1. Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, catastrophic injury cases
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, catastrophic injury cases including spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims
Background: The firm is led by founding partners Trey Morris and Justin Dewett. Trey Morris received his J.D. from Southern University Law Center and his B.A. from Louisiana State University. He is licensed in Louisiana and Texas and is admitted to the Louisiana Eastern District Court, Louisiana Middle District Court, and Louisiana Western District Court. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Shreveport Bar Association, Louisiana Association for Justice, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Recognized as a Louisiana Rising Star by Super Lawyers and as one of Louisiana’s Outstanding Young Lawyers by Louisiana Life. The firm secured Louisiana’s largest personal injury verdict as of March 2023, a $409 million verdict in a wrongful death case involving an impaired commercial vehicle driver.
Location: 509 Milam Street, Shreveport, LA 71101
Contact: (318) 221-1508 | https://morrisdewett.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained)
2. Greenwald Law Firm, LLC
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, motorcycle accidents, drunk driving accidents, pedestrian injuries, ridesharing accidents, rollover accidents, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: T-bone collisions, rear-end accidents, rollover accidents, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle wrecks, hit-and-run cases, uninsured motorist claims, catastrophic injury cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, evidence gathering, witness questioning, police report analysis, medical record review, wrongful death claims
Background: Attorney Joseph Greenwald Jr. has practiced criminal and civil law in Louisiana and Mississippi for nearly 30 years. He graduated from Mississippi College of Law in 1997. He previously served as Law Clerk to the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish (1997-1998) and as Assistant District Attorney for the First J.D.C. in Caddo Parish (1998-2000). He is a member of the Shreveport Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Mississippi State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Louisiana Association for Justice, and American Association for Justice.
Location: 7591 Fern Avenue, Suite 1901, Shreveport, LA 71105
Contact: (318) 219-7867 | [email protected] | https://www.shreveportlawyer.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, contingency fee basis
3. Law Offices of L. Clayton Burgess
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, personal injury, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, catastrophic injury cases including brain injuries and spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence collection, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims
Background: L. Clayton Burgess has more than 30 years of experience in personal injury law. The firm was established in 1998 and maintains offices across Louisiana including Shreveport, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Alexandria, Monroe, Lake Charles, and Houma. The firm has obtained numerous settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million for clients injured in commercial vehicle and trucking accidents.
Location: 333 Texas Street, Suite 1102, Shreveport, LA 71101
Contact: (877) 908-9887 | (318) 750-3171 | https://clayburgess.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation available 24/7, contingency fee basis
4. Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, workers compensation, criminal defense
Case Types Handled: Car wrecks, commercial truck collisions, rear-end accidents, intersection accidents, wrongful death cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical bill management, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: Attorney Jacqueline Scott has built a distinguished reputation over 35 years of representing clients in northwest Louisiana and throughout the state. She has been consistently nominated as a favorite in SB Magazine’s Lawyers Poll since 2003. Attorney Scott has been recognized by both state and national bar associations and is actively involved in numerous community initiatives.
Location: Offices in Shreveport and Bossier City, LA
Contact: (318) 746-5997 | https://www.jacquelinescottlaw.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation, no upfront costs for injury cases, contingency fee arrangement
5. Rice Law Firm
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, big rig wrecks, bicycle accidents, boating accidents, drunk driver accidents, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motor vehicle accidents, commercial trucking accidents, hit-and-run accidents, multi-vehicle collisions, catastrophic injury cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, case investigation, evidence preservation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, damage documentation
Background: Joel A. Rice is an experienced personal injury attorney and native of Shreveport, Louisiana. He has spent the majority of his legal career representing and protecting the rights of injury victims of motor vehicle accidents. The firm is licensed to practice in the State of Louisiana.
Location: Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana
Contact: https://www.ricelawfirmllc.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation, no obligation, contingency fee basis
Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Louisiana
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Louisiana has a prescriptive period (statute of limitations) for personal injury claims. For motor vehicle accidents occurring after July 1, 2024, victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Act No. 423. This amendment increased the previous one-year statute of limitations. Property damage claims have a one-year prescriptive period.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance State Status: Louisiana is a fault-based (tort) state for car accidents. The driver who caused the accident is financially responsible for damages. Victims can file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Direct Action Statute: Louisiana is a direct action state, meaning injured parties can name an insurance carrier directly in a lawsuit without first suing the individual driver. This is unique compared to most other states.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault system under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323. An injured party can recover damages even if they are partially at fault, but the recovery is reduced by the percentage of their own fault. For example, if a victim is 30% at fault and has $100,000 in damages, they can recover $70,000. Effective August 1, 2025, the system changed to a 51% modified comparative fault rule, meaning a driver must be less than 51% at fault to recover any damages.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Louisiana requires drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage (15/30/25). This is among the lowest minimum requirements in the United States.
No Pay, No Play Law: Under Louisiana law, uninsured motorists who are injured in accidents cannot recover the first $15,000 in bodily injury damages or the first $25,000 in property damage. Effective August 1, 2025, these limits increased to $100,000 for both bodily injury and property damage. Exceptions apply for hit-and-run accidents, drunk driving accidents, and intentional acts.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Louisiana law encourages drivers to carry UM/UIM coverage to protect against accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers. While not mandatory, it is strongly recommended given that over 13% of Louisiana drivers lack insurance.
Damage Caps: Louisiana does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. However, medical malpractice cases have a $500,000 cap on total damages, with individual medical professionals capped at $100,000.
Accident Reporting Requirements: Under Louisiana Revised Statutes section 32-398, drivers must report any vehicle accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 to police. Reports must be made to the local police department for accidents within an incorporated city or to the sheriff’s office or state police station for accidents outside city limits.
Dram Shop Liability: Louisiana has dram shop liability laws that allow injured parties to pursue claims against establishments that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals who subsequently caused accidents.
Wrongful Death Claims: The prescriptive period for wrongful death claims is one year from the date of death. Eligible claimants include surviving spouses, children, parents, and siblings in order of priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Louisiana?
A: For motor vehicle accidents occurring after July 1, 2024, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident for personal injury claims. For accidents before that date, the deadline was one year. Property damage claims must be filed within one year. Missing these deadlines typically results in losing the right to pursue compensation, so consulting with an attorney promptly after an accident is advisable.
Q: How does Louisiana’s comparative fault law affect my compensation?
A: Louisiana follows a comparative fault system that allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For accidents occurring after August 1, 2025, the state applies a 51% bar rule, meaning you cannot recover any damages if you are found to be 51% or more at fault. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 20% at fault, you would receive $80,000.
Q: What happens if I am in an accident and do not have car insurance in Louisiana?
A: Under Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” law, uninsured drivers who are injured in accidents face significant limitations on their recovery. For accidents after August 1, 2025, uninsured drivers cannot recover the first $100,000 in bodily injury damages or the first $100,000 in property damage. Exceptions exist for accidents caused by drunk drivers, hit-and-run drivers, or drivers acting intentionally.
Q: Can I sue the insurance company directly in Louisiana?
A: Yes. Louisiana is one of the few states with a “direct action statute” that allows injured parties to sue the at-fault driver’s insurance company directly without first suing the driver. This can be advantageous because it makes clear to the judge and jury that an insurance company, rather than an individual, will be paying any damages awarded.
Q: What damages can I recover in a Louisiana car accident case?
A: In Louisiana, car accident victims can recover economic damages including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disability or disfigurement. In cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be awarded. Louisiana does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases.