Semi Truck Accident Lawyer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

From the I-10 and I-12 corridors that see thousands of cars a week, to the state and local thoroughfares Airline Highway and Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge sees some of the most traffic per year of any city its size. Even though cars and big rigs are safer now than they’ve ever been, massive 18-wheeler tractor trailers are still a danger to other drivers. If you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you could be caught up in a big truck accident in Baton Rouge.

If you are the victim of a truck accident, you need a lawyer on your side with the experience, drive, and passion to fight on your behalf. Trucking companies and their insurance companies know that fairly compensating truck crash victims hurts their bottom line—so they work hard to keep you from the compensation you deserve.

If you’ve been in a Baton Rouge semi truck accident and you’re not at fault, call the truck lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys to represent you when negotiating compensation or appearing in court.

Common Causes of Big Truck Accidents

As is the case with most motor vehicle accidents, there can be a wide variety of causes behind semi truck crashes. Alongside common causes such as driving under the influence or distracted driving, big rig crashes can be caused by a variety of unique circumstances including:

• Blind spots that prevent the truck driver from seeing another vehicle
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Driver fatigue from driving long hours
• An overweight trailer
• Speeding
• Tire blowouts
• Maintenance issues such as a brake failure or poorly maintained tires
• And more

Types of Baton Rouge 18 Wheeler Truck Accident Injuries

18-wheelers can weigh up to 20–30 times more than passenger cars, a fact that makes truck collisions truly dangerous. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that of the 4,136 people who died in large truck accidents in 2018, fully two-thirds of them were occupants in passenger cars and smaller vehicles. The injuries people suffer from a big rig collision are varied and generally serious:

Head Injuries

Head injuries such as concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and others often occur in traffic accidents when victims’ heads strike hard surfaces inside the car on impact. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), TBIs are a major cause of disease and disability. Even when a victim does survive, they may experience memory loss, comas, or other permanent disabilities.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Many truck accidents deal direct damage to the spinal cord, causing temporary or permanent paralysis. Paralyzed victims often require wheelchairs or other assistive devices and are left unable to work, for years or even the rest of their lives. Many victims require long and expensive bouts of physical therapy just to get some of their previous ability back.

Paralysis can also weigh heavily on victims’ psyches, causing depression, irritability, anxiety, and other mental conditions. These conditions can also require ongoing therapy, and can result in a loss of enjoyment of life and other non-economic damages.

Broken Bones

Skeletal fractures are highly common injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Beyond being extremely painful and taking a long time to heal, they can lead to an increased risk for other complications, including blood loss and increased infection risk.

Other injuries caused by 18-wheeler accidents

There are dozens of other injuries you could sustain following a Baton Rouge truck accident. Some of the most common include the following:

• Amputations or other catastrophic injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Damage to internal organs and crushing injuries
• Wrongful death
• And many more

What to Do After You’ve Been in a Semi-Truck Accident

After you’ve been hit by a truck in Baton Rouge, Central, or Gonzales, you could be dazed, in shock, or in pain. If you can safely, get away from the flow of traffic and check the passengers of your vehicle for injuries. Then, follow these steps on what to do after being involved in an 18 wheeler crash:

• Call 911 immediately. Always call the police to assess the situation and collect statements from yourself and the other party, and if anyone is hurt, call an ambulance for life-saving help. Even if no one seems hurt, some injuries can take hours or even days to present symptoms—so it’s always a good idea to get examined.
• Call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation, or fill out our quick and easy form online to see if your case qualifies.
• Once your case has been evaluated, our team gets to work right away on gathering evidence, building your case, and getting you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Truck Accident Compensation Claims You Could Be Eligible For

Compensation for big rig victims can range from the tens of thousands to the low millions of dollars, but there are a lot of variables that can determine the compensation you can expect from your case. Talk to an experienced injury attorney to calculate the total costs of your damages, including the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, hospital and medical bills you incur, your past and future lost wages, your pain and suffering, and your attorney’s fees.

Whatever you’re going through, you shouldn’t handle your case alone. The injury attorneys at Gordon McKernan are trained professionals who know Louisiana law inside and out, and we work closely with the people in the court system here. We know what avenues and tactics will get you the compensation you deserve.

Stand Up To Big Trucks! Contact Our 18 Wheeler Accident Injury Attorneys Today

If you’ve been injured in an 18-wheeler accident near Baton Rouge, give Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys a call today at 225.888.8888. We’re dedicated to helping our community members heal after what can be a devastating event, which is why we won’t charge you a dime until we win or settle your case, that’s the G Guarantee.