La Vista Truck Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a truck accident in La Vista, NE?

At Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O., we have handled truck accident cases for 15 years, and we represent injured clients on a contingency basis.

If a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle injured you in La Vista, your claim may involvemore than the driver who hit you. The trucking company, its insurer, and sometimes a cargo or maintenance contractor can share responsibility for the crash. Our La Vista, NE truck accident lawyer identifies each of those parties and pursues the full value of your claim.

Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. represents injured people and their families, never insurance companies. Our founder, Jason Ausman, has practiced law in Nebraska since 2001. To talk with us about your crash, you can request a free consultation.

Truck Accident Lawyer La Vista, NE

A truck accident lawyer represents people injured in collisions with semi-trucks, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles. These cases are more involved than an ordinary car accident claim because they involve federal safety rules, company records, and larger insurance policies. At our firm, that means investigating the crash to identify every company that shares responsibility and negotiating with the commercial insurer on your behalf. If the insurer refuses to pay a fair amount, we file a lawsuit.

Nebraska had 49 fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2020, according to FMCSA state data. That works out to 25.29 fatal truck crashes per million residents, nearly double the national rate of 13.49.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in La Vista

Truck crashes happen in several ways, and each type points to different evidence and different responsible parties. Most begin with a driver’s mistake. An FMCSA causation study attributed 87 percent of the critical reasons assigned to trucks to driver-related factors. Our La Vista truck accident attorneys handle each of the following types of cases.

• Jackknife accidents. A jackknife happens when the trailer swings out of line with the cab, often after hard braking or a skid. We examine brake condition, speed data, and road conditions in these cases.
• Rollover accidents. A truck can roll over when the driver takes a curve or ramp too fast or when the load shifts. We review the truck’s speed records and the way the cargo was loaded.
• Underride accidents. An underride crash occurs when a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer. We inspect the trailer’s rear guard and lighting to determine whether they met safety standards.
• Rear-end collisions. A loaded semi-truck needs far more distance to stop than a passenger car. Rear-end truck crashes often involve following too closely, distraction, or fatigue, so we obtain the driver’s hours-of-service logs and phone records.
• Wide-turn accidents. Truck drivers swing wide to complete right turns, and the trailer can trap a car in the adjacent lane. We use video footage and witness statements to show the path of the truck.
• Cargo and load accidents. Overloaded or poorly secured freight can fall onto the road or cause the driver to lose control. The shipper or loading company can share liability in cargo truck claims, which is why we request loading records and bills of lading.
• Tire blowouts and equipment failures. Worn tires, failed brakes, and broken lights cause crashes that proper maintenance would have prevented. We obtain inspection and repair records from the carrier and any outside maintenance provider.
• Pedestrian accidents. A turning or backing truck can strike a person in a crosswalk, a parking lot, or a loading area. We examine the truck’s mirrors and cameras, along with the driver’s training records.
• Spinal cord injuries. The weight of a commercial truck produces forces that can fracture vertebrae and damage the spinal cord. These claims require proof of lifetime medical and care costs, which we document with medical records and the opinions of treating providers.

Why Choose Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. as my Truck Accident Lawyer in La Vista, NE?

Fifteen Years of Truck Accident Cases in Nebraska

Our founder, Jason Ausman, earned his law degree from Creighton University’s School of Law and has practiced in Nebraska since 2001. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a past president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. He also wrote the “Service of Process” chapter of that association’s Civil Litigation Practice Manual.

Trial experience matters in truck cases because motor carriers and their insurers defend claims with their own lawyers and investigators. We have handled truck accident cases for 15 years, always on the side of the injured person. When you hire a truck accident attorney in La Vista from our firm, you get a lawyer who is prepared to take the case to court if the insurer will not settle fairly.

Results for Seriously Injured Clients

We have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. Our truck accident results include a $1.9 million recovery. In other serious injury cases, we recovered $1.8 million for a client hurt in a car accident and $2 million for a family in a wrongful death case.

We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

What Is Important to Understand About a Truck Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases

Nebraska law allows you to recover compensation from each party whose negligence caused the crash. In a truck accident case, that can include the driver, the motor carrier, and a cargo or maintenance company. The main categories of compensation are listed below, along with the fault rule that can reduce them.

• Economic damages. These damages cover your financial losses, including medical bills, lost income, and future medical care.
• Noneconomic damages. These damages compensate you for physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of activities you enjoyed before the crash.
• Wrongful death damages. A personal representative can bring a claim for the surviving spouse and next of kin when a truck crash is fatal. Nebraska requires that claim to be filed within two years of the death.
• Comparative negligence. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Nebraska’s comparative negligence statute bars recovery entirely if your fault equals or exceeds the combined fault of the parties you are suing. For that reason, an even fault split leaves the injured person without a recovery.

What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?

Evidence is the first concern in a truck case. The trucking company controls most of it, including electronic logging data, onboard recorder data, and driver qualification files. Some of these records are kept for only a limited time, so we send a written preservation demand to the carrier as early as possible.

The carrier’s insurer will also contact you soon after the crash to ask for a recorded statement. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim, which is why statements to an adjuster should wait until you have spoken with a La Vista truck accident lawyer. Early settlement offers call for the same caution, since insurers usually make them before the full cost of your injuries is known. Accepting an offer too soon and giving a statement without legal advice are common mistakes that reduce what a claim is worth.

What Is The Truck Accident Case Timeline?

Nebraska’s statute of limitations gives you four years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Within that period, a truck case generally moves through five stages.

1. We investigate the crash and send preservation demands to the carrier.
2. You complete medical treatment or reach a stable point in your recovery.
3. We send the insurer a demand package that documents liability and damages.
4. We negotiate with the insurer and advise you on each offer.
5. We file a lawsuit if the insurer does not make a fair offer.

How long this takes depends mostly on your medical recovery, since a claim cannot be valued accurately until your prognosis is clear. A truck accident attorney can give you a more specific estimate once your treatment is underway.

What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?

Bring whatever records you already have to your first meeting with a truck accident lawyer in La Vista, NE. We can obtain anything you are missing.

• Bring the crash report or the report number from the La Vista Police Department or the Nebraska State Patrol.
• Bring photos of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries.
• Bring medical records and bills from your treatment so far.
• Bring letters or emails from any insurance company.

During your free consultation, we go over these materials with you and tell you plainly whether the evidence supports a claim against the driver, the carrier, or both.

Most Dangerous Locations for Truck Accidents in La Vista, NE

Most truck traffic in La Vista runs along a few commercial streets and the highways near the city. The following streets carry much of the local traffic.

• 84th Street. 84th Street is the main north-south commercial route through the center of La Vista, and it carries steady delivery traffic.
• Harrison Street. Harrison Street runs along the Douglas and Sarpy County line and serves industrial and retail properties.
• Giles Road. Giles Road connects the Southport area and nearby warehouses to Interstate 80.

Two highways near the city carry long-haul freight.

• Interstate 80. Interstate 80 is the primary freight route across Nebraska, and it passes the southwestern part of La Vista near the Giles Road interchange.
• Nebraska Highway 50. Highway 50 follows 144th Street west of the city and carries trucks between Interstate 80 and Sarpy County’s industrial parks.

Reach Out to Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. to Schedule a Consultation

Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. offers free consultations to people injured in truck accidents in La Vista, NE. We will review your crash and explain your legal options. If you decide to hire us, our fee is paid only from the compensation we recover. Contact us to schedule your free consultation, and we will respond promptly.