18-Wheeler Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims in Louisiana
Louisiana enjoys a rich culture unique from other states within the United States, but just like every other state, it experiences hardship and issues brought about by accidents that involve 18-wheeler trucks. These accidents not only take countless lives every year and cause debilitating injury to even more, but they account for other types of damage as well. What causes them?
To help ensure Louisianans enjoy safe roads throughout Baton Rouge, LA, and beyond, The Law Office of Don R. Williams, LLC discusses these issues, as well as what an 18-wheeler accident lawyer can do to assist you should you find yourself affected by an accident involving an 18-wheeler. Keep reading to discover more.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler- Accidents
Believe it or not, truck driving was identified as the most deadly occupation in the United States. This finding from 2018 is based on the fact that there are 28.3 fatal injuries per 100,00 full-time workers in the sector. Most people likely wouldn’t be surprised to hear that truck driving was among the most deadly occupations, but the most deadly?
Like any type of automobile accident, there are several causes of 18-wheeler accidents. Here are some of the most common ones:
Mechanical Failure
Some sources claim this is the primary cause of trucking accidents. This can include a range of issues, including those pertaining to tires, wheels, and brakes. Any issue with a vehicle’s brakes is potentially deadly. Still, considering that 18-wheelers need as much as the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop, it brings the risk of an accident to an entirely different level.
Driver Fatigue
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration claims roughly 130,000 people are injured and 4,000 die each year in accidents where an 18-wheeler is involved. Driver fatigue is a contributing factor to these alarming statistics, given that most drivers work 70-hour weeks over an 8-day work week. Where’s the time for any meaningful rest and recovery?
Disregard For Regulations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that semi-truck drivers and companies neglect vital safety regulations that are in place to reduce various dangers to all drivers. They do this largely to cut costs and make deliveries as scheduled. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration claims to have found that 20% of commercial vehicles had incurred many safety violations to the point that the driver or truck needed to be pulled over and taken out of service. Given that this was only found in 2016, not much has likely changed in less than a decade.
Wrongful Death Claims in 18-Wheeler Accidents
With so many 1-wheeler accidents causing death, wrongful death claims are filed quite frequently. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in an 18-wheeler accident, there are critical things a lawyer can assist you with when moving forward with a wrongful death case.
Guidance
An experienced attorney will have the skills, experience, and knowledge of the law and legal system, to advise you throughout your experience navigating the wrongful death claim process. They will break down your rights so you understand them and unpack many of the scenarios you may find yourself in.
Evidence
A lawyer will have the resources and network to gather solid evidence to serve as the basis of your arguments. They go further than you could imagine doing alone, including getting police reports, relevant medical records, and input from experts who can simulate the accident.
Liability
Unfortunately, having suffered a wrong doesn’t cut it with insurance companies and the legal system – you have to prove the other party’s liability. An 18-wheeler accident lawyer can do just that for you. They also know that liability can be multi-dimensional, extending beyond the driver to the trucking company and even other seemingly unrelated parties in certain situations. They will dig up the driver, maintenance, and company records to get to the bottom of it all.
Representation
An 18-wheeler accident attorney will represent you not only in court, should you go there, but also in your interactions with insurance companies. This is crucial, given insurance companies are notorious for manipulating things you say to them to undermine your case.
And More
Contact The Law Office of Don R. Williams, LLC today to learn more about how an 18-wheeler accident lawyer can assist you.