Baton Rouge Truck Accident Lawyers
Miller & Hilgendorf are truck accident lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who work with individuals and families who have suffered serious injuries following truck wrecks. If you or someone you love was hurt due to the negligent actions of a truck driver or truck company, reach out to Miller & Hilgendorf, a semi-truck accident lawyer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana today. According to Business Insider, the trucking industry makes over $700 billion a year. And yet, in a single year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 4,136 people died in truck crashes. If the same number of people died in airplane crashes or train accidents, there would be a massive public outcry, but because we have become so desensitized to truck accident deaths and injuries, we don’t often hear the same public call for accountability.
Fortunately, there are strict federal laws in place to protect everyone who uses the road and also to hold truck drivers and truck companies accountable. Hours of service laws, weight and load limits, medical certification, and driver’s licensure are all ways that the federal government regulates the trucking industry. When truck drivers or truck companies fail to follow the law or cut corners, innocent drivers can get hurt. The Baton Rouge truck accident lawyers at Miller & Hilgendorf can help you and your family seek damages if you have been hurt in a truck accident. You are not alone, but you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim after a crash. Contact the semi-truck accident lawyers at Miller & Hilgendorf in Baton Rouge, Louisiana today.
Why Truck Accident Claims Differ from Car Accident Claims
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, it can be helpful to hire a Baton Rouge truck accident law firm to help you with your claim. Truck accident claims can differ from car accident claims in some specific ways. For one, truck companies and drivers are required to abide by stricter regulations than other drivers on the road. For example, some laws include:
- Federal hours of service laws, which limit how long a driver can operate a truck in a given day, and how often a truck driver must rest. The semi-truck accident attorneys in Baton Rouge Louisiana at Miller & Hilgendorf can review truck driver’s logs, shipping schedules, and other evidence to determine whether federal hours of service laws were broken.
- Load and weight limits. Trucks must be properly loaded to prevent rollover accidents, and truck companies and shippers must abide by load limits. The semi-truck accident lawyers at Miller & Hilgendorf in Baton Rouge, Louisiana can review shipping logs and other evidence to determine if an overloaded truck resulted in your accident.
- Driver medical requirements. Drivers must pass regular medical exams and must not be taking certain kinds of medication when driving. Truck companies are required to properly vet drivers and ensure that drivers are up-to-date on certifications. Still, sometimes drivers may start taking medications or may suffer from symptoms of an illness that would disqualify them from driving and may still continue to work. If this happens, victims and families may be entitled to seek damages from the driver or truck company. Miller & Hilgendorf are truck accident lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that may be able to help you.
- Drunk and drugged driving. Truck drivers are required to meet stricter sobriety requirements than other drivers on the road. Sometimes when drivers take certain medications, they could be considered to be driving under the influence. If a truck driver was found to be under the influence and caused a crash, you and your family may be entitled to seek damages from the driver and truck company. Contact the semi-truck accident lawyers at Miller & Hilgendorf in Baton Rouge, Louisiana today to learn more.
- Trucks need to undergo regular maintenance and when truck companies cut corners, serious accidents can happen. The Baton Rouge semi-truck accident attorneys lawyers at Miller & Hilgendorf may be able to help you if a truck’s brakes failed, tires blew, or other equipment malfunction led to your crash.
These are just some of the factors that can play a role in a truck accident. There are many other situations that can lead to truck accidents. Trucks weigh more than passenger vehicles and therefore they can lead to more serious accidents than car crashes. Truck accident claims can sometimes be more complex than car accident claims because multiple stakeholders may be responsible for the claim—from insurance companies to truck companies to the driver. Having a truck accident lawyer on your side can make a big difference in navigating the law and in helping you and your family seek the damages you may deserve. If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident reach out to Miller & Hilgendorf, truck accident lawyers in Baton Rouge for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Big Truck Accident Lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Miller & Hilgendorf is a truck accident law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that works with individuals who have been hurt in truck accidents. Our truck accident lawyers in Baton Rouge can assist you and your family with seeking damages to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation costs. The aftermath of a truck wreck can be stressful for victims and their families. You might be wondering what your rights might be and may be wondering what next steps you can take. The trucking industry makes billions of dollars every year. Truck drivers and truck companies have a responsibility to follow federal and local laws designed to keep drivers and road users safe. When truck companies cut corners, and fail to put safety first, however, innocent drivers on the road can get hurt. Miller & Hilgendorf is a semi-truck accident law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that can investigate the truck company, the causes of your accident, and negotiate with insurance companies and negligent parties to help you get the settlement you may deserve under the law.
With the growing need for shipping in the United States, car drivers often share the road with huge commercial trucks and tractor-trailers. These can be more than 10 times the size and weight of your vehicle and can lead to devastating truck wrecks and accidents. We trust that big truck drivers and trucking companies see the possibility of danger and operate their vehicles with care and professionalism. Sadly, that is not always the case. Sometimes truck drivers may violate hours of service laws, leading drivers to get behind the wheel while fatigued. Other times truck companies may fail to perform regular maintenance on their vehicles, which can lead to mechanical failures that can result in accidents. Other times, vehicles are not properly loaded, increasing the risk that the driver can lose control of the truck or the truck can tip over. If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident, you may be wondering what your rights are and what steps you can take next. Because truck companies are required to abide by a range of federal and local laws, and because trucks are so much larger than passenger vehicles, truck accident claims can sometimes be more complicated than regular passenger vehicle accident claims. You need a truck accident lawyer who understands the law, who can negotiate with insurance companies, and help you fight for the settlement you may deserve under the law. Miller & Hilgendorf is a Baton Rouge, Louisiana truck accident law firm that may be able to help you and your family get the settlement you may deserve.
Wrecks can happen, whether from negligent drivers or from truck companies taking shortcuts – cutting corners on maintenance, hiring underqualified drivers, or pushing those drivers beyond their physical limits. When serious accidents occur, the truck accident attorneys at Miller & Hilgendorf in Baton Rouge, Louisiana hold negligent trucking companies liable and work so their clients have the compensation they need to maintain a high quality of life.
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What Makes Trucking Accidents Different in Baton Rouge, Louisiana?
Any big truck accident can be devastatingly violent, leading to serious injuries or death. A loaded commercial tractor-trailer may weigh up to 80,000 pounds (potentially even more with a special permit). These huge vehicles are often powered by engines that can produce more than 1,000 horsepower, powering these 40-ton vehicles up to highway speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. Even under normal conditions, a big truck can take hundreds of feet to come to a stop. When there is a mechanical failure, or a driver falls asleep behind the wheel, these vehicles can become rolling catastrophes on Louisiana’s crowded freeways.
Because of the sheer size of the vehicles involved, individuals in these accidents can potentially suffer more serious and life-altering injuries. Victims could suffer from spinal cord injury, brain injury, serious internal injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you may have the right to collect a significant settlement from the truck company and their insurers. Truck companies are required to have high-limit insurance policies because of the size and risks that these larger vehicles pose. But, if you or a loved one were seriously injured, getting the settlement you may deserve can sometimes be challenging. This is where Miller & Hilgendorf, truck accident attorneys in Baton Rouge, Louisiana may be able to help. Our semi-truck accident law firm can review the details of your case and provide you with a road map forward for your claim.
You may only have a limited amount of time under the law to seek damages for your accident. Miller & Hilgendorf is a truck accident law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that works closely with clients to help them seek justice and the recovery they may deserve. The truck industry makes billions of dollars every year. Drivers and truck companies have a responsibility to make safety their number one concern. When they fail to do this, accidents can happen. Contact Miller & Hilgendorf for a free truck accident consultation today.
How soon after an accident should I talk to a lawyer?
There are a few people that you should contact immediately after a truck accident. First, you should contact the police for a medical attention if necessary and for assistance with the accident. Next, you should report your accident to your insurance provider, but refrain from answering any in-depth questions at this time. After you have reported your accident to the police and your insurance, the next person you should call is an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you with your claim.
Can I file a claim if a loved one died in an accident?
Only certain people can file a wrongful death claim, and there is a particular order of priority in these claims. The first person who can file a claim is the decedent’s spouse, followed by their children, their parents and finally siblings. While their loss may be great, friends and nonmarried partners will have a much harder time pursuing any kind of wrongful death claim in Louisiana.
Is compensation available for long-term or permanent disability after a truck accident?
The compensation you receive for your injuries should reflect the current and future consequences of your accident. This means your compensation should also cover your reduced or eliminated ability to earn income on your own, as well as the cost of limited physical abilities. It is likely that you can earn compensation for such injuries with the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer.
Should I accept a settlement offer from the insurance company?
It is not surprising for an insurance company to offer a quick settlement for your injuries. While this may seem like a blessing, it is more likely that they are trying to leave you with a lowball settlement to avoid paying you what you deserve for your injuries. Never accept any kind of offer for a settlement without first reviewing it with your personal injury attorney.