Lafayette Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Trusted Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney in Lafayette

If a commercial vehicle driver hits you, recovering compensation can be much harder than in other accidents. Commercial insurance companies have more resources that they use to avoid paying fair compensation. Additionally, determining who is liable is much harder. A Lafayette commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help with all these complexities, and may improve your chances at securing a fair settlement to cover your medical costs and other losses.

Defending the Interests of Those in Commercial Vehicle Collisions

Commercial vehicle collisions can result in severe injuries, preventing you from working and costing a lot in medical treatment. The last thing you want to worry about during recovery is an insurance claim.

Unfortunately, these claims have to be filed quickly after an accident occurs. When you work with Cox Law Firm, we manage your claim on your behalf, giving you the guidance you need as you recover. Our firm has fought for people like you for over 55 years.

Our attorneys have 135 combined years of experience and have secured outcomes like a $10.8 million jury verdict for a delivery truck accident. * While this result cannot guarantee a future outcome, it does represent how we work for fair compensation.

We can help you receive full compensation through in-depth investigation and negotiations with commercial insurers. We work for your future.

Types of Commercial Vehicles

Accidents with commercial vehicles happen throughout Louisiana and Lafayette, especially on key transportation corridors like I-10. Commercial vehicles can be any vehicle used by a company for transportation, shipping, or other business needs. They can include:

• 18-wheelers
• Semi-trucks
• Touring buses
• Tractor-trailers
• Delivery trucks
• Couriers
• Limos
• Taxis

In general, commercial vehicles are larger and heavier than passenger cars, but this isn’t always the case. Passenger cars can be used as commercial vehicles.

Commercial Vehicle Collisions in Lafayette and Louisiana

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 3,473 fatal and non-fatal crashes in Louisiana in 2024 that involved commercial large trucks. Seventy-two of them were fatal.

In Lafayette Parish, the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) reported 31 fatal crashes in 2024. 10 of those crashes involved drivers ages 15-24. Vehicle collisions involving commercial vehicles are much more likely to result in severe injuries and fatalities.

Liability Complexity in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

When commercial drivers and vehicles are involved, it makes liability more complicated. Many parties are responsible for these vehicles, and can be held liable for negligence. Drivers may have been distracted, employers may have failed to vet employees, or shipping companies may have encouraged drivers to break speed limits and other laws.

A thorough investigation is needed to determine the party or parties liable. This can include:

• The truck driver
• The truck driver’s employer
• The shipping company
• An inspector of the trucks
• The owner of the truck
• A car part manufacturer
• A mechanic or maintenance provider
• The cargo loader or owner of the cargo

Many of these parties have their own commercial insurance. Commercial insurance companies have more resources than the typical personal car insurance company. They use these resources to avoid liability and undermine claims more effectively. This is why legal support is crucial to avoid losing out on a fair claim, and have an experienced negotiator dealing with the insurer for you.

There may also be non-commercial parties liable, such as another driver on the road or an agency meant to maintain the road. An attorney’s investigation can uncover these at-fault parties, as well. Claims against entities like government agencies can be especially difficult to file on your own.

FAQs

What Happens if a CDL Driver Gets in an Accident?

If a CDL (commercial driver’s license) driver gets in an accident, all those injured in the collision can file claims with the insurance of the at-fault driver. This may be the CDL driver or another driver on the road. If the CDL driver is liable, they may be covered by the commercial trucking company’s insurance if they are an employee. These insurance policies are generally much higher than individual car insurance policies, but also harder to get damages from.

What Is the Three-Collision Rule in Commercial Vehicle Accidents?

The three-collision rule in commercial vehicle accidents refers to the three different collisions that happen within one collision:

1. The collision of the vehicle with another object
2. The collision of the passengers and the interior of the vehicle
3. The collision of a person’s organs with the inside of the body

In commercial vehicle accidents, these collisions are even more serious and tend to cause more severe injuries.

Do I Need to Notify Authorities After a CDL Accident in Lafayette?

You usually need to notify authorities after a CDL accident. You should report the accident to the local police department, state police station, or sheriff’s office. When anyone is injured or dies, this is required.

It is also required if there is over $500 in property damage. Even if you think the accident doesn’t meet reporting requirements, you should report the accident to protect your ability to file a claim and get medical care.

Why Do You Need to Hire a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer in Louisiana?

You need to hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer in Louisiana to protect your financial and personal interests when filing a claim to recover damages. This is the case whether you are filing an insurance claim or a civil claim, such as with the 15th Judicial District Court serving Lafayette Parish. An attorney assesses your claim, investigates the cause of the crash and the at-fault party, and gathers evidence to strengthen your claim.

Hire a Lafayette Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney Today

At Cox Law Firm, we aim to help you get the financial recovery you are owed, which can help you move forward from this difficult part of your life. You could recover the cost of medical treatment, income you lost, reduced earning capacity, property damage costs, pain and suffering, and more. Reach out to us today and learn how we can help.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.