Livingston Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Attorney In Livingston, LA

A Livingston truck accident lawyer represents individuals injured in collisions with commercial trucks and large motor vehicles. Truck accidents can cause serious injuries or death, and cases often involve complex insurance coverage, multiple responsible parties, and extensive investigation.

Gauthier Amedee advocates for individuals in Livingston Parish who are seeking information about their legal rights after a crash involving a large truck and guidance through the civil claims process.

Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

Gauthier Amedee handles serious injury cases resulting from commercial truck accidents throughout Livingston. Truck accident claims can require additional review of crash reports, driver logs and hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and insurance records. Cases may involve trucking companies, drivers, contractors, or other responsible parties that were involved in the operation of the truck.

We have handled numerous high-stakes personal injury claims over the past 50 years, which allows us to approach truck accident claims with meticulous preparation and focus on evidentiary and procedural issues.

How Truck Accidents Differ From Other Motor Vehicle Crashes

Truck accidents differ from standard motor vehicle collisions in several ways. Commercial trucks are subject to additional safety regulations, and crashes often result in significant property damage and catastrophic injuries. Investigations may require examination of driver hours-of-service records, cargo or freight documentation, and vehicle inspection reports.

Liability can be broader than driver error, and can extend to the driver’s employer or other third parties. For these reasons, truck accident claims tend to be more complex than routine auto accident cases and often involve a more detailed factual investigation.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Livingston Parish

Truck crashes in Livingston Parish can occur for many reasons, including driver fatigue, improper cargo loading, equipment failure, speeding, or distracted driving. Roadway design and traffic patterns may also play a role in collisions with large commercial trucks. A total of 133,736 vehicles were involved in fatal and nonfatal crashes with large trucks in the state in 2023. There were 811 traffic deaths that year.

Causes can be determined through police reports, electronic information, witness statements, and truck maintenance records. Determining how the accident happened is often the first step toward identifying potentially liable parties.

Additional factors may also contribute to serious collisions. These can include: 

• Violations of federal trucking regulations
• Inadequate driver training
• Failure to follow hours-of-service rules
• Weather conditions or poor visibility

Parties That May Be Involved in a Truck Accident Claim

When filing a truck accident claim, one or more potentially responsible parties can be involved. While the driver may be at fault, a claim may also name the trucking company, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo loader, or parts manufacturer.

Investigations often involve reviewing contracts, employment relationships, and regulatory compliance to determine responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the commercial vehicle.

In some cases, third-party logistics companies or insurers may also be responsible. It depends on how the truck was managed, dispatched, or insured when the accident happened.

FAQs

Where in Livingston Parish Are Truck Accident Cases Filed?

Truck accident claims are usually filed in the parish where the crash occurred or where a defendant resides or conducts business. In Livingston Parish, a truck accident claim would typically be processed through the parish’s civil court system. Jurisdiction may depend on accident location, party residence, or business connections to the truck’s operation.

What Evidence Is Typically Reviewed in a Truck Accident Case?

The evidence reviewed in a truck accident case can be more extensive than that of a standard car crash. In addition to police reports and crash reconstructions, it may include driver logs, hours of service records, vehicle inspection and maintenance records, truck electronic data, cargo documentation, and statements from witnesses.

Medical records and documentation of the accident scene are also commonly reviewed. Gathering and preserving this evidence is an important aspect of the legal process.

Can Truck Accident Cases Involve Out-of-State Companies?

Truck accident cases can involve out-of-state trucking companies, drivers, or insurers, as commercial vehicles often travel across state lines. These cases can involve additional complexities related to jurisdiction, insurance policies, and interstate commercial regulations. An out-of-state party may still be involved in a truck accident that took place in Livingston Parish and be named in the civil litigation claim.

Where Do Truck Accident Investigations Start Following a Collision?

The investigator generally starts by obtaining law enforcement reports and any available evidence from the scene of a truck accident. Investigators may also attempt to preserve vehicle data, driver logs, or maintenance records before those sources are overwritten or destroyed. Early efforts in a truck accident case might include documenting the roadway conditions at the time of the crash, identifying witnesses, and establishing the identities of everyone involved.

Do the Size and Weight of Commercial Trucks Have an Impact on Injury Claims?

The size and weight of commercial trucks are factors in the type and extent of injuries typically seen in a collision with one of these vehicles. The heavier the vehicle is, the greater the force that comes into play when it collides with a smaller vehicle, which can lead to more severe physical injuries and property damage.

Contact a Livingston Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident claims often involve severe injuries, multiple parties, and complex evidence. Investigations may entail a detailed review of crash reports, commercial driving records, vehicle maintenance records, and insurance policies. Determining how a collision occurred and which parties may be responsible is a key part of the civil process.

A Livingston truck accident lawyer can help injured victims understand how these claims are evaluated under Louisiana law and what procedures may be involved. Gauthier Amedee represents clients in Livingston Parish in truck accident claims arising from collisions with commercial vehicles.

Scheduling a consultation can help explain applicable timelines, documentation requirements, and how a claim may proceed through the legal system if you were injured in a truck-related crash. Hire a truck accident lawyer today to learn more about how to move forward after a truck accident.