Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in New Orleans, Louisiana
The firms in this guide
- Morris Bart, LLC Call Morris Bart, LLC: (504) 613-4771
- Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers Call Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers: (866) 897-8495
- Kiefer and Kiefer Call Kiefer and Kiefer: (504) 828-3313
- Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC Call Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC: (504) 891-5841
- The Law Offices of Blaine Barrilleaux Call The Law Offices of Blaine Barrilleaux: (504) 475-2429
1. Morris Bart, LLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions, delivery truck accidents, bus accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions with trucks, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, head-on truck collisions, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, cargo spill accidents, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, multi-vehicle truck accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, black box data retrieval, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Morris Bart has over 40 years of experience in personal injury law. The firm has recovered over $6,500 cases won for accident victims in 2019. Reported truck accident recoveries include $337,500 for a tractor-trailer truck accident resulting in traumatic brain injuries and $490,000 for neck and back injuries. The firm operates 16 offices throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. Morris Bart holds an AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating. Multiple attorneys at the firm have been selected to Super Lawyers lists.
Location: 601 Poydras Street, 24th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70130
Contact: (504) 613-4771 | (800) 537-8185 | https://www.morrisbart.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis (no fee unless case is won), available 24/7
2. Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, big rig accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, delivery truck accidents, cargo truck accidents
Case Types Handled: Wrong-way truck accidents, multi-vehicle truck accidents, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, rollover accidents, failure to yield accidents, distracted driving accidents, fatigue-related accidents, speeding truck accidents, overloaded cargo accidents
Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device analysis, CDL requirements verification, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury claims, property damage claims
Background: Dudley DeBosier operates multiple offices throughout Louisiana including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport, and Houma. The firm focuses exclusively on personal injury and workers compensation cases. Their attorneys are experienced in federal trucking regulations and state transportation laws. The firm offers their No Fee Guarantee, meaning clients pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
Location: New Orleans Office (serves Greater New Orleans area)
Contact: (866) 897-8495 | https://www.dudleydebosier.com/
Consultation: Free case review available, No Fee Guarantee (contingency fee basis), available 24/7
3. Kiefer and Kiefer
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions, Jones Act claims, maritime accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions with trucks, rollover accidents, head-on truck collisions, wide turn accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, brake failure accidents, cargo shift accidents, driver negligence accidents
Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, event data recorder analysis
Background: Kiefer and Kiefer was established over 60 years ago and has been representing New Orleans families for three generations. The firm was founded by Senator Nat G. Kiefer, Sr. Current attorneys include Nat G. Kiefer, Jr., Kris P. Kiefer, Megan Kiefer, Ford T. Hardy, Jr., and Christopher J. Kiefer. The firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients over the years.
Location: 1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA 70163
Contact: (504) 828-3313 | https://kieferandkiefer.com/
Consultation: Free and confidential consultation available, contingency fee arrangement
4. Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, catastrophic injuries from truck accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, delivery truck accidents, maritime and offshore injury
Case Types Handled: Rear-end truck collisions, T-bone crashes, rollover accidents, head-on collisions, distracted driving accidents, cargo spill accidents, brake failure accidents, wide turn accidents, multi-vehicle truck accidents
Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, black box data retrieval, driver log analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims
Background: Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC has been in business serving the legal needs of New Orleans and surrounding areas since 1975. The firm has over 50 years of combined legal experience. Attorneys are members of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Robert P. Charbonnet, Jr. has been selected to Super Lawyers. The firm handles complex cases involving federal trucking regulations and multiple liable parties.
Location: 3750 S. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70125 (additional office at 501 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70001)
Contact: (504) 891-5841 | (504) 294-3910 | https://www.charbonnetlawfirm.com/
Consultation: Free consultation and case evaluation available, no recovery/no fee, evening and weekend appointments available, hospital or home visits offered
5. The Law Offices of Blaine Barrilleaux
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, semi-truck collisions, offshore and maritime injuries, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, delivery truck accidents
Case Types Handled: Commercial truck accidents, big rig accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, cargo accidents, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, defective truck part accidents, overloaded truck accidents, rear-end collisions
Legal Services: Federal trucking regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, defective part liability claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, workers compensation for truck drivers, Jones Act claims
Background: Blaine J. Barrilleaux has over 25 years of legal experience. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law New Orleans in 1998 and his B.A. in Marketing from USL. He is licensed in all Louisiana State and Federal Courts. Blaine is an active member of LTLA (Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association), ATLA (Association of Trial Lawyers of America), and AAJ (American Association for Justice). He has received recognition from The National Trial Lawyers and Elite Lawyers organizations. The firm has achieved multi-million dollar settlements for families.
Location: 1 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 1900, Metairie, LA 70001 (serves New Orleans area)
Contact: (504) 475-2429 | https://barrilleauxlaw.com/
Consultation: Free case evaluation available, no upfront fees, contingency fee arrangement (no payment unless case is won), available 24/7 including holidays
Truck Maintenance, Hazardous Loads and Government Claim Limits in New Orleans Truck Crash Cases
In a New Orleans truck crash, federal rules govern the carrier’s maintenance of the truck, the coverage a hazardous load requires and the alcohol limit for its driver. Louisiana law allocates fault to everyone who contributed, including nonparties, and caps general damages against the State and its political subdivisions.
Maintenance and Inspection
Under 49 CFR 396.3, every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair and maintain each vehicle subject to its control, keep maintenance records for 1 year where the vehicle is housed or maintained, and keep them for 6 months after the vehicle leaves its control. Under 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection within the preceding 12 months.
Hazardous Loads and Alcohol
Under 49 CFR 387.9, listed oil and hazardous materials not covered by the higher rows require $1,000,000 in public liability coverage, and bulk hazardous substances and listed explosive, poison and radioactive categories require $5,000,000. Under 382.201, a driver subject to the federal testing rules may not report for or remain on safety-sensitive duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.
Fault of Every Person Involved
Under Louisiana Civil Code article 2323(A)(1), the fault of all persons causing or contributing to the injury is determined, whether or not they are parties and regardless of insolvency, statutory immunity or unknown identity, and under (B) the rule applies under any law or theory of liability. Under (C), the injured person’s claim is not reduced against an intentional tortfeasor.
A Government Truck or Road
Under Revised Statutes 13:5106(B)(1) and (2), the total liability of the State and its political subdivisions for personal injury or wrongful death of any one person, excluding property damage, medical care and related benefits and lost earnings or support, may not exceed $500,000, regardless of the number of suits or claims.
New Orleans 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.
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 $340,000 in damages and 45 percent of the negligence on the injured driver: the recovery would be $187,000. Which version of the article governs a crash before January 1, 2026 is a question to confirm with counsel.
What happens to the claim if the injured person dies?
Under Civil Code article 2315.1(A), the right to recover the injured person’s damages survives for one year from the death or two years from the day the injury was sustained, whichever is longer, in favor of the surviving spouse and children first, then the parents, siblings and grandparents in that order.