Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The firms in this guide
1. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death, personal injury, chemical exposure, construction accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end truck collisions, highway collisions on I-10, I-12, Airline Highway, Florida Boulevard, driver fatigue accidents, cargo loading accidents, drunk driving truck accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company investigation, evidence preservation, black box data retrieval, driver log analysis, FMCSR compliance investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death representation
Background: Over 30 years of experience. One of Louisiana’s largest personal injury firms. Handles truck accident cases throughout Louisiana including Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes. Notable results include $877,191 verdict for client whose 18-wheeler was rear-ended by another 18-wheeler, product liability cases involving defective truck design, multi-million dollar settlements in trucking cases.
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Contact: https://www.getgordon.com/truck-accident-lawyer/baton-rouge/
Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7. Contingency fee basis.
2. Babcock Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, big rig accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer collisions, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, cargo accidents, driver fatigue accidents, brake failure accidents, rear-end truck collisions
Legal Services: Truck accident investigation, evidence preservation, dash cam video collection, event data recorder (black box) retrieval, FMCSR violation analysis, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Led by Stephen Babcock, named Louisiana Lawyer of the Year in 2024. Over 20 years of experience handling truck accident cases. Argued before Louisiana Supreme Court. Over $100 million recovered for clients. Knowledge of federal and state trucking regulations.
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Contact: (225) 500-5000 | https://www.stephenbabcock.com/baton-rouge/truck-accidents/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
3. Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, cargo spill accidents, driver negligence accidents, overloaded truck accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company investigation, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Over 40 years of experience representing injured clients. Collected over $1 billion in case results across firm history. Trial attorneys with experience taking on trucking companies and their insurance providers. Serves Baton Rouge and surrounding Louisiana parishes.
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Contact: (225) 341-5694 | https://www.morrisbart.com/areas-we-serve/baton-rouge-la/truck-accident-lawyer/18-wheeler/
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation. Contingency fee basis (no fee unless case is won).
4. Murphy Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving truck accidents, mechanical failure accidents, brake failure accidents, cargo loading accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents
Legal Services: Immediate investigation and evidence preservation, multi-party liability analysis, FMCSR violation investigation, trucking company negligence claims, insurance negotiation with out-of-state and foreign corporations, litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death representation
Background: Founded by Peyton Murphy in 1993. Over 30 years of experience in personal injury cases. Handles truck collisions throughout Louisiana including Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, and Gonzales. Experience with immediate investigation to preserve evidence before trucking companies can alter or destroy records.
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Contact: https://www.murphylawfirm.com/baton-rouge-truck-accident-lawyer/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Attorneys will come to clients.
5. Arnold & Itkin LLP
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, hours of service violations, unsafe hiring practices, inadequate maintenance, mechanical failures, distracted driving truck accidents, impaired driving accidents, cargo accidents
Legal Services: Comprehensive accident investigation, electronic logging data retrieval, on-board telematics analysis, dashcam evidence collection, black box data recovery, accident reconstruction, FMCSR violation documentation, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Nationally recognized for work representing victims of 18-wheeler accidents. Experience facing major trucking companies, manufacturers, and large corporations. Notable result: $90 million settlement for East Texas truck driver burned while working at chemical refinery. Serves Baton Rouge with understanding of local highways including Interstate 10 and Interstate 12 corridors.
Location: Baton Rouge, LA (and nationwide)
Contact: (888) 493-1629 | https://www.arnolditkin.com/louisiana/truck-accidents/
Consultation: Free consultation available.
Carrier Coverage, Driving Limits and Divided Liability in Baton Rouge Truck Crash Claims
In a Baton Rouge truck crash, the first questions are whether federal carrier rules reach the truck, what coverage they require and whether the driver stayed inside the daily driving window. Louisiana law then divides liability among tortfeasors by degree of fault and allows exemplary damages against an intoxicated driver.
Which Trucks the Federal Rules Reach and Their Coverage
Under 49 CFR 390.5, a commercial motor vehicle includes a vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or actual gross weight, of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater. Under 49 CFR 387.9, a for-hire carrier hauling nonhazardous property in interstate or foreign commerce in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000, and under 387.7 it may not operate until that coverage is in effect.
The Daily Driving Window and Post-Crash Testing
Except as otherwise provided in 49 CFR 395.1, 49 CFR 395.3(a) requires a property-carrying driver to have 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, limits driving to 11 hours, bars driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and bars driving once more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without a consecutive 30-minute interruption. Under 382.303, a fatal crash requires alcohol and drug testing of the surviving driver, and an injury or tow-away crash requires it when the commercial driver is cited for a moving violation arising from the crash within 8 hours (alcohol) or 32 hours (drugs).
More Than One Tortfeasor
Under Louisiana Civil Code article 2324(B), unless liability is solidary because of a conspiracy to commit an intentional or willful act, liability for damages caused by two or more persons is joint and divisible, and a joint tortfeasor is not liable for more than that tortfeasor’s degree of fault. Under (C), interruption of prescription against one joint tortfeasor is effective against all.
An Intoxicated Driver
Under Civil Code article 2315.4, in addition to general and special damages, exemplary damages may be awarded on proof that the injuries were caused by a wanton or reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others by a defendant whose intoxication while operating a motor vehicle was a cause in fact of the injuries.
Baton Rouge Truck Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue the carrier?
Under Civil Code article 3493.1, delictual actions prescribe in two years from the day injury or damage is sustained. For an injury sustained before July 1, 2024, confirm with counsel whether the earlier one-year period applies. For a truck owned by the State or a political subdivision, Revised Statutes 13:5106(B) limits general damages to $500,000 per person, apart from medical care and lost earnings.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, if your negligence is below 51 percent. Under Civil Code article 2323(A)(2), as amended effective January 1, 2026, a person 51 percent or more negligent recovers nothing, and below that damages are reduced in proportion. For example, imagine $260,000 in damages and 20 percent of the negligence on the injured driver: the recovery would be $208,000. Which version of the article governs a crash before January 1, 2026 is a question to confirm with counsel.
How long does a family have for a wrongful death claim?
Under Civil Code article 2315.2(B), one year from the death or two years from the day the injury was sustained, whichever is longer, and under (A) the surviving spouse and children may sue first, then the parents, siblings and grandparents in that order.