Truck and 18-wheeler accident lawyer.

Why truck cases are different

A commercial truck crash is not a bigger car crash. Motor carriers operate under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which set the standard of care for how many hours a driver may be on the road, how the truck must be inspected and maintained, and who is qualified to drive it. A violation of those rules is evidence of negligence.

There are usually several responsible parties: the driver, the motor carrier that employed him, the company that owned the trailer, the shipper that loaded it, the broker that arranged the haul, and the contractor that maintained the brakes. Each may carry its own policy, and commercial policies are far larger than the Louisiana minimum.

The evidence that disappears

Electronic logging device data, engine control module downloads, dash camera footage, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol test results, dispatch records and maintenance logs all exist on the day of the crash. Some are overwritten within days and some are kept only as long as the regulations require. A written preservation demand to the carrier has to go out immediately, and in serious cases a court order follows it.

Fault and the deadline

Civil Code article 2323 governs fault. Since January 1, 2026 a person fifty-one percent or more at fault recovers nothing, so the carrier's investigators will look hard at your speed, your lane and your phone. For crashes on or after July 1, 2024, Civil Code article 3493.1 gives two years to file suit.