Commercial vehicles are an essential part of supply chains. This holds true in Louisiana, which boasts six interstates and seven highways, making it a hub of commercial logistics. However, trucking companies face many risks, such as class action and catastrophic loss lawsuits. A Louisiana trucking company defense lawyer can help minimize these risks.
Choosing a law firm to represent or defend your company is one of the most important steps to ensure your company’s reputation, finances, and success will be adequately defended. It is key to choose a firm that knows the court systems of the areas near you, has built a positive reputation in the community, and can bring the necessary skills to your case. With a team of over 50 lawyers and locations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette, our team can help.
In short, at Degan, Blanchard & Nash, we know the commercial vehicle and trucking business. We recognize the integral role commercial trucking plays in the economy and can help clients navigate the myriad of federal and state laws that may apply.
Our attorneys’ experience in handling commercial trucking claims and litigation is valued by numerous clients across the country. The firm’s clients include trucking companies, bus lines, distributors, and insurance brokers that serve the transportation industry. We have handled an array of commercial trucking claims, including loading and discharge, class action litigation defense, roll-overs, catastrophic loss accidents, contract driver disputes and breach of contract issues.
While commercial vehicle accidents only made up around 2.6% of crashes in Louisiana in 2023, over half of those resulted in injuries or death. East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes had the highest number of commercial vehicle accidents in 2023, with Lafayette ranking number five. Both East and West Baton Rouge, as well as Lafayette and Orleans parishes, showed increased numbers of crashes in 2023 when compared to 2022.
These statistics indicate an increased potential for catastrophic loss accident cases, which means an increased need for trucking companies to take preventative measures to protect themselves when possible. Our team is also able to advise businesses in areas such as contract law and benefits, where crafting solid legal documents can prevent company losses later on.
Some companies may feel that there is no need to partner with a lawyer until they find themselves embroiled in a legal case. Even if there is no legal case on the horizon, it can be wise to work with a competent and experienced lawyer from the outset. A legal professional can often help with areas such as:
Degan, Blanchard & Nash has experience assisting trucking companies in Louisiana. Regardless of your company’s fleet size or the length of time you’ve been in business, we’re prepared to help you.
Whether the matter involves liability or a question of coverage, we explore the potential jury pool, research the venue, and are fully prepared to litigate any case. Our handling of claims involves litigation and arbitration at all levels of state and federal courts across the country, and the firm’s attorneys are also skilled in settlement and mediation negotiations. Our team has experience in each of Louisiana’s various courts, as well as a dedicated appellate court team.
Each case that we handle receives its own individualized evaluation and strategy, depending on its own unique set of facts and circumstances. Our extensive experience enables us to identify and recommend the best and most practical approach to achieve the desired result. In some cases, pursuing reasonable settlement early may be the most prudent course of action in order to minimize unwarranted litigation costs.
Other times, a thorough defense must be developed through discovery to substantially reduce the value of the plaintiff’s claim before a reasonable compromise can be reached without the need for an expensive trial. However, in those situations where a case must proceed to trial, rest assured that our experienced and capable litigators will be well prepared to present a compelling and persuasive case to a judge or jury.
Our clients benefit from having access to a legal team that can offer aggressive and well-formed defense strategies when necessary. However, we have experience in mediation and arbitration as well. Our lawyers are able to pull from years of experience and work with clients to build the strategy that suits their unique case. Claims filed against trucking companies vary immensely, and each case requires a unique strategy.
Properly handling commercial trucking issues also requires a firm like Degan, Blanchard & Nash with solid experience in defending against bad faith claims. Helping insurers identify, prevent, and defend against bad faith claims is a fundamental aspect of our practice, and our attorneys have years of experience dealing with these areas.
We have defended insurers in states where bad faith law is statutory (such as in Louisiana) and in states where common law bad faith theories apply (such as in Texas and California). As a result of this broad-based expertise, our work has resulted in published appellate court opinions favorable to insurers on novel coverage and bad faith issues. It is important to note that Louisiana’s laws often differ from other states, which is why finding local representation is so important.
Because trucking businesses frequently cross state boundaries, it is important to have a law firm on your side that can do the same. Our attorneys are admitted to practice in multiple states and have been admitted as pro hac vice counsel in a variety of jurisdictions. Beyond litigating matters in Louisiana, our attorneys have litigated matters in
When the law is relegated to a single state, however, we still possess the ability to provide detailed recommendations tailored to each individual claim. The point is that, regardless of the jurisdiction, Degan, Blanchard & Nash focuses on succinct evaluation of the facts and law and has the experience necessary to bring your claim to a timely and economically-feasible resolution.
We recognize and appreciate that timely and consistent collaborative planning and communication between the attorney and the client is essential to achieving a desired result in civil litigation. We are also cognizant of the importance of proactive reporting so that our clients remain closely apprised of how each case is progressing.
As a whole, the firm is aware of litigation’s financial realities and strives for the most economically beneficial resolution of claims. We take pride in our work and our clients’ satisfaction with it. If you are looking to partner with an experienced law firm that has the skills needed to meet your commercial trucking needs, we look forward to hearing from you. Reach out to our team today.