Common Causes of Louisiana 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents and How They Impact Your Claim and Settlement

If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler truck accident here in Shreveport or in other parts of Louisiana, you have a right to file an insurance claim and seek a settlement. If a loved one has been killed in such an accident, you have the same right on your own behalf and on behalf of your deceased loved one -- the right to seek compensation for wrongful death and to seek recovery on the basis of a survival action.

Hiring a trusted and experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyer will help maximize your chances of obtaining a FULL and COMPLETE recovery.  The Law Offices of Philip B. Adams offers free, no-obligation consultations.

Insurance companies and trucking companies fight hard to pay as little as they can to victims. Competent Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accident attorneys have the resources and legal skills to fight back and win. 

Suppose an insurance settlement cannot be reached. In that case, the next step may be seeking justice for the victims through the filing of personal injury litigation in Louisiana State and Federal courts. Victims can recover compensation even if the 18-wheeler truck is from out-of-state.

One of the most important tasks of a Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accident law firm is to investigate the various possible causes of the accident. This is a crucial task because the possible causes of the accident will uncover the possible defendants in the case. In Louisiana litigation and insurance settlement, the "defendants" are the potential "at fault" parties who are legally liable to pay money damages as compensation to the victims and their families. Moreover, each defendant will likely have an insurance policy that can be triggered to ensure sufficient coverage to pay the full and complete compensation to the victims.

For example, many common causes of Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accidents involve the driver. This is why truck drivers are almost always defendants in cases like this. Driver-related causes include factual matters like distracted driving, violation of traffic and driving laws, reckless endangerment (by excessive speeding, as an example), driver fatigue, driving under the influence of various substances, etc. Further, since most Louisiana 18-wheeler truck drivers are employed by their trucking company, those trucking companies can become defendants through various legal doctrines.

As another example, many Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accidents are caused -- in full or in part -- by mechanical defects or failure with respect to the truck. This might involve defects in the engine, in electronic control mechanisms, the tires, brakes, couplings, etc. Where mechanical failure is a possible cause of the injuries to victims (or death), then the truck manufacturer or designer is a potential defendant in the case.

As yet another example, negligent repair and maintenance can be the cause of Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accidents. Under these types of facts, the various repair companies involved in the truck's maintenance history are possible defendants in the case.

As a final example, cargo loading errors are common causes of Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accidents. Examples include excessive weight, improper weight distribution, tie-down failures, and more. But, many times, the cargo loading is done by a third party. That is, the "trailer" part of the 18-wheeler tractor-trailer is loaded by someone other than the driver or the driver's trucking company. Where improper cargo loading is a factor in the injuries or fatality caused by the accident,  those third-party cargo loaders are possible defendants in the case.

Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today

For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. If you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To contact us, complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may benefit significantly from having an attorney with legal competence and experience assisting you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading this blog post and visiting our website.