Semi Truck Accident Lawyer in Shreveport, Louisiana

Sitting as it does on I-20 between Dallas and Jackson, and with many other highways running through it, Shreveport is a major Louisiana thoroughfare. Thousands of trucks and millions of other cars drive on Shreveport highways each year, and the law of averages means that accidents are similarly common in the Shreveport area.

While cars and trucks are safer now than they’ve ever been, and they’re getting safer all the time, the fact remains that if you’ve been involved in a crash with a big rig, you might endure injuries, loss of property, or even death.

If you or a loved one has been hit by a tractor trailer, you need a Shreveport injury lawyer with the experience and passion to fight for your interests against the trucking company and their insurance. These companies know that paying out the full amount for someone’s injuries hurts their bottom lines, so they work hard to keep you from your deserved compensation. 

If you’re not at fault after being involved in a semi truck accident in Shreveport, contact Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys to represent you during negotiations, or if necessary, in court.

Common Causes of Semi Truck Crashes

Auto accidents can happen for a near limitless amount of reasons, however, big rig wrecks can be caused by a variety of unique causes. Alongside well known causes such as driving under the influence or distracted driving, common causes of 18 wheeler accidents include:

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

Types of Shreveport Big Truck Injuries

Big trucks can weigh up to 20–30 times as much as the average passenger car, which means that trucking accidents can be disastrous for anyone unlucky enough to collide with one. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that, of the 4,136 people who died in big rig accidents in 2018, fully two-thirds—67%—of them were passengers of smaller vehicles like cars, trucks, and SUVs. Even if you survive a crash, you might experience life-changing injuries, including the following:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Other Head Injuries

Due to victims’ heads striking the doors, windows, steering wheel, and other hard surfaces inside the car during an impact, traumatic brain injuries and head injuries are common. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), TBIs are a major cause of disability, disease, and even death. If the victim does survive, they might experience long-term loss of memory or consciousness.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord damage can lead to permanent disability, including total paralysis below the site of the damage. Often, victims of spinal cord injuries require wheelchairs or other assistive devices, are unable to work, and experience ongoing hardships, sometimes for the rest of their lives.

Broken bones

Skeletal fractures and dislocations are extremely common injuries in motor vehicle accidents, due to the high speed of collision. Other than being painful and long-lasting, broken bones can lead to an increased risk of complications such as infection, blood loss, and others.

Other injuries a Shreveport truck accident can cause

A truck accident can be one of the most traumatic events of the victim’s life. Not only can it result in the serious injuries above, but in the following debilitating injuries as well:

• Amputation of the arm or leg, or other catastrophic injuries
• Injuries to the neck and back
• Crushing injuries
• Major cuts and bruises
• Wrongful death
• And many more

What to do After a Shreveport Truck Accident

If you’ve been involved in a crash with a big rig, it can be difficult to get your bearings–especially if you or a loved one is injured. That’s why we’ve put together a list of helpful tips on what to do after being involved in a semi truck accident. While the very first thing you should do after any accident is call first responders through 911 or another emergency line, you should also assess your own damages, then do the following:

1. Call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys immediately at 318.888.8888 for a free consultation or fill out our easy-to-use online form to find out if your case qualifies. Our 18 wheeler truck accident lawyers are ready to fight for you.
2. Don’t talk to your insurance agency. Insurance companies are only concerned about their bottom line and aren’t in the business of helping you heal. The truck attorneys with Gordon McKernan have years of experience working with these cases, so we’ll know what your case is worth.

After your free legal consultation, the truck accident team at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys will get to work right away on your case. We’ll gather evidence, talk to witnesses, gather police and medical reports, and negotiate with insurance. We will even represent your interests in court if it’s necessary.

How much can I expect after a Shreveport 18-wheeler accident?

For big rig accident victims, compensation can range anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to the low millions. However, there are a lot of variables that determine the compensation you can expect. You need to talk to an experienced injury attorney to calculate the total costs of your damages, including 

• The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle
• Your total medical and hospital bills, including therapy, medical assistive devices, surgeries, and others
• The wages you’ve lost, and the wages you stand to lose due to an inability to work
• The pain and suffering you’ve endured, including mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and more
• Your attorney’s fees

One thing is sure: you don’t want to handle your case alone. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are trained professionals who know Louisiana, and Shreveport, law closely. We’ve also developed relationships with the legal community here, meaning we know what avenues to take and what tactics will get you the compensation you deserve.

Call Our Shreveport Truck Accident Lawyers to Get Help Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in an semi-truck accident off I-20 or another road in Shreveport, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today at 318.888.8888. Our Shreveport truck wreck law firm is dedicated to helping the members of our community heal after a devastating crash.