Semi Truck Accident Lawyer in Lafayette, Louisiana

Lafayette sits at the crossroads of I-10 and I-49, heavily trafficked highways that bring much-welcomed commerce and tourism to the city and region as a whole. However, they also bring an increased risk of highway accidents. 

While advances in technology and new driver assistance features are making your average car safer than it’s ever been before, one hazard of the highway remains as dangerous as ever: the semi truck or 18-wheeler. Weighing somewhere between 20 to 30 times that of an average car, a truck accident like this can easily result in devastating injuries or even death.

If you or a loved one has been hit by a large truck or semi near Lafayette, you’re going to need a truck accident lawyer who knows how to deal with the trucking company’s insurance. Insurance companies like these know it hurts their bottom line to compensate you fairly, so they’ll do everything they can to keep you from the money you deserve!

In this situation, you need someone on your side, who knows the law and won’t let the insurance company bully you out of your due compensation. You need a big truck attorney with the expertise and tenacity to stand up for you. You need to call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today and receive a free consultation about your case. If you’ve been in a large truck accident, we will represent you every step of the way, even if it means going to court!

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Common Causes of 18 Wheeler Accidents in Lafayette

While a motor vehicle accident can be caused by a near limitless amount of factors, there are some unique causes that are common to semi truck crashes. While some accidents happen because of well-known causes like driving under the influence or texting while driving, many truck crashes can be attributed to the following:

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

Types of Lafayette Truck Accident Injuries

Of the more than 150,000 crashes involving large trucks that caused some sort of injury reported by the NSC in 2019, a whopping 68% resulted in injury to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. That’s not that surprising, given the large difference in size between an 18-wheeler and your average commuter car. Such collisions can cause a variety of types of injury, but some of the most common and serious are:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other head injuries

Some of the most serious injuries one can experience during an accident with a semi truck are those involving the head and neck. When a victim’s head hits the hard surfaces inside their car, like doors, windows, or the steering wheel, during a collision, traumatic brain injury can result.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), TBIs are a major cause of disease and disability, resulting in symptoms from long-term memory loss, comprehension problems, and even death.

Spinal cord injuries

Injury or damage to the spinal cord can be a very serious consequence of a collision with an 18-wheeler. It can result in partial or total paralysis, and accident victims that suffer damage to their spine often require inconvenient and expensive medical equipment and care, like wheelchairs or rehabilitation, for years, or even the rest of their lives.

Broken bones

Some of the most common injuries seen in accidents involving big rigs are skeletal fractures and dislocations. Though seemingly minor, broken bones are painful and heal slowly, and can potentially lead to more severe complications down the road.

Other injuries caused by 18-wheeler accidents

Lafayette truck accidents can also cause a number of other debilitating injuries, including the following:

• Limb amputations and other catastrophic injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Crushing injuries causing organ damage
• Wrongful death
• And many more

What To Do After a Lafayette Truck Accident

While we hope it never happens, we have put together some tips for what to do after you’ve been involved in a big truck accident. First, get yourself and anyone with you somewhere safe, away from the vehicle and away from the flow of traffic. Once you’re relatively safe from further harm, take the following steps:

1. Call 911.  The police will not only provide assistance, but should document the scene and take statements as well.  Emergency Medical Services will assist with any injuries.
2. Call the semi-truck accident lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys immediately at 337.999.9999 for a free consultation, or fill out our easy-to-use online form to see if your case qualifies.

Let our truck wreck attorneys get to work, finding the evidence and making the strongest case we can to help you win and get the compensation you deserve!

Potential Compensation From Truck Accidents

Final compensation from a tractor trailer accident can vary widely, from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Many factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding what’s fair, so it’s always best to talk to a knowledgeable and experienced truck accident attorney to figure out your total damages, including, but not limited to, repair costs, medical bills, lost wages, and lawyer fees.

The experienced team at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are well acquainted with Louisiana law and have worked closely with the courts and the people who work there. We know the best way to win your case, and to get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in an 18-Wheeler accident near Lafayette, give Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys a call today at 337.999.9999. We’re dedicated to helping you heal after such a life-changing accident, and that’s why we won’t charge you a dime until we either win or settle your case, that’s the G Guarantee.

Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me

888.271.3687