New Orleans Truck Accident Attorneys

Find Support From Our Truck Accident Lawyers Near Kenner

New Orleans is a city full of life—amazing food, vibrant festivals, and traffic jams that test even the most patient drivers. Every day, I-10, Causeway, I-610, and US-90 are packed with cars, delivery trucks, and big rigs, creating the perfect storm for accidents. When a truck collision happens, the damage can be life-changing—serious injuries, wrecked property, and heartbreak for families.

If you’ve been caught in the chaos of a truck accident near Metairie and Kenner, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. The New Orleans truck accident lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are here to fight for you, making sure you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of New Orleans Big Truck Accidents

Truck accidents aren’t like your average fender bender—their sheer size means when something goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Blind spots: With massive blind zones, it’s all too easy for smaller vehicles to vanish from a truck driver’s view—and into danger.
• Shifting cargo: Poorly loaded cargo can slide, tumble, or fall off, turning into flying hazards that wreak havoc on the road.
• Driver fatigue: Long hauls and tight deadlines often push drivers to the edge, even with required rest breaks.
• Overloaded trailers: Too much weight can cause trucks to jackknife, tip, or lose control altogether.
• Speeding: A speeding truck is a 20-ton battering ram—it takes longer to stop and leaves destruction in its wake.
• Tire blowouts: All that weight means extra wear on tires, and when they blow, debris can scatter and spark major accidents.

On the busy roads of New Orleans, these risks are ever-present, making truck safety a concern for everyone.

Types of 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Injuries in New Orleans

When a fully-loaded 18-wheeler—up to 30 times heavier than a car—collides with smaller vehicles, the results are often devastating. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety reports that 66% of deaths in truck crashes involve occupants of the smaller vehicle. Survivors face a range of serious injuries, such as:

• Head injuries: From concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), these can leave victims with memory loss, permanent disabilities, or a lifetime of challenges.
• Spinal cord injuries: Truck accidents can lead to paralysis, forcing victims to adapt to wheelchairs, lengthy therapies, and emotional hurdles like anxiety or depression.
• Fractures: Broken bones are not only painful but can bring complications like infections or significant blood loss.
• Other injuries: Amputations, organ damage from crushing impacts, and lingering neck and back injuries (like whiplash) are all too common. In the worst cases, lives are tragically lost, leaving families shattered.

Truck accidents don’t just impact the moment—they can change lives forever.

What Do I Do After Being in a New Orleans Truck Wreck?

Immediately after a collision with an 18-wheeler, victims are usually dazed, in pain, and unsure of their next steps. If this happens to you, try to remember the following steps to keep yourself and your passengers safe, and to prepare as well as you can for what lies ahead:

• Get to safety as well as you can. Pull over to the side of the road, away from the flow of traffic. Check your passengers and yourself for injuries.
  
• Call 911 immediately. Police and an ambulance should be dispatched to the scene. While first responders treat your injuries and stabilize your condition, the police officer on the scene will take notes, talk to witnesses, and record your statement for their official report. Make sure to ask for a copy of the police report.
  
• Call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free legal consultation to explore your options. A dedicated, caring lawyer will listen to what happened and provide advice as to the next steps.

How Long Do I Have To Pursue a Truck Accident Claim?

After a New Orleans truck accident, act quickly. Gather evidence while it’s fresh—your lawyer can help secure crucial materials like truck data recorders, dashcam footage, and driver logs to prove negligence and build your case.

Statute of Limitation Changes in Louisiana

Louisiana recently extended the statute of limitations for personal injury claims:

• 1 year for injuries before July 1, 2024
• 2 years for injuries after July 1, 2024

This legal deadline, called the “prescriptive period,” determines how long you have to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Act within this timeframe to protect your rights.

Who Is Responsible For My New Orleans Truck Accident?

Truck accidents in New Orleans can be tricky. Louisiana has a fault-based system, so figuring out who’s responsible for the damages depends on proving who caused the accident. It might seem simple – the driver who caused it is on the hook, right? Well, not always.

Here’s the twist: even if a truck driver is at fault, the trucking company they work for might be legally responsible. This means you might need to file your claim with the company’s insurance instead of just the driver’s. Because of this added layer, understanding fault and liability is crucial in truck accident cases.

Possible Compensation in a New Orleans Truck Accident

Most victims of truck wrecks win compensation ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on their injuries, the nature of the accident, and what role they and the truck driver played. Talk to an experienced Louisiana truck accident attorney to calculate the total costs of your damages, which can include:

• The cost of hospital visits, surgeries, and ongoing treatment
• The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle
• Current and future lost wages if your injuries have left you unable to work
• Your attorney’s fees

In addition to these economic damages, some non-economic damages—those which aren’t as easily accounted for—can also be compensated for. These include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish
• and others

Whatever you’re going through, know that you don’t have to handle your case alone. The team of New Orleans personal injury attorneys at Gordon McKernan are trained professionals with strong experience in New Orleans & Louisiana law, and we work closely with courts to ensure high compensation for our clients.

How Can a New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney Help Me

After a New Orleans truck accident, things can get complicated fast.
A lawyer specializing in these cases can be your champion. They know the ins and outs of Louisiana law and truck accidents like the back of their hand. Here’s how they can help:

• Digging deep: They’ll investigate your accident thoroughly, gathering all the evidence they can.
• Building a strong case: With the evidence they find, they’ll aim to prove who’s at fault for the accident.
• Dealing with insurance: Don’t get tricked: let our experienced truck accidednt lawyers in New Orleans handle negotiations with insurance companies, making sure you get what you deserve for your injuries, damages, and lost time.
• Fighting for you: Whether it’s a settlement or a court case, your lawyer will be your voice, fighting for the best possible outcome.

Consult With A Truck Accident Lawyer Near Metairie Today

With 679+ years of combined legal experience & over $3 Billion secured for personal injury victims, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is dedicated to serving our Louisiana communities in their pursuit of justice & compensation.

Whether you were hit by an 18-wheeler, injured in a delivery truck wreck, impacted by a construction truck, or something else, we have your back.
Contact our truck accident attorneys in New Orleans today for a free consultation. We won’t charge you a dime until we win or settle your case, that’s the G Guarantee. Get Gordon and Get It Done!