Couple Encountered Disabled Tractor-Trailer on Bridge Curve With Little Time to React
A woman traveling through Des Allemands suffered neck injuries after the vehicle driven by her husband collided with the rear of a disabled tractor-trailer on the Des Allemands Bridge.
The couple was traveling across the bridge when they came around a curve and suddenly encountered a broken-down tractor-trailer blocking the roadway ahead.
Because of the limited visibility created by the curve and the location of the disabled truck on the bridge, they were unable to stop in time before colliding with the rear of the trailer.
Bridge collisions involving disabled commercial vehicles can become especially dangerous because drivers approaching curves or elevated sections often have very little opportunity to avoid an obstruction once it comes into view.
Trucking Company Denied Responsibility for the Crash
After the collision, the trucking company and its insurer denied liability for the incident.
From the beginning, the defense attempted to shift responsibility away from the disabled tractor-trailer despite serious questions about how the breakdown occurred and whether the driver followed federal and state safety requirements afterward.
Rather than accepting the denial, our office filed suit and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the breakdown itself.
Investigation Revealed Prior Mechanical Problems and Safety Violations
During litigation, we uncovered evidence showing the tractor-trailer experienced mechanical problems before attempting to cross the bridge.
Despite those issues, the driver continued operating the vehicle and proceeded onto the bridge before ultimately breaking down in the travel lane.
The investigation also revealed another major safety problem. After the tractor-trailer became disabled, the driver failed to place warning triangles or cones behind the truck as required by commercial vehicle safety regulations.
Those warning devices exist specifically to protect approaching motorists from collisions with disabled commercial vehicles, especially in dangerous locations with reduced visibility.
By failing to deploy the required warnings, the disabled truck created a substantial hazard for drivers approaching the bridge curve.
Client Suffered Neck Injuries and Aggravation of Prior Conditions
Following the collision, our client developed neck injuries and also experienced aggravation of pre-existing medical problems.
Insurance companies frequently attempt to minimize claims involving prior injuries, arguing symptoms existed before the crash occurred. Louisiana law, however, still allows injured people to recover compensation when a collision worsens an existing condition.
Our Des Allemands car accident lawyers worked to document how the crash affected our client physically and how her symptoms worsened following the impact with the disabled trailer.
Confidential Settlement Reached After Depositions
As the case progressed through litigation, depositions and discovery helped strengthen the evidence regarding the truck’s prior mechanical issues and failure to follow required roadside safety procedures.
Following depositions in the case, the matter ultimately resolved through a confidential settlement with the tractor-trailer’s insurance company.
The settlement provided compensation for the injuries, aggravation of prior conditions, and disruption caused by the crash.
Commercial Vehicle Breakdowns Can Create Serious Highway Dangers
This case highlights the importance of safety regulations governing disabled commercial vehicles.
Federal and state rules requiring warning triangles, cones, and proper roadside procedures exist because disabled tractor-trailers can become deadly hazards when left unprotected on highways and bridges.
The case also demonstrates why early investigation and litigation can become critical in trucking cases. Mechanical records, driver conduct, and safety compliance issues often tell a much different story than the one initially presented by the trucking company or insurer.
