After a serious truck accident, you may be facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and time away from work. You should not have to navigate a complicated claim while trying to recover. Get clear answers about your rights before deciding what to do next.
Chaz Roberts Law helps truck accident victims in Lafayette and across Acadiana pursue compensation for their injuries and losses. Our legal team can investigate the crash, identify potentially responsible parties, and handle insurance negotiations while you focus on your health.
Take the first step toward protecting your claim. Call Chaz Roberts Law at (337) 504-3202 for a free consultation to discuss what happened and how we can help.
Types of Truck Accidents We Handle
No two truck crashes unfold exactly alike. The way a collision happened can help determine what evidence to preserve and which parties may be responsible.
Chaz Roberts Law helps injured people after crashes involving commercial vehicles, including:
- Rear-end collisions, including crashes involving stopped or slowing traffic.
- Jackknife accidents, when the trailer swings toward the truck’s cab.
- Rollovers involving a truck or trailer.
- Sideswipe and lane-change collisions.
- Wide-turn accidents involving vehicles beside a turning truck.
- Underride collisions, when a smaller vehicle travels beneath a trailer.
- Multi-vehicle crashes involving an 18-wheeler.
- Collisions involving delivery trucks, dump trucks, tankers, and other commercial vehicles.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
A truck crash may result from unsafe driving, equipment problems, cargo issues, or a combination of factors. Potential causes of 18-wheeler accidents include:
- Driver Fatigue: Inadequate rest and demanding schedules can impair a driver’s attention and reaction time.
- Speeding: Due to their size and weight, trucks require longer stopping distances. When truck drivers exceed speed limits, especially in adverse weather conditions or on congested roads, they increase the risk of losing control and causing a serious accident.
- Distracted Driving: Like any other driver, truck drivers can become distracted by their phones, GPS devices, or other in-cab activities. Even a momentary lapse in attention can result in a devastating crash.
- Improper Maintenance: Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are properly maintained and safe to operate. Neglected maintenance, such as failing to check brakes, tires, or lights, can lead to mechanical failures that cause accidents.
- Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo: When a truck is overloaded or its cargo is not properly secured, it can affect the vehicle’s balance and handling, increasing the likelihood of rollovers or jackknife accidents.
- Reckless Driving: Some truck drivers may engage in aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, or making abrupt lane changes, putting everyone on the road at risk.
Where Truck Accidents Happen Most in Lafayette
Truck accidents can happen on interstates, at busy intersections, and along roads connecting industrial businesses with surrounding communities. Relevant routes in Lafayette and across Acadiana include:
- I-10 and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge corridor.
- The I-10/I-49 interchange.
- Evangeline Thruway and US-90.
- Ambassador Caffery Parkway, including its connection with US-90.
- LA-182 and nearby commercial access roads.
DOTD identifies US-90 as a major industrial corridor and says the planned I-49 South extension will improve freight movement and connections between oil industry suppliers and manufacturers. Truck traffic may include oilfield equipment, agricultural loads, construction materials, and other freight.
Injured in a truck crash in Lafayette or elsewhere in Acadiana? Call Chaz Roberts Law at (337) 504-3202 for a free consultation about your next steps.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Lafayette
Your safety and medical needs come first. Once immediate dangers are addressed, a few practical steps can help document what happened.
- Call 911. Report the collision and request emergency medical assistance when needed.
- Get out of immediate danger if you can do so safely. Do not enter traffic to take photographs or retrieve belongings.
- Seek prompt medical evaluation. Tell the provider how the crash happened and describe your symptoms.
- Document the scene if you are able. Photograph vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, and the truck’s company name, license plate, and USDOT number.
- Collect available information. Get the driver’s contact and insurance details, witness information, and the police report number.
- Keep records. Save medical paperwork, bills, receipts, photographs, and communications about the crash.
- Get advice before signing a release. A settlement may resolve more than the immediate expenses you are trying to cover.
A truck accident attorney can also help identify records to preserve, such as electronic driving logs, available vehicle data, maintenance documents, and company communications.
Louisiana and Federal Trucking Laws That Affect Your Claim
Your claim may involve Louisiana rules governing filing deadlines and shared fault, along with federal requirements governing commercial trucking operations. Which rules apply depends on the crash date, the truck’s operation, and the facts of your case.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, most negligence-based personal injury claims arising on or after July 1, 2024, generally have a two-year filing deadline, known as a prescriptive period. That period usually begins when the injury or damage is sustained. Earlier claims generally fell under the former one-year deadline. Exceptions and related claims can affect the time available, and ongoing insurance negotiations should not be treated as a substitute for filing a lawsuit on time.
Your share of fault also matters. Louisiana’s modified comparative fault rule, effective January 1, 2026, bars recovery when an injured person is assigned 51% or more of the fault. Below that threshold, compensation is reduced proportionately. For example, being assigned 20% fault generally reduces recoverable damages by 20%. Claims arising before the change require review under the rules applicable to their date.
While Louisiana law governs these aspects of recovery, federal regulations can provide important evidence about why a crash happened. For covered property-carrying drivers, FMCSA rules generally allow up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty and prohibit driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Additional breaks, weekly limits, and exceptions may apply. Driving logs and related records can help determine whether fatigue or a scheduling violation contributed to the collision.
Federal rules also establish minimum insurance requirements for certain trucking operations. FMCSA lists a $750,000 minimum bodily injury and property damage liability requirement for applicable for-hire, nonhazardous property carriers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 10,001 pounds. Other operations have different requirements. This minimum is not a guaranteed payout or a measure of your claim’s value. Available compensation depends on your losses, liability, and applicable insurance policies.
Understanding which rules apply can help you avoid costly mistakes. Call Chaz Roberts Law at (337) 504-3202 for a free consultation about your filing deadline, disputed fault, and potential insurance coverage.
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Truck Accident in Louisiana?
Determining who is responsible for a truck accident may require looking beyond the driver. Depending on how the crash happened, potentially liable parties include:
- The Truck Driver: If the driver’s negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence, caused the accident, they can be held liable.
- The Trucking Company: The company may be responsible for its own negligent hiring, supervision, safety practices, or maintenance. It may also be legally responsible for a driver’s negligence, depending on the employment relationship and whether the driver was acting within the scope of employment.
- The Cargo Loader: If the accident was caused by improperly loaded or secured cargo, the company or individuals responsible for loading the truck could be liable.
- The Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer: If evidence shows that a defective truck or component contributed to the crash, the manufacturer may be a potential defendant.
- Third-Party Maintenance Providers: If an outside company was responsible for the truck’s maintenance and failed to perform necessary repairs, they could also be liable.
Investigating each party’s role can help identify potential claims and applicable insurance coverage. Chaz Roberts Law can review the evidence and pursue claims against the parties supported by the facts.
Compensation Available After a Louisiana Truck Accident
Depending on your injuries and the circumstances of the crash, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: This includes compensation for current and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and any necessary medical equipment or modifications to your home.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to recover lost wages, as well as compensation for any future loss of earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: Truck accident victims often experience severe pain, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life. Compensation for pain and suffering is intended to address these non-economic damages.
- Property Damage: If your vehicle or other personal property was damaged in the accident, you could be compensated for repair or replacement costs.
- Punitive Damages: Louisiana law allows punitive damages only in limited circumstances. In a truck accident case involving an intoxicated driver, they may be available if the requirements of Civil Code Article 2315.4 are met, including proof that the driver’s intoxication contributed to the injuries.
If a truck crash caused the death of a loved one, Chaz Roberts Law can also discuss whether your family may have a wrongful death claim.
Why Families Turn to Chaz Roberts Law After a Truck Crash in Acadiana
After a serious crash, you need clear answers and a legal team that understands the person behind the claim. Chaz Roberts Law provides personalized attention and straightforward guidance to people throughout Acadiana.
Our team can help by investigating the collision, identifying potentially responsible parties, reviewing insurance coverage, documenting losses, and handling settlement negotiations. If litigation becomes necessary, we can explain what that process involves and help you prepare.
Chaz Roberts Law’s past case results include a $4 million recovery involving an 18-wheeler sideswipe and a $3.25 million recovery involving disputed liability in an 18-wheeler case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every claim depends on its own facts and circumstances.
Speak With a Lafayette Truck Accident Attorney at Chaz Roberts Law
You do not have to navigate a truck accident claim alone. Contact Chaz Roberts Law at (337) 504-3202 for a free consultation to discuss your injuries, your questions, and the next steps available to you.
Lafayette Truck Accident FAQs
What should I do immediately after being hit by a truck in Lafayette?
Call 911, get to safety if possible, and seek medical attention. If you can safely document the scene, take photographs and collect the driver’s information, the trucking company’s name, and witness contact details. Get legal advice before signing a settlement release or giving the other insurer a recorded statement.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Louisiana?
You generally have two years for a negligence-based personal injury claim arising on or after July 1, 2024. Earlier claims generally had a one-year deadline. Exceptions and related claims can affect the time available, so have an attorney confirm your deadline promptly.
What role do federal trucking regulations play in an accident claim?
Federal safety violations may support a negligence claim when they contributed to the crash. For example, applicable hours-of-service rules limit driving time and require rest periods. A violation alone does not establish every element of liability, but it can be important evidence.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for the truck accident?
Yes, if your share of fault is below the applicable legal threshold. Under Louisiana’s modified comparative fault rule effective January 1, 2026, fault below 51% reduces your recovery, while fault of 51% or more bars recovery. Claims arising before the change require review under the law applicable to their date.
What types of injuries are most common in truck accidents?
Truck crashes can cause brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, fractures, burn injuries, and internal injuries. Some people also experience lasting disability and emotional effects. Chaz Roberts Law represents people with catastrophic injuries, including injuries that require ongoing care or permanently affect daily life.
Should I talk to the trucking company's insurance adjuster after an accident?
Get legal advice before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or discussing settlement with the trucking company’s insurer. You can direct those requests to your attorney. Separately, review and comply with any reporting or cooperation duties under your own insurance policy.
How is a truck accident claim different from a regular car accident claim?
Truck claims may involve additional safety regulations, commercial insurance policies, and multiple potentially responsible businesses. Investigations may also require driving logs, truck inspection records, cargo documents, and other evidence that is less common in a typical passenger-vehicle claim.
How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer in Lafayette?
Chaz Roberts Law uses contingency fee agreements, meaning the attorney’s fee depends on recovering compensation rather than an upfront hourly payment. The written agreement explains the fee percentage and how case expenses are handled. Review those terms before signing, since attorney’s fees and litigation expenses are distinct.
What happens if a truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash?
Evidence of impairment may support your claim if it contributed to the collision. Federal post-accident testing requirements apply in specified circumstances, not after every crash. Louisiana law may also allow exemplary damages when the requirements of Article 2315.4 are satisfied.
How long does a truck accident case typically take to resolve?
There is no fixed timeline. The length of a case depends on issues such as medical treatment, disputed fault, available evidence, insurance coverage, and whether litigation is necessary. An attorney can give a more useful estimate after reviewing your situation.
Can I file a claim directly against the trucking company's insurer in Louisiana?
You can seek payment through an insurance claim, but naming the liability insurer directly in a lawsuit is generally restricted. Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1269 permits direct actions only under specified exceptions, including certain insolvency, service, and coverage-related circumstances. An attorney can determine whether an exception applies.
What if the truck was registered out of state?
Out-of-state registration does not automatically prevent you from pursuing a claim after a Louisiana crash. An attorney can review the driver’s and trucking company’s connections to Louisiana, applicable insurance coverage, and where a lawsuit may be filed.
