Truck Accidents

Have you been involved in an accident with an 18 wheeler or other commercial vehicle? Truck accidents in Louisiana affect thousands of lives each year. Due to the enormous size of these vehicles, the injuries sustained from such a collision more often than not will lead to serious injuries and even death. Injuries from such a collision may include brain and spinal cord damage, paralysis, amputations, broken bones, and back and neck injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), large trucks were involved in 296,000 traffic crashes in the United States in 2009. Of these, over 4,000 were fatal crashes while over 74,000 resulted in injuries. In the same year, there were more than 3,500 Louisiana truck accidents, of which more than 100 were fatal and more than 3,000 caused injuries. Large trucks are more likely to be involved in fatal multiple-vehicle crashes – as opposed to a fatal single-vehicle crash – than were passenger vehicles. 81% of fatal crashes involving large trucks are multiple-vehicle crashes, compared with 58% for crashes involving passenger vehicles.

These statistics show that collisions with larger trucks are nothing to play around with. These types of accidents have serious emotional, physical, and financial harms that affect the victims of such accidents. That is why it is necessary to have an experienced lawyer in your corner fighting for the best possible results and one who is not afraid to go to trial with these large companies for the recovery you are entitled to. Phone Cardone at 504-522-3333 for a free in person consultation. He is direct, insightful, proactive, and passionate about his client’s cases.

While every accident is unique, there are several factors that most commonly lead to truck accidents. They include:

1. Speeding: Motorists are often warned that speed kills, and it is especially deadly in a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds or more.


2. Fatigue: In an industry that rewards drivers who drive more, many violate proven safety guidelines in order to earn more. This results in exhausted drivers who are suffering from sleep deprivation. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 240,000 motor vehicle accidents are caused each year due to driver fatigue alone.


3. Distractions: Consumed by boredom on cross country trips, many drivers come up with ways to distract themselves such as watching television, talking on CB radios, and using cell phones excessively. All of this means that the drivers’ attention is somewhere besides the road.


4. DUI (Driving under the influence): This can include using not only alcohol and illegal substances, but also prescription drugs and legal stimulants that help drivers stay awake. Driving under the influence is regarded as one of the leading causes of fatal truck accidents today.


5. Inadequate training: Operating such massive vehicles requires expertise. Drivers who are not properly trained in areas such as defensive driving pose a great risk to others on the road. Inexperience drivers also cause unnecessary accidents when they do not pay attention to road conditions or overload their truck with more freight than it is designed to handle.


6. Equipment failure: The weight of such an enormous vehicle applies tons of pressure on the truck. Parts wear and tear easier than regular vehicles. If the truck driver does not pay attention and regularly check such equipment then this can be another cause of an accident.


7. Wheel Blowout: When the tread on the truck tires become worn out or are old this can lead to devastating accidents. The worn tire tread can cause a sudden blowout leading to a loss of control of the truck. A blowout can lead to an immediate stop and a deadly pile up behind it.


8. Jackknifing: This is a type of accident in which the trailer attached to the tractor truck swings out and comes to rest at a 90 degree angle from the truck. The swinging trailer can hit other vehicles or people before coming to a complete stop. Jackknifing can occur from a variety of situations: speeding, downshifting, accelerating on a surface that is low on friction, engine retardants, or entering a curve too quickly.


9. Under-ride Accident: This is a very common type of tractor-trailer accident. The front bumper of small vehicles are about 30-35 inches above ground level whereas the trailer of a truck sits about 45 inches above the ground level. In many cases due to the size of the smaller car it will go underneath the rear of the truck and cause an accident. The US Department of Transportation has passed new guidelines requiring all tractor trailers to have rear bumpers that are no higher than 22 inches above ground level. However, even after these guidelines, this type of accident occurs very frequently.


10. Blind Spots: A blind spot is the area around a vehicle in which the driver cannot observe other vehicles on the road. Many accidents occur when a truck driver cannot see a vehicle next to them and will hit the other vehicle as they try to merge lanes or take a turn. There are 4 different blind spots: the area in front of the bumper of the truck, the area behind the truck, a large area next to the passenger's side of the cabin, and a small area next to the driver's side of the cabin.

If you are injured in a Louisiana truck accident, it is important that an experienced truck accident lawyer handle the case. In order to recover damages, it is vital to prove that the truck driver was at fault. The Cardone Law Firm knows how to sift through the information surrounding your case, including a driver’s history, police reports, road conditions and load information to get the results you deserve. Mr. Cardone has been practicing law for almost 40 years and he is not afraid of going after big companies for the rightful compensation for the victim. The Cardone Law Firm has the necessary resources to combat the big defense companies the truck company will hire.

For a free consultation to discuss your legal needs, contact The Cardone Law Firm today. The legal professionals here understand what it takes to recover damages from truck accidents in Louisiana. Phone Cardone at 504-522-3333 for a free in person consultation. He is direct, insightful, proactive, and passionate about his client’s cases.

With an office located in New Orleans, the Cardone Law Firm can help any client throughout the State of Louisiana. This includes, but is not limited to: Ascension Parish, Donaldsonville, Assumption Parish, Napoleonville, Baton Rouge, Jefferson Parish, Estelle, Gretna, Harvey, Kenner, Marrero, Metairie, New Orleans, Terrytown, Westwego, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Thibodaux, Livingston Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, Belle Chasse, and St. Charles Parish.

Our Office: 829 Baronne Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70113 Phone (504) 522-3333 Fax (504) 581-7651 | Get Directions