Do You Need a New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyer?
Yes — immediately. Trucking companies send investigators and lawyers to the scene before you leave the hospital. You need an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney in New Orleans who will fight back with the same intensity.
Contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney right away if:
- You were injured in a collision with a commercial truck, semi, big rig, or tractor-trailer
- A family member was killed in a truck accident
- You are being contacted by the trucking company or their insurer
- You suffered serious injuries, large medical bills, or significant lost income from work
How Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents
Commercial freight trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds or more — twenty times the weight of a passenger car. This creates injuries that are far more catastrophic. But the differences go beyond size:
Larger Insurance Policies
Truck drivers’ insurance policies can be up to fifty times larger than car accident policies. Insurers will deploy veteran adjusters employing intricate tactics — like offering a seemingly-large payout when your case is worth far more. Having a trusted attorney by your side is essential.
Multiple Liable Parties
Truck crashes often involve the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, the maintenance provider, and the truck manufacturer — all potentially liable. We know how to identify every responsible party.
Federal Regulations
Commercial trucking is governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules that truck companies frequently violate — including hours-of-service regulations that limit how many hours a driver can operate per day. Drivers are often given financial incentives to travel large distances faster, which directly threatens other drivers’ safety. We know how to find these violations and use them.
Critical Evidence Window
Black box (ECM) data, driver logs, and surveillance footage can be destroyed quickly. Trucking companies may destroy records as part of their typical course of business. We send a spoliation letter immediately to legally require preservation of all evidence.
More Serious Injuries and Greater Chance of Death
The injuries common in car accidents are far more severe in truck crashes — including intensive medical care, brain trauma, and spinal cord damage. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), between 3,000 and 5,000 people die in truck accidents every year in the United States.
Louisiana’s 2026 Comparative Fault Law Applies Here Too
Under House Bill 431, if you are found 51% or more at fault for a truck accident, you recover nothing. Trucking companies and their insurers aggressively push fault onto victims. Having an attorney build your case immediately after the crash is critical.
What Pichon Law Firm Does After a Truck Crash
The moment you retain Pichon Law Firm, we go to work. Our 18-wheeler accident investigation includes:
- Sending an immediate spoliation letter to the trucking company requiring preservation of all evidence
- Obtaining the truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM / “black box”) data — speed, braking, engine activity at the time of the crash
- Reviewing driver logbooks for hours-of-service violations
- Pulling the driver’s alcohol and drug testing records
- Reviewing all mandatory police and accident reports
- Interviewing witnesses and reviewing camera footage
- Consulting accident reconstruction experts
- Analyzing medical records and working directly with your doctors
- Deposing corporate representatives and expert witnesses
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Truck accident cases often involve much higher compensation than standard car accident claims. Recoverable damages include:
- Medical bills — past, present, and all future treatment including long-term care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
- Punitive damages in cases of extreme negligence
Why Pichon Law Firm for Your Truck Accident Case
Pichon Law Firm is a top-rated 18-Wheeler Accident Law firm in New Orleans that has successfully brought dozens of lawsuits against major trucking companies. We have recovered millions on behalf of clients who have been hit by a big rig.
We have a deep network of expert witnesses and investigators. We are not intimidated by the corporate defense teams that show up immediately after a crash. And we will not settle for less than what you deserve.
Call or text Pichon Law Firm 24/7 — (504) 576-0440 / Text (504) 291-7000
Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
365 Canal Street, Suite 1490, New Orleans, LA 70130