. If you have sustained damages from an 18-wheeler accident, contact the Russell Law Firm today at 225-307-0088. We will take a hands on and aggressive approach towards getting you compensated for your losses.
Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice
****The photograph above is not a depiction of any actual event or scene, but merely a dramatization.
By: Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area personal injury attorney, licensed in Louisiana.
What to Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident
18 wheelers on our highways are becoming more and more prevalent today. According the most recent data released from the U.S. Department of Transportation, since 2013, the number of big rigs being registered for our roadways have increased at a rate hovering around 300,000 trucks per year. According to most estimates, there are 15.5 million large trucks operating in the U.S. today, traveling at least 11.2 million miles per year.
No one really wants to think about the possibility of being involved in an 18-wheeler accident. The thought of the devastating consequences of an 18 wheeler losing control and hitting another vehicle is enough to drive most drivers off the road altogether. But we continue to share roads with these massive vehicles and accidents do happen (415,000 crashes per most recent figures – 2015).
Although none of us want to be included in the next round of 18-wheeler accident statistics, if it does happen, it is important to be aware of the steps that should be immediately taken to protect your rights. Those steps include:
- Remaining at the Scene: You should remain at the scene until it is appropriate to do so. If you leave, you may face criminal charges for “hit-and-run” or other penalties, especially if someone sustained injuries or was killed.
- Checking Everyone Involved: Make sure everyone involved in the accident is okay. If you or someone else has been injured, call 911 or a local emergency medical service (EMS). If someone is unconscious or is in pain, do not move them unless an imminent emergency or hazard requires doing so.
- Speaking to Witnesses: Ask all witnesses what he/she saw, then get their names and contact information. Be cordial when speaking to them.
- Calling the Police: Call the local or state police if physical or property damage has been sustained. Upon arrival, obtain the name and badge number of the responding officer. Also, request an incident number and ask that a police report be filed.
- Obtaining Truck Driver’s Information: Get the name, address, phone number, AND if you gather nothing else, make absolutely sure you get the truck driver’s commercial driver’s license number.
- Obtaining Truck’s USDOT Number: It is very important to get the 18-wheeler’s USDOT Number, which is a number that Identifies that particular truck, which will allow you to track down the owner of the 18-wheeler; find out what insurance company provides insurance coverage for the 18-wheeler; and other critical information that may not be available to you at the scene of the accident. Commercial vehicles are required to display its USDOT Number, which is usually located at the rear or side of the truck.
- Gathering Other Truck Information: write down the truck’s license plate number; any company names displayed on the truck; any identifying information about the tractor and trailer of the entire big rig, such as the color, make, and model of both the tractor and trailer that is attached and being pulled by the tractor.
- Taking Photographs: take photographs of all skid marks on the road and grass; damage to your vehicle and the 18-wheeler; the entire sides of the 18-wheeler (e.g. front, back, & sides); any evidence lying on the ground/road, such as parts blown off of either vehicle during impact; the nearest speed limit sign; and if near a construction zone, take picture of the entire construction zone.
- Consult an Attorney: Once you have been allowed to leave the scene and/or have sought medical attention, it is best to consult with an experience attorney. The attorney will inform you of your rights and will relieve you of dealing with the 18 wheeler company and their insurance companies. The attorney will also help you maximize your recovery if you have suffered damages.
Taking these steps are important to protecting your rights. After an 18-wheeler accident, critical evidence is quickly lost by highway workers clearing the scene and the 18-wheeler company. If you gather the evidence listed above and immediately contact a truck accident attorney, he/she will be able to use the evidence you gathered and immediately send a letter to the appropriate individuals demanding that they preserve and make available all evidence related to the accident. He can also use the evidence to evaluate certain aspects of your claim like fault and damages.
****The photograph above is not a depiction of any actual event or scene, but merely a dramatization.
(225) 307-0088