Need a lawyer for a truck accident? Russell Law Firm is here to help.

You pay nothing unless we win!

Selecting a lawyer for a truck accident injury claim is no small matter. Injuries from truck accidents are often shocking and sometimes lethal. The damage that can result from a collision with a vehicle that may weigh as much as forty tons can be horrifying and often comes with enormous property damage and medical costs.

If you or someone close to you was harmed in a collision that was caused by another party’s negligence, our knowledgeable and experienced big rig accident attorneys in Baton Rouge at the Russell Law Firm can help you obtain the compensation you need and deserve.

Call the firm today for reliable representation: (225) 307-0088!

Legal Expertise for Truck Accidents

An important part of being an outstanding truck accident lawyer is understanding the intricacies and fine points of trucking companies and their insurers. These firms typically carry as much as $1 million in liability insurance for their drivers.

However, the insurance companies and their well-paid attorneys want to withhold as much compensation as they can under the law; it’s their job to save their employers’ as much money as possible. That’s why you need a Baton Rouge Truck accident lawyer who will stand up to the big companies and even the score on your behalf.

Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

The trucking industry is highly regulated by the federal government because of the danger that it poses to other cars on the road. Everything from the maximum driving time to the weight and size of a truck is regulated. Parties who fail to abide by these rules can be held liable for any injuries caused.

“When should I call a lawyer after a truck accident?”

It’s imperative that you reach out to a Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer as soon as you can in the wake of being injured in an accident. Legally speaking, you have only 1 year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the truck driver, truck owner, the insurer of the truck, or anyone held who could be help liable for the harm done to you.

After a year goes by, you will be unable to pursue a claim. The legal team representing the party who caused the accident will try their best to delay your claim, making it extremely important that you call our firm after an accident so we can begin the legal process of working to recover compensation right away.

“What do I do after a truck accident?”

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Speaking to Witnesses: Ask all witnesses what he/she saw, then get their names and contact information. Be cordial when speaking to them.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.

Why Truck Accidents Happen

The Federal Government regulates the trucking industry to limit the hazard commercial trucks present to other vehicles. Vehicle maintenance, the size, and weight of a truck, as well as the weight of cargo, are monitored. So is the time a driver spends behind the wheel.

However, these regulations are not always followed. When this happens, these companies may be held at fault for injuries or damages resulting from their negligence. An aggressive 18 wheeler accident lawyer will fight to use every available avenue to determine the full liability that should be placed on the company- not the victim(s).

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

  • Driver fatigue – Drivers often spend hours upon hours on the road, and they may try to get around regulations on how long they can drive without breaks or times for sleep. When this happens, tired drivers, who are often facing strict deadlines, may lose focus, use poor judgment, or fall asleep behind the wheel.
  • Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol – Truck drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are just as likely to cause an accident as regular motorists, but their vehicles pose far more of a threat.
  • Overweight cargo or freight – Occasionally, trucks are loaded with too much weight in cargo. This can make the vehicle handle in an unsafe manner. Excess weight is especially dangerous during adverse road conditions.
  • Brake failure – Because big rigs and other commercial trucks are so heavy, a lot of stress is placed on their brakes. Without proper maintenance, this can lead to a brake failure resulting in a potentially deadly collision.
  • Tire failure or separation – Just as a truck’s brakes undergo plenty of stress, other parts of a big rig can be more prone to failure than in other vehicles. Tire failures or separations tend to be among the most common of these failures and pose a very significant threat.
  • Speeding or reckless driving – Speeding or driving recklessly in a big rig can, very obviously, be especially dangerous because of the physical forces at work.

Contingency Fee

While most people realize the value of a good attorney, the Russell Law Firm is well aware that the cost of putting a lawyer on retainer is beyond the means of many – and that’s even truer following a severe accident. We work on a contingency fee basis.

Simply put, that means we earn no money from our work until our clients are paid; either through judgment from the court or through a successful settlement. There is no need to put up any money before we begin your case and all initial consultations with prospective clients are free.

Outstanding Legal Representation with a Personal Touch

Our roots as a law firm go back to the experience of Danny Russell who, as a college-aged accident victim, received an amount he would later learn was a small fraction of the amount of money he was actually entitled to. Our job is to make sure people who suffer as a result of negligence get the financial compensation they need to get their lives back on track after an injury or the loss of a loved one.

The Russell Law Firm encourages victims of trucking accidents to visit us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll explore your case to see what the possibilities are in your situation and go from there. To get started, contact us today at 225-307-0088 or through our contact page.