Truck accidents in New Orleans aren’t limited to 18-wheelers. Crashes involving semi-trucks, big rigs, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, construction vehicles, tow trucks, and even everyday pickup trucks can all cause devastating injuries. Because of their size and weight, trucks often inflict far greater damage than passenger cars, leaving victims with catastrophic injuries, high medical bills, and lasting financial stress. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, the attorneys at Brandt & Sherman are here to help. With over 50 years of combined experience, our New Orleans truck accident lawyers know how to hold negligent drivers, trucking companies, and insurers accountable. We understand Louisiana truck accident law and the tactics companies use to minimize payouts. From the moment you call us, we are your advocates and your voice through a difficult process.

What Types of Trucks Are Typically Involved in Accidents

We represent clients hurt in crashes involving every type of truck in New Orleans. From 18-wheelers and semi-trucks on I-10 to UPS or Amazon delivery vans, garbage and dump trucks, tow trucks, and even personal pickup trucks, each type of vehicle carries unique risks and liability issues. Our team has the experience to handle them all.

Why Truck Accidents Are More Complex

Truck crashes aren’t like typical fender-benders. Whether the vehicle is a commercial 18-wheeler, a delivery van, or a dump truck, these cases are high-stakes and often complex. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including the driver, their employer, cargo loaders, maintenance crews, or even the truck manufacturer. Commercial trucks must also comply with strict federal rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Trucking companies act fast to protect themselves, sometimes sending investigators to the crash scene within hours. Without an attorney, vital evidence—like driver logs, black box data, or maintenance records—may disappear.

Why You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in New Orleans

After a truck crash, you should be focused on recovery, not fighting insurance companies. Our attorneys step in immediately to:

• Preserve key evidence like black box data, driver logs, and inspection records.
• Investigate every potential source of liability, from negligent drivers to unsafe companies.
• Handle communications with insurers who try to pressure victims into quick, low settlements.
• Ensure your claim is filed before Louisiana’s strict legal deadlines expire.

Louisiana law gives you limited time to act. For accidents before July 1, 2024, you generally have one year to file a lawsuit (La. Civ. Code art. 3492). For accidents on or after that date, you have two years. Missing the deadline can permanently bar your claim.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

What you do after a wreck can affect both your health and your case. Always remember these steps:

1. Call 911 and report the accident. Wait for law enforcement to arrive and provide an accurate account of what happened, but do not apologize or admit fault.
2. Seek medical care immediately. Even if injuries don’t seem serious, adrenaline can mask pain. Early treatment also creates medical documentation that supports your claim.
3. Document the scene. Take photos or video of vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, weather, cargo spills, and visible injuries.
4. Gather information. Collect the truck driver’s insurance details, employer name, DOT number, and contact information for any witnesses.
5. Get a copy of the police report. This official record is a key piece of evidence.
6. Track medical treatment and expenses. Keep all bills, prescriptions, and records of missed work.
7. Do not speak with the trucking company or insurer. They may try to get statements that hurt your case.
8. Contact a truck accident lawyer right away. An attorney ensures evidence like black box data and driver logs is preserved and that your rights are protected from the start.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in New Orleans

The FMCSA and Louisiana crash data show that most truck accidents are preventable. Some of the most common causes include:

• Driver fatigue from long hours on the road
• Distracted driving, including cell phone use and GPS navigation
• Impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs, or even prescription medication
• Speeding or reckless maneuvers, especially in city traffic
• Poor maintenance, such as brake or tire failures
• Overloaded or unsecured cargo that shifts during transit
• Blind spot errors (“no-zones”) where smaller vehicles can’t be seen
• Hazardous weather or unsafe road conditions

Whether it’s a delivery truck on Magazine Street, a garbage truck in Mid-City, or an 18-wheeler on I-10, our lawyers know how to prove negligence and fight back when insurers try to shift blame.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accidents of any kind can cause catastrophic harm. Victims often suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and herniated discs
• Broken bones and orthopedic injuries
• Severe burns from fires or explosions
• Internal organ damage
• Amputations or crush injuries
• Fatal injuries leading to wrongful death claims

These injuries frequently require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Families facing the loss of a loved one may pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, loss of income, and emotional suffering.

Evidence That Matters in Truck Accident Cases

Key evidence can make or break a truck accident case. Our team works quickly to secure:

• The truck’s black box (event data recorder)
• Driver rest logs and employment records
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance reports
• Cargo loading documentation
• Surveillance or dashcam footage
• Drug and alcohol test results
• Eyewitness statements and police reports

Because trucking companies often control much of this evidence, early legal action is essential to prevent it from being altered or destroyed.

Louisiana and Federal Laws That Apply

Truck accident claims in Louisiana often involve both state and federal rules. Louisiana’s comparative negligence system allows recovery even if you share fault, though your award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. The state’s “no pay, no play” law limits compensation for uninsured drivers, though exceptions apply in cases like drunk driving crashes. At the federal level, FMCSA regulations set strict rules for hours of service, weight limits, and vehicle inspections. Louisiana law (Civil Code Article 2320) also makes employers vicariously liable for their drivers’ negligence, which often brings the trucking company’s large corporate insurance into play.

Compensation Available After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents often leave victims with injuries that impact every part of life. If you’ve been hurt in a New Orleans truck crash, you may be entitled to compensation for both financial and non-financial losses. This can include:

• Medical expenses – from emergency room visits and surgeries to rehabilitation, prescriptions, assistive devices, and long-term care.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity – covering both the time you’ve already missed from work and your future ability to earn if your injuries prevent you from returning to your job.
• Pain and suffering – compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, and the loss of enjoyment of life that often follows a serious accident.
• Property damage – including repair or replacement of your vehicle and diminished value if it’s worth less even after repairs.
• Wrongful death damages – if a loved one was killed in a truck accident, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim to recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
• Punitive damages – awarded in rare but severe cases, such as when a trucking company knowingly violated safety rules or a driver operated while intoxicated.

Serious injuries often require years of treatment, home modifications, in-home care, or adaptive equipment. Our team works with medical and economic experts to ensure the true long-term costs are fully calculated before any settlement is accepted. Because truck accident cases fall under the broader category of personal injury claims in Louisiana, you may also have rights beyond the trucking company’s insurance coverage.

How Brandt & Sherman Can Help

Our attorneys know how to take on trucking companies and insurers. We investigate thoroughly, work with accident reconstruction experts, and build strong cases grounded in evidence. We negotiate aggressively but are fully prepared to go to trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t pay us unless we win.