Over 125 years of
Combined Experience
Get MY Free Consultation

No Fees Until You Get Paid

Baton Rouge Truck Accident Lawyer

Work with an experienced Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer to find out if you can get compensated for the injuries you suffered in a wreck with a semi-truck.

Collisions involving large commercial vehicles such as 18-wheelers and dump trucks nearly always mean catastrophic injuries and massive vehicle damage for the drivers of passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Recovering from these injuries requires a great deal of medical care, which is never inexpensive, leaving many accident victims wondering how they should proceed with putting their life back together.

If you’ve been hurt in a collision with a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, losses, and suffering. Partner with a knowledgeable Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer from Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers to help ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve.

We Fight for Justice in Truck Accident Cases

Every year, trucking accidents result in catastrophic injuries, massive property damage, and overwhelming emotional stress for victims. In 2022 alone, nearly 6,000 accidents with a large truck led to a fatal crash. Due to their size and weight, 18-wheelers, dump trucks, and other commercial vehicles can devastate passenger cars and motorcycles after an accident. For many victims, the recovery process involves extensive medical treatments, months or even years of healing, and financial hardships. Unfortunately, some crashes result in the victim losing their life

Determining liability is the first step toward pursuing justice if you are struggling to move forward after a truck crash. Whether the truck driver, trucking company, parts manufacturer, or another party is at fault, you can seek a financial settlement that fully covers your damages.

At Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers, we are committed to fighting relentlessly for truck accident victims in Baton Rouge. We won’t stop at the bare minimum. 

Instead, our goal is to secure a settlement that meets all your current and future needs, letting you focus on what matters most: your recovery.

Why Truck Accidents Are Different From Other Collisions

Truck accident claims are far more complex than standard car accident cases. Crashes aren’t always clear-cut, and if you’ve been seriously harmed, a detailed investigation will be the only way to prove your injuries and secure the compensation you deserve.

These accidents often involve multiple parties, such as the truck driver, the trucking company, maintenance crews, cargo handlers, or government entities responsible for maintaining safe roadways. Each could share part of the blame for your accident.

Determining fault requires an in-depth investigation. Why did the crash happen? Was the driver distracted, intoxicated, or fatigued? Did mechanical failure play a role? Were road conditions safe? 

Answering these questions is essential to building a strong case, and doing so requires experience, resources, and meticulous attention to detail. In addition to investigating, a skilled truck accident attorney will help gather evidence to strengthen your case. 

Stack of documents placed on a business desk in an office.

Types of Evidence

See below a list of some of the types of evidence your truck crash attorney in Baton Rouge will gather to prove your case:

  • Witness statements
  • Accident scene police reports, recall reports
  • Medical history and all related medical evidence, including doctors’ statements
  • Photos and video of the crash scene and other related evidence
  • Proof of your injuries and records of how these injuries have affected you
  • Proof of your damages, including missed time at work, medical expenses, and all other related costs
  • Expert witness testimony

Our skilled Baton Rouge truck accident attorneys can help identify the actual cause of your crash, locate evidence, and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping you pursue justice. 

Common Causes of Baton Rouge Truck Accidents

Truck accidents occur for various reasons, many of which relate to negligence or preventable dangers. 

A man is texting while driving.

Below are some of the common causes we investigate in large commercial vehicle cases:

  • Driver Fatigue: Truckers face tight deadlines and rigorous schedules. When they don’t get enough rest or when companies pressure them to work longer hours than federal regulations allow, catastrophic accidents are often the result. Reviewing driver logs and company records can reveal these breaches. 
  • Distracted Driving: Truckers are just as prone to distractions as any other driver. These distractions, whether from texting, eating, or using in-cabin technology, can quickly turn fatal due to the massive force carried by an 18-wheeler. 
  • Unsafe Cargo Loads: An improperly secured load can shift and destabilize the truck or spill onto the roadway, endangering other drivers. Cargo companies and crews can be held accountable if negligence is evident.
  • Faulty Parts or Poor Maintenance: Semi-trucks undergo heavy wear and tear, making quality maintenance critical. Defective brakes, tires, or engine parts, as well as errors by the mechanic, can lead to devastating crashes.
  • Road Hazards: From missing guardrails to uneven pavement, poorly maintained roads can cause serious accidents. If government entities fail to maintain safe road conditions, they can also be held liable for accidents caused by their negligence.
  • Impaired Driving: Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is always unacceptable. If the truck driver’s intoxication caused your injuries, they must be held accountable for their reckless behavior.

Understanding the cause of your accident is essential to recovering compensation for your injuries.

Devastating Injuries from Truck Accidents

The enormous size and weight of commercial trucks contribute to collisions that often result in life-changing or even fatal injuries. These injuries not only cause immediate physical and emotional pain but can lead to long-term consequences for victims and their families. Working closely with your doctors and legal team ensures the full scope of your injuries is understood and accounted for.

Firefighters helping an injured woman in a car

Below are examples of common injuries sustained in truck accidents:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Head injuries permanently affect your cognitive ability, memory, coordination, mood, and personality. 
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: Back and neck injuries can seriously alter your life. Spinal damage could mean a total lack of mobility if the spinal cord is completely severed. You could be dealing with total or partial paralysis. Even if you’re not paralyzed, these injuries could keep you from living the life you wanted to live. 
  • Fractured or Broken Bones: While some breaks heal fully, others can lead to lasting disabilities or ongoing complications, especially if surgeries or implants are required.
  • Internal Organ Damage: Internal injuries may require emergency surgery or organ transplants and may leave you with permanent health challenges.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The emotional toll of a truck accident can be as severe as the physical injuries. Psychological trauma, anxiety, and depression often require professional treatment.
  • Wrongful Death: If you’ve lost a loved one in a truck accident, no compensation can replace them. But holding the responsible party accountable can provide some measure of justice and financial relief for your family.

No matter how severe or complicated your injuries are, you should not bear the financial burden of someone else’s negligence.

Compensation You Deserve After a Truck Crash

Recovering from a truck accident isn’t just about covering medical bills; it’s about seeking a financial settlement that reflects the full impact of the crash on your life. 

Worried man checking his bills at home

You are entitled to seek compensation for:

  • Medical Expenses: This includes hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and any ongoing care your injuries require.
  • Lost Wages: If you are unable to work, both your current and future income losses should be accounted for.
  • Pain and Suffering: Truck accidents cause emotional and psychological scars that measures such as therapy and counseling may help ease.
  • Loss of Enjoyment: If your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, activities, or family life, this loss should be considered.
  • Property Damage: Your vehicle and other personal belongings damaged in the accident can be reimbursed.
  • Punitive Damages: If the at-fault party acted with gross negligence or recklessness, you may be eligible for additional compensation as punishment for your behavior.

Truck accident claims are often met with resistance from trucking companies and insurers, who prioritize their bottom line. This makes it critical to have an experienced lawyer in your corner.

Why Choose Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers?

At Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers, we are committed to helping Baton Rouge residents secure justice after devastating truck accidents. We represent our clients with determination, pursuing every avenue to maximize their financial recovery. Our team of attorneys is made up of dedicated individuals who would be honored to help you fight for justice. 

The Attorneys at Our Firm

Whether negotiating with insurance companies or fighting in court, we stand by your side every step of the way.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Don’t wait to get the help you need after a truck accident. The sooner you act, the stronger your case can be. Call us at 225-387-2323 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer. Let us fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.

Baton Rouge Truck Accident FAQ

Accidents with semi-trucks aren’t just traumatizing; they also lead to a lot of uncertainty and stress over how to put your life back together. Below, we’ve provided answers to a few frequently asked questions. If you would like more information regarding your specific situation, please get in touch with us to speak with a Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer. 

Can I recover financial damages if a semi-truck’s tire blew out and caused the accident?

If the cause of the tire blowout can be traced back to someone’s negligence, then you will have grounds for seeking compensation. Sometimes, commercial trucks are overloaded past their carrying capacity, which causes the blowout. In other cases, a pothole or tire defect might be the cause.

What can I do if I was hurt in a hit-and-run accident with an 18-wheeler in Baton Rouge?

Because their vehicles are so large, truckers sometimes don’t realize that they’ve been in an accident. Regardless, it may be possible to track the at-fault driver down through paint scrapes, vehicle damage, video, and witness testimony. It may also be possible to file a claim with your own insurance.

Will I be able to recover compensation if I was partially at fault for the truck crash?

As long as the party that you’re suing was more at fault than you, you can file a personal injury claim seeking monetary compensation for your Baton Rouge truck accident. However, you’ll be assigned a percentage of the fault for what happened, and your final settlement amount will be reduced by that same percentage.