New Orleans Truck Accident Attorneys

Semi-Truck & Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Louisiana 

After an accident with a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or similar commercial vehicle, you are likely to face numerous physical, emotional, and financial challenges. These accidents often result in catastrophic injury, permanent disability, and significant impairments that are expensive to treat, painful to live with, and even debilitating for some.

At Mike Slocumb Law Firm, we want to help you fight for the fair compensation you are owed. Our New Orleans truck accident attorneys have represented countless accident victims, as well as the families of those wrongfully killed in fatal commercial vehicle collisions. To date, our firm has recovered more than half a billion dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you build your case and work to recover every penny you deserve.

Call (504) 226-6777 or reach us online using our secure contact form. Hablamos español.

Who Is at Fault for a Large Truck Accident? 

Because Louisiana follows a fault-based car accident system, you must prove that another person or party was at fault to have grounds for a truck accident claim. But determining who was at fault can be complicated. To make matters worse, the at-fault party may not be the same one that is liable for your damages. For example, a truck driver may be at fault for a collision, but the trucking company could be legally responsible for the truck driver’s conduct. Instead of suing the driver, you could file a claim with the trucking company’s insurance provider.

The first step in determining who was at fault for an accident involves identifying the cause of the crash. Some of the most common causes of large truck accidents in Louisiana include:

• Truck driver error and negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, unsafe or illegal driving maneuvers, and other traffic violations
• State and federal hours-of-service violations, often due to pressure from the trucking company, leading to fatigued driving 
• Trucking company negligence, including improper hiring practices, lack of adequate training, and failing to discipline drivers who violate company policies and/or legal duties 
• Improper or inadequate inspections, maintenance, and/or repairs of tractors, trailers, and truck parts/components 
• Unevenly loaded cargo/freight and overloaded trucks, leading to shifting cargo/freight during transit and loss of vehicle control 
• Truck defects, including poor tractor or trailer design, faulty tires, and defective braking systems, transmissions, accelerators, and engine components 
• Poorly designed or constructed roadways, as well as improper or inadequate roadway maintenance and/or repairs 

By working with a team of accident reconstruction experts and other professionals, our firm is able to pinpoint the exact cause of an accident. We review electronic data found in trucks’ black box recorders, as well as hours-of-service logs and other critical evidence to determine whether the truck driver, the trucking company, or another party was negligent.