January 26, 2023
a full service legal team DEDICATED to personal injury
we earned the trust of thousands by doing everything we can to get what they deserve
When a fully loaded commercial truck slams into a passenger vehicle, the results are far more severe than those of a regular car accident. At Morris & Dewett, we understand just how horrible truck accidents can be, as we recently secured a record-breaking $409 million verdict for parents who lost their child to an impaired commercial truck driver. As dedicated truck accident attorneys in Lake Charles, we bring this same level of relentless advocacy to your case to deliver extraordinary results for these extraordinary accidents.
The sheer physics of an 80,000-pound truck colliding with a 4,000-pound car creates catastrophic outcomes. In fact, almost 90% of deaths in large-truck collisions are passenger vehicles, pedestrians, motorists, or cyclists — very rarely the truck drivers themselves. And those who survive a truck accident have to deal with mounting medical bills, with the average at $15,000 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Truck accidents can easily cause severe brain trauma through violent impacts that slam the brain against the skull. The CDC reports that 17% of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents, with truck collisions representing some of the most serious cases due to the tremendous forces involved. Of all injury types, brain injuries are the leading cause of death or permanent disability.
Many TBI victims require extensive rehabilitation and may never regain their pre-accident capabilities despite aggressive treatment. These injuries fundamentally change a victim’s personality and basic functioning, requiring families to adapt to profound changes in their loved ones. Medical costs for severe TBI can exceed $3 million over a lifetime while destroying earning capacity and independence.
The psychological impact of surviving a violent truck collision creates lasting mental health challenges that extend far beyond physical recovery. More than 50 million people worldwide suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from traffic accidents, with symptoms typically manifesting about three months after the collision. These invisible injuries include intrusive memories, severe anxiety, emotional numbness, and debilitating fear of vehicles or travel.
Treatment for psychological trauma after truck accidents includes a combination of:
The economic consequences of truck accidents extend far beyond immediate medical bills. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that large truck and bus accidents cost society $128 billion in 2021 alone, an $18 billion increase from the previous year.
A 2020 CDC study showed that the average medical cost of nonfatal injuries requiring hospitalization is $52,246. These costs include emergency transportation, surgical procedures, hospital stays, rehabilitation services, and ongoing care requirements. When combined with lost income during recovery and potential career limitations, many families face financial devastation that compounds their physical and emotional suffering without adequate compensation from responsible parties.
Truck accidents can cause permanent lifestyle changes that last long after hospital discharge. Over 1.2 million adults suffer long-term disability from motor vehicle crashes in the United States alone. The risk of long-term disability after a motor vehicle accident is up to 23% for passengers and 31% for pedestrians.
Survivors often struggle with chronic pain that medication only partially relieves, limiting their ability to enjoy activities they once loved. Basic tasks like dressing or preparing meals become incredibly difficult, stripping away independence and dignity. Beyond medical bills, permanent disability survivors deserve to receive compensation for the full extent of the injuries.
When you’re facing the aftermath of a truck accident, having the right legal representation makes a critical difference in your recovery journey. Truck accident cases involve specialized federal regulations like those set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules include limits on how many hours a truck driver can be on the road without rest, requirements for regular vehicle inspections and maintenance, proper cargo loading procedures, and mandatory drug and alcohol testing for drivers.
The roads in Southwest Louisiana are especially dangerous for drivers who come across commercial trucks. Calcasieu Parish saw 528 injury crashes involving a truck tractor, a single-unit truck, or other trucks, according to the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS). These numbers represent real families whose lives changed in seconds. Most troubling, Calcasieu Parish reported 31 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents.
Our Lake Charles attorneys understand the local factors contributing to these devastating accidents. Most crashes in our city (71%) happen on city streets rather than highways, with 61% happening at intersections, as reported by CARTS. We’ve successfully represented clients injured on these very same roadways you travel daily. This local knowledge proves invaluable when reconstructing accidents, identifying dangerous road conditions, and understanding how specific intersections contribute to collision risks.
Louisiana imposes a one-year statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits, including truck accident claims. This exceptionally short timeline means you must act quickly to preserve your legal rights.
The evidence in truck accident cases starts disappearing immediately after a crash. Acting quickly allows our attorneys to send preservation letters demanding that trucking companies maintain this evidence.
Our truck accident lawyers immediately deploy accident reconstruction specialists, interview witnesses, secure electronic logging device data, and analyze maintenance records to build comprehensive evidence of negligence. This aggressive approach helps us preserve critical evidence that disappears within days of a serious crash.
The truck driver usually bears primary responsibility through behaviors like distracted driving, fatigue, speeding, or impairment. However, our experience shows that negligence frequently extends far beyond the individual behind the wheel. Trucking companies may try to coerce drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations, fail to perform background checks on drivers with troubling safety records, or neglect required maintenance on their fleets.
Other liable parties may also include maintenance contractors who performed substandard repairs, loading companies that improperly secured cargo, or manufacturers that produced defective truck components. Even government entities responsible for hazardous road design or maintenance failures sometimes share liability.
Selecting the right Lake Charles injury lawyers after a truck accident is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your recovery journey. Morris & Dewett stands out from other firms through our specialized focus on catastrophic injury cases, particularly those involving commercial vehicles. Here’s how:
Our personal injury attorneys have decades of combined experience handling complex truck accident claims throughout Louisiana and Texas. We provide nationwide truck collision legal help and have successfully litigated against some of the largest trucking companies in the country.
Morris & Dewett has established a proven track record of securing maximum compensation for truck accident victims when they need it most. We recently obtained a $13 million verdict for an 18-wheeler accident. Another client received $4.1 million after a commercial vehicle accident that caused severe injuries.
Our legal team has a deep understanding of both Louisiana trucking laws and the federal regulations governing commercial vehicles. We know exactly what evidence to demand from trucking companies, including electronic logging device data, maintenance records, driver qualification files, and post-accident drug testing results.
Morris & Dewett invests whatever is necessary to build your strongest possible case without cutting corners. We employ accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, life care planners, and economic analysts who help quantify your complete damages.
Unlike high-volume firms where cases receive assembly-line treatment, we limit our caseload, so each client receives the focused attention their situation deserves. This client-centered approach has earned us over 1,500 five-star reviews from families we’ve helped through their darkest times.
We are ready to take your case to trial when trucking companies and their insurers refuse fair settlement offers. Our courtroom reputation also motivates the insurance company’s attorneys to propose better settlements rather than face us before a jury.
We represent victims involved in all types of commercial vehicle accidents across Louisiana. Our extensive experience covers most truck accident scenarios, with a stronger emphasis on those that cause catastrophic injuries. Whether you’re looking for a Lake Charles delivery truck accident attorney or representation for an 18-wheeler crash, our firm has the experience and resources to handle your case. The most common types of truck accident cases in Lake Charles we get are:
These crashes occur when a truck's trailer swings out at an angle from the cab. Driver decision errors cause 38% of all truck accidents, with speeding and failing to adjust for conditions being primary factors.
Commercial trucks tip over during emergency maneuvers due to their high center of gravity. Cargo shifting contributes to approximately 6,000 truck accidents each year, representing 4% of all commercial vehicle crashes.
These crashes happen when trucks fail to stop in time and strike vehicles ahead. Following too closely accounts for 7,000 truck accidents yearly, approximately 5% of all commercial truck crashes.
These occur when truck braking systems malfunction or fail completely. Brake problems contribute to 41,000 truck accidents annually, making them the most common vehicle-related factor at 29% of all crashes.
These happen when truck drivers operate vehicles while excessively tired. Driver fatigue contributes to 18,000 truck accidents each year, representing 13% of all commercial truck crashes.
These result from neglected truck upkeep and inspection. FMCSA reported over 340,000 brake violations and 180,000 tire violations in 2022 alone, directly contributing to numerous preventable accidents.
These crashes happen between sunset and dawn, when there's limited visibility. 25% of all truck crash fatalities occur in dark conditions with no roadway lighting, considerably increasing risk compared to driving during the day.
At Morris & Dewett, we approach truck accident cases with a methodical strategy refined through decades of successful litigation against commercial carriers. Our process begins immediately after you contact us, with urgent steps to preserve crucial evidence before it disappears. This comprehensive approach addresses both your immediate needs and long-term financial security. This includes:
Truck accident victims may be entitled to various forms of compensation designed to address both current and future consequences of their injuries. Louisiana law recognizes different categories of damages to make victims as whole as possible after serious accidents. Cases involving particularly severe negligence may also include punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer, although these are rare.
Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses you’ve suffered due to the truck accident, such as medical bills and pay stubs. Common types include:
Non-economic damages address the personal losses that don’t come with receipts or invoices but dramatically impact your quality of life. These include:
Don’t face the trucking company and its insurers alone after a devastating accident. Morris & Dewett’s experienced Lake Charles truck accident attorneys offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain your options. Contact us today to put our proven legal team to work for you. Meet our national team of attorneys who are ready to help you fight for your compensation.
“We focus on being the best at 3 things: preparing hard for our cases, making sure we deliver what clients need, and making sure they are treated well throughout the process.”
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