Lake Charles Truck Accident Lawyer
40+ Years
of Combined Experience
5.0 Google Rating
with over 400 Reviews
Over $125M
Won for Clients That Have Become Family
Because of the sheer size of the vehicles involved, big truck accidents are more dangerous and often more fatal than other types of auto crashes. Although Louisiana truck accidents have fallen by more than 4.5 percent, there were still more than 2,000 crashes in 2023 alone.
At Shamieh Law, our experienced team of Lake Charles personal injury lawyers is ready to protect your rights and help you navigate your truck accident injury claim. We’re intimately familiar with Louisiana’s trucking laws and have the dedication, work ethic, and track record to handle even the toughest cases.
If you or a loved one was involved in an accident with a big rig, contact our Lake Charles truck accident attorneys today for a free case review by calling (337) 477-7222.
Why Trust Shamieh Law With Your Lake Charles Truck Accident Case?
Truck accidents can be devastating and costly. When you work with Shamieh Law, we will do everything in our power to protect your rights and hold negligent parties accountable to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Our refined approach to handling truck accident cases, Winning With Awareness, has helped us secure countless settlements for truck accident injury victims in Lake Charles and throughout Louisiana. The following are examples of some of our successful results:
- $1 million against a Fortune 500 logistics company when one of their trucks caused a collision with our client’s Vespa
- $1.6 million for an 18-wheeler accident that caused a client to t-bone another vehicle
- $1.325 million for a client injured in an 18-wheeler wreck caused by a driver’s failure to timely yield
- $950,000 for clients who were injured after being thrown off the highway in a crash involving multiple 18-wheelers
- $700,000 for a client who suffered severe brain and spinal cord injuries after being rear-ended by an 18-wheeler
- $250,000 for a client who needed a spinal laminectomy and lumbar fusion after an accident with an 18-wheeler that flipped
- $250,000 for a client who required rotator cuff surgery after being rear-ended by an 18-wheeler
- $225,000 for a client who suffered disc herniation requiring injections after a hit-and-run 18-wheeler accident
For our team, family is everything. We treat every client the way we would treat our own kin and are ready to help when you need it most. When we take your case, we immediately prioritize getting the results you deserve.
You Owe Us Nothing Unless We Win
Our team works on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t charge you anything or exacerbate the financial strain you might be feeling. Instead, our payment is a percentage of any compensation we secure for you.
Under this approach, you never pay us unless we win, so you won’t need to worry about paying us out of pocket.
You Owe Us Nothing Unless We Win
Our team works on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t charge you anything or exacerbate the financial strain you might be feeling. Instead, our payment is a percentage of any compensation we secure for you.
Under this approach, you never pay us unless we win, so you won’t need to worry about paying us out of pocket.
Our Approach to Proving Negligence in Truck Accident Lawsuits
Proving negligence in a truck accident lawsuit requires extensive evidence. We deploy the latest technology, from downloading black box data to capturing forensic 3-D scans of all evidence, to help build a winning legal strategy. Our firm utilizes:
- Accident photos
- Police reports
- Property damage
- Debris and other physical evidence
- Medical records
- Weather conditions
- Equipment maintenance records
- Reenactments
- Expert testimony
- Witness statements
- Dashcam footage
- Security footage
Types Of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
We fight for truck accident victims involved in all types of Lake Charles accidents, including:
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollovers
- Sideswipe accidents
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Wide-turn accidents
- Rear-end collisions
Identifying Liable Parties in Lake Charles Truck Accidents
Unlike other auto crashes, multiple parties typically bear partial legal responsibility for trucking accidents and any resulting injuries. Our Lake Charles truck accident attorneys will work endlessly to identify the liable parties in your accident and hold them accountable for the damage they caused.
Parties commonly liable in truck accidents include the following:
- The truck driver. They were behind the wheel of the vehicle itself. If a truck driver contributed to an accident by driving recklessly or failing to take legally required rest breaks, they can be held liable for the consequences.
- Drivers of the other vehicles. The truck driver is not always directly responsible for a crash. Even if a truck driver is fully rested and following traffic laws, another negligent driver can cause an accident by hitting the rig or forcing it to abruptly swerve or stop.
- The trucking company and truck owner. Trucking companies are responsible for the safe operation of their equipment and must follow federal and state safety regulations. Employing overworked or unqualified drivers, skimping on inspections, and engaging in other bad behavior can leave a trucking company liable for a preventable accident.
- The truck manufacturer. Defective parts or equipment can sometimes cause or contribute to trucking accidents.
- The cargo loading company. Sometimes, an overloaded truck or improperly secured cargo can contribute to a crash.
- The truck maintenance company. Federal regulations require routine inspections and repairs to trucks and certain components. Poor or negligent maintenance can directly cause a dangerous trucking accident.
Damages Victims Can Recover in a Truck Accident Lawsuit
Depending on the severity of injuries sustained and liable parties, you may be entitled to recover the following damages after a truck accident:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of activities
- Loss of companionship
Punitive damages
Louisiana courts rarely award punitive or exemplary damages, reserving them for cases where the defendant wantonly or recklessly disregards others’ rights and safety. Punitive damages punish the defendant and deter similar behavior. Driving while intoxicated is one example of behavior for which a court may enter a punitive damages award.
Wrongful death damages
If your loved one has died from a Lake Charles truck accident, you and other surviving family members can recover additional damages through a wrongful death suit. Damages for wrongful death can include compensation for grief, loss of companionship, loss of support or services from the deceased, and funeral and burial costs.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Lake Charles?
Under Louisiana’s personal injury statute of limitations, you have two years from the truck accident date to file a claim against the at-fault party. However, you must gather key evidence before it deteriorates and build the strongest case. Thus, it is critical to seek help from a truck accident attorney immediately after an accident. If you miss the filing deadline, you may forfeit your ability to pursue compensation.
Contact Our Lake Charles Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Review
Our knowledgeable team at Shamieh Law has a track record of success in truck accident cases and can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Let us help you get back on the road to recovery. Contact us today at (337) 477-7222 or complete our online contact form for a free consultation.
Truck Accident FAQS
Below are some common questions our Lake Charles clients ask us about truck accidents. As always, if you have a question, please contact our firm.
Multiple parties can carry responsibility in a truck accident. You can pursue compensation even if you’re partly at fault for the accident. However, under Louisiana’s pure comparative fault law, your damages will drop in proportion to your responsibility. For example, suppose you are 40 percent at fault for the accident and will receive $10,000 in damages. Because you are partially to blame for the accident, your awarded damages will drop to $6,000.
Louisiana has a “no pay, no play” law that restricts compensation for uninsured and underinsured drivers. This law, Louisiana Revised Statute 32:861, provides that underinsured victims of another driver’s negligence cannot collect the first $25,000 of property damages and the first $15,000 of bodily injury damages.
This means that uninsured and underinsured drivers injured in a truck accident must cover the first $25,000 in property damage, such as car repairs, and the first $15,000 in bodily injury damages, including medical bills.
Tractor-trailer accidents can stem from various causes, including the following:
- Speeding
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Trucker fatigue
- Equipment failure
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Inexperienced drivers or lack of training
- Poor weather conditions
- Driving while intoxicated
Given the size of trucks compared to most other vehicles on the road, injuries resulting from truck wrecks can be severe, including the following:
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Seat belt injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
If you’re involved in a truck accident, follow these steps:
- Stay calm: These accidents are stressful, but do your best to remain calm until help arrives. If possible, pull your vehicle to the side of the road and turn on your hazards.
- Call 911: Call 911 immediately to get emergency services on the scene.
- Seek medical help: When emergency services arrive, get medical attention. This is an important step, even if you don’t feel seriously injured, as the shock of the accident may conceal some injuries or symptoms.
- Gather information: If possible, gather as much information about the accident as possible. Take photos and videos of the scene, exchange information with other drivers, document the scene, and collect witness statements and contact information.
- Be cautious of what you say: When talking to emergency personnel, drivers, or other individuals on the scene, avoid making statements alluding to guilt, fault, or the severity of your injuries. These statements could be used against you in court, so be mindful of what you say.
- Talk to a lawyer: Promptly call an experienced Lake Charles truck accident attorney for personalized legal guidance. Your lawyer can outline your legal options and the next steps.
Lake Charles truck accidents can happen almost anywhere. Tight alleyways and city streets are tricky for truck drivers to navigate, prompting wide turns and potential accidents. However, while accidents can occur at nearly any intersection or snug street throughout the city, some roads prove more dangerous than others. Interstate 10 and Highway 90 are frequent accident scenes, ranking among the most dangerous Lake Charles roadways.
