Two Louisiana trucking accident lawsuits were filed in 2010 against a Louisiana company alleged to be negligent in hiring the driver of a dump truck that rear-ended a vehicle carrying two Jefferson Parish residents. According to court documents, the driver of the truck was reportedly unqualified and the company failed to screen, test or supervise the driver who caused the accident. The two vehicle occupants sustained serious injuries and now claim to suffer from chronic pain.
If you were injured, or a loved one was killed in an accident involving a semi truck, call Attorney Group for Louisiana today for a free, no-obligation consultation. If you have a case, we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Negligence in Trucking Accidents
Trucking companies that fail to supervise, train or screen their drivers who then cause trucking accidents can be liable for negligence in trucking accident lawsuits to those injured or the families of those killed . Trucking companies can also be negligent by having unrealistic delivery schedules that can lead drivers to ignore safety regulations pertaining to time behind the wheel (hours of service) in order to meet deadlines. If an accident occurs because a driver made an unsafe decision in order to meet unrealistic company deadlines, those injured may file trucking accident lawsuits.
There are times when a truck driver is negligent while driving on highways in Louisiana and other states, apart from or in addition to any negligence on the part of the trucking company. Drivers may be distracted behind the wheel by either texting or talking on the telephone. In some cases, tractor-trailer drivers may be driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which leads to severe injury and even death of others on the road.
In August 2012, a Louisiana truck driver was sentenced to more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide in the deaths of three women. According to court documents, the driver of the tractor-trailer admitted to distracted driving when he struck a minivan carrying the three women. The van burst into flames and collided with eight other vehicles on the interstate. One woman in the van survived but suffered serious injuries. The family also filed a trucking accident lawsuit against the driver and the company he worked for claiming negligence.
Trucking is a competitive industry and trucking companies might feel pressed to cut corners in an effort to keep costs down. Mechanical repairs may not be made in a timely fashion or routine maintenance may be ignored. Even minor mechanical problems such as tail lights that are not working or missing reflective tape on a trailer can lead to serious injury should they cause an accident.
While truck accidents account for only eight percent of fatal accidents according to a 2012 NHTSA report, large trucks make up only four percent of the vehicles traveling on roadways. In 2012, 73 percent of people killed in accidents involving big trucks were riding in passenger vehicles. Because big trucks weigh significantly more than a passenger vehicle, even those who survive crashes can suffer from significant injuries, some of which can cause chronic pain and disability.
Injured in an Accident Involving a Semi Truck? Call Us Today.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, or if a loved one has died of injuries received in a trucking accident, contact Attorney Group for Louisiana to learn more about a possible personal injury or wrongful death claim in connection with a trucking accident lawsuit. You are under no obligation and the call is free.
