Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys
Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers can help you obtain compensation for your monetary and non-monetary losses. If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a truck wreck, we will work closely with you, your family members, and doctors to determine future care needs and lost income, and demand full damages from the insurance company for the economic impact and the pain and suffering in the aftermath of a truck accident.
Our team of qualified, determined attorneys has helped build the foundation of success at Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers. Each of our lawyers brings a unique style, background, and expertise to the table, giving our firm a diverse knowledge base that positions us to help clients with truck accident injury cases.
How do truck accident cases differ from other types of auto accidents?
Truck accident cases are generally much more complex other types of auto accident cases. Below are just some of the issues unique to truck accidents:
- Severity of injuries: Given the massive size of a commercial truck, the results are usually devastating when it collides with a passenger car. Fatalities and catastrophic injuries are quite common.
- Federal regulations: The commercial trucking industry is highly regulated. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) creates and enforces various rules and regulations carriers and drivers must abide by. When they break the rules, not only does it endanger everyone on the road, but if they cause an accident, the trucking company can be liable for damages. The lawyer you choose should have in-depth knowledge of these laws.
- Heavily disputed: Given that truck accident cases involve substantial damages, truck accident companies and their insurers often dispute or discredit victims’ claims to avoid large payouts. They hire a team of attorneys to fight the cases; victims rarely stand a chance unless they hire an attorney of their own.
Difficult to ascertain liability: With a truck accident, determining who is at fault is not always cut-and-dry. For example, a tire manufacturer may be liable if a defect caused the accident. Similarly, if a third-party cargo loader failed to secure the shipment properly, then that company may actually be the liable party. Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers will investigate the facts of the accident and determine which party or parties you should pursue compensation from.
A History of Success – Lee Hoffoss
Lee Hoffoss has extensive experience in helping those with catastrophic injuries in trucking and commercial vehicle accidents.
Lee Hoffoss handles personal injury, work injury and insurance litigation, with notable recoveries in 18-wheeler accidents.
A Minden, Louisiana native and graduate of Louisiana Tech University and Southern University Law Center, Lee began practicing law in the Lake Charles area in 2004.Lee is thoroughly steeped in his practice and is committed to helping his clients secure sizable settlements and verdicts. While brain injuries, maritime/offshore law, and trucking accidents comprise much of his portfolio, Lee has the knowledge and resources to handle various areas of the law.
While he is not helping clients, he spends time with his three children, Sydney, Grayson, and Max, and his wife, Corlissa, who is also a lawyer.
Do I have a valid truck accident case I can pursue?
When the truck driver or trucking company causes or contributes to an accident, then the victims (or their family members in fatal cases) have the right to pursue compensation for their losses from the trucking company. In order to win your case, you and your lawyer must be able to prove that:
- The driver or carrier was negligent in some way;
- The at-fault party’s negligence caused your accident/injuries; and
- You sustained actual injuries as a result of the accident.
Negligence can come in many forms. For instance, if the driver breaks FMCSA hours of service regulations, was speeding at the time of the accident, or was texting while driving, the insurers or courts will likely deem that negligence.
NOTE: You can still be partly at fault for an accident and recover damages. Louisiana’s pure comparative fault rule, found in LA Civ. Code § 2323, provides that you can still obtain recovery even if you are partly at fault — but your degree of fault will reduce your damage award.
For the best chances of securing a sizable settlement for your losses, enlist the help of an attorney who can help you establish the other party’s fault and protect your best interests.