Caddo Parish Personal Injury Lawyer

One moment you may be driving through Shreveport, traveling on I-20, heading along I-49, commuting on I-220, or simply going about your normal day. The next, you may be dealing with an ambulance ride, hospitalization, a damaged vehicle, missed work, medical bills, and an insurance company asking questions before you fully understand how badly you have been injured.

When another person or company causes that harm, Louisiana law may provide a right to seek compensation.

Jacqueline Scott & Associates represents people injured in serious accidents in Caddo Parish and throughout Louisiana.

Our personal injury practice includes car accidents, 18-wheeler and commercial truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, catastrophic injuries, premises liability claims, wrongful death cases, and other accidents caused by negligence.

If you were injured because of someone else’s actions, the question is not simply whether an accident occurred.

The investigation needs to determine:

Who caused it?

What evidence proves it?

Who can legally be held responsible?

What insurance applies?

How seriously were you injured?

What will those injuries cost you in the future?

Make ’Em Pay.

Call Jacqueline Scott & Associates at (318) 746-5997.

Personal Injury Representation in Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Caddo Parish includes Shreveport and communities throughout northwest Louisiana.

Accidents here can involve everything from ordinary passenger vehicles to commercial trucks traveling across Louisiana and state lines.

A Caddo Parish personal injury claim may arise from:

• car accidents;
• 18-wheeler accidents;
• commercial vehicle wrecks;
• motorcycle accidents;
• pedestrian accidents;
• bicycle accidents;
• rideshare accidents;
• dangerous-property incidents;
• defective products;
• industrial accidents;
• workplace accidents involving third parties;
• catastrophic injuries; and
• wrongful death.

Each type of case requires a different investigation.

Car Accidents in Caddo Parish

Car accidents are among the most common personal injury claims, but no two collisions are identical.

A Caddo Parish car accident can result from:

• distracted driving;
• speeding;
• failure to yield;
• unsafe lane changes;
• following too closely;
• impaired driving;
• running a traffic signal;
• unsafe merging; or
• failure to adjust driving to road and weather conditions.

Determining fault can require much more than reading a police report.

Evidence may include photographs, video, witnesses, vehicle damage, roadway evidence, dashcam recordings, surveillance footage, cellphone evidence when legally obtainable, and electronic vehicle information.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end collisions are sometimes treated as minor accidents.

They are not always minor.

A high-speed rear-end collision can cause significant injuries, especially when a vehicle is stopped or moving slowly when struck.

The forces involved may contribute to injuries affecting the:

• head;
• neck;
• back;
• shoulders;
• knees; and
• other parts of the body.

A rear-end collision involving an 18-wheeler can be particularly devastating because of the size and weight of the commercial vehicle.

Intersection Accidents

Intersection collisions can create complicated disputes over fault.

Drivers may disagree about:

• who had the green light;
• who had the right of way;
• whether someone failed to yield;
• whether a driver was speeding; or
• whether someone entered the intersection after the signal changed.

Independent evidence can become critical.

Nearby businesses, residences, dashcams, witnesses, or traffic-related evidence may help determine what happened.

Interstate Accidents in Caddo Parish

Caddo Parish sits along major transportation corridors serving Shreveport and northwest Louisiana.

Interstate accidents present unique dangers because vehicles are traveling at highway speeds.

Serious wrecks can involve:

• rear-end collisions;
• unsafe lane changes;
• merging accidents;
• rollovers;
• median crossings;
• chain-reaction crashes;
• commercial vehicles; and
• multi-vehicle pileups.

Major interstate routes in and around the Shreveport area include I-20, I-49 and I-220.

These roads also bring passenger vehicles into close contact with commercial freight traffic.

I-20 Accidents in Shreveport and Caddo Parish

Interstate 20 is an important east-west transportation route through north Louisiana.

Drivers traveling through Shreveport share I-20 with 18-wheelers, commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles, commuters, and travelers crossing Louisiana.

At interstate speed, a driver’s mistake can have catastrophic consequences.

An I-20 accident may involve:

• traffic slowing unexpectedly;
• commercial-truck traffic;
• unsafe merging;
• sudden lane changes;
• distracted driving;
• fatigue;
• construction;
• poor visibility; or
• multiple vehicles.

If an 18-wheeler is involved, additional evidence may exist that would not normally be available in a passenger-car accident.

I-49 Accidents

I-49 is another major corridor connected to Shreveport and Caddo Parish.

A serious I-49 collision can involve passenger vehicles and commercial traffic traveling at highway speed.

The investigation may examine:

• vehicle speeds;
• lane positions;
• braking;
• visibility;
• driver attention;
• weather;
• roadway conditions; and
• commercial-vehicle evidence when applicable.

I-220 Accidents

I-220 provides an important route around portions of the Shreveport-Bossier area and connects with other major roadways.

Highway merging, lane changes, commercial traffic, congestion, and speed can all contribute to serious collisions.

After an I-220 accident, preserve photographs, video, witness information, and any available dashcam footage.

18-Wheeler Accidents in Caddo Parish

An 18-wheeler accident is not simply a larger car accident.

Commercial trucking cases can involve federal regulations, corporate defendants, electronic records, commercial insurance, and several potentially responsible businesses.

The investigation may need to examine both the driver and the company.

What Evidence Can Exist in a Truck Accident?

Depending on the truck and operation, evidence may include:

• electronic logging information;
• GPS;
• telematics;
• dashcam footage;
• driver-facing camera footage;
• dispatch communications;
• maintenance records;
• inspection documents;
• driver qualification information;
• cargo information;
• cellphone evidence when legally obtainable; and
• electronic information from the commercial vehicle.

Not every truck contains every type of data.

That is why the specific vehicle and motor carrier need to be investigated.

Why Truck Evidence Should Be Preserved Quickly

Louisiana may provide years to file certain claims.

Electronic evidence can disappear much sooner.

Dashcam footage may be overwritten.

Vehicles can be repaired.

Electronic information can be lost under ordinary retention practices.

Witnesses can become difficult to locate.

A serious commercial-truck accident should therefore be investigated well before the legal filing deadline approaches.

Can the Trucking Company Be Responsible?

Potentially.

Depending on the evidence and applicable law, a truck accident investigation may involve:

• commercial driver;
• motor carrier;
• driver’s employer;
• tractor owner;
• trailer owner;
• maintenance company;
• cargo-loading company; or
• another person or business whose conduct contributed to the collision.

Simply having a business connection to the truck does not automatically establish liability.

The evidence must show each party’s role.

Motorcycle Accidents in Caddo Parish

Motorcyclists have little physical protection when struck by another vehicle.

A collision that causes moderate damage to a passenger vehicle can cause catastrophic injuries to a motorcyclist.

Potential injuries include:

• traumatic brain injury;
• fractures;
• spinal injuries;
• road rash;
• nerve damage;
• internal injuries;
• amputations; and
• permanent disability.

Motorcycle cases may also involve unfair assumptions about the rider.

Fault should be determined from evidence—not stereotypes.

Pedestrian Accidents

A pedestrian struck by a vehicle can suffer devastating injuries even at relatively low vehicle speeds.

Pedestrian collisions may occur:

• at intersections;
• in crosswalks;
• in parking lots;
• along roadways; or
• near businesses and residential areas.

Potential evidence can include surveillance footage, dashcams, witnesses, vehicle damage, roadway evidence, and lighting conditions.

Serious and Catastrophic Injuries

Some accident victims recover within weeks.

Others never return to the life they had before the collision.

Catastrophic injuries may include:

• traumatic brain injury;
• spinal cord injury;
• paralysis;
• amputation;
• multiple fractures;
• internal organ damage;
• severe burns;
• crush injuries; and
• permanent neurological damage.

A catastrophic injury case requires consideration of the future—not only today’s medical bills.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and Serious Trauma

Caddo Parish is also home to a major regional trauma resource.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Academic Medical Center on Kings Highway identifies itself as the region’s only Level I Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons.

The Academic Medical Center also has a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center designation.

Seriously injured accident patients may require services such as emergency trauma care, surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, intensive care, and rehabilitation.

For a personal injury claim, records documenting that treatment can become important evidence concerning the nature and severity of the injuries.

Why Medical Records Matter

Louisiana changed its medical-causation law in 2025.

For claims governed by Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 306.1, the fact that a person had no prior history of an illness, injury, or condition does not itself create a presumption that the accident caused the new condition.

Medical documentation therefore deserves careful attention.

Records may establish:

• when symptoms began;
• what symptoms were reported;
• objective findings;
• diagnoses;
• treatment recommendations;
• work restrictions; and
• medical opinions concerning causation.

Seek Medical Care After a Serious Accident

Your health comes first.

Call 911 when emergency assistance is necessary.

Do not refuse needed emergency care because you are worried about the claim or medical bills.

Some injuries may not be fully understood at the scene.

If you are released from emergency care with follow-up instructions, make reasonable efforts to follow those recommendations.

Louisiana’s Personal Injury Deadline Changed

Louisiana changed the general prescriptive period for delictual actions in 2024.

Under current Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, delictual actions are generally subject to a two-year liberative prescriptive period beginning on the day injury or damage is sustained.

The legislation became effective July 1, 2024.

The legislation establishing the new period provided for prospective application, so older accidents require analysis under the law applicable when the cause of action arose.

Why You Should Not Wait Two Years

The filing deadline is not an evidence-preservation deadline.

Consider a commercial truck accident.

The legal deadline may be measured in years.

But potentially important video or electronic information may disappear far earlier.

The same is true after a slip-and-fall accident. A business surveillance system may overwrite footage long before the legal filing deadline expires.

Starting early allows more time to locate and preserve evidence.

Louisiana’s Comparative Fault Law Changed in 2026

Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323 changed effective January 1, 2026.

For claims governed by the current law, an injured person who is 51% or more negligent cannot recover damages.

If the injured person’s percentage of negligence is less than 51%, damages are reduced according to that percentage.

This makes disputes over fault particularly important.

Example of Comparative Fault

Suppose recoverable damages are determined to total $500,000.

If the injured person is found 20% negligent, the damages would generally be reduced according to that 20% fault allocation.

If the injured person is found 51% negligent under the current statute, recovery is barred.

That difference makes evidence important from the beginning.

What If the Insurance Company Blames You?

An insurance adjuster’s opinion is not automatically the final determination of fault.

If an insurer says you caused 50%, 60%, or 70% of the accident, the evidence should be examined.

Potential evidence may include:

• photographs;
• video;
• witnesses;
• vehicle damage;
• dashcam footage;
• roadway evidence;
• electronic information; and
• accident reconstruction when appropriate.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered?

Depending on the facts and applicable law, a personal injury claim may include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages

Potential economic damages can include:

• past medical expenses;
• future medical expenses;
• rehabilitation;
• lost wages;
• diminished earning capacity;
• property damage; and
• other measurable financial losses.

Non-economic damages

Depending on the circumstances, legally recoverable non-economic damages can address consequences such as:

• physical pain;
• mental anguish;
• disability;
• loss of enjoyment of life; and
• other non-financial effects of the injury.

Future Medical Care

Serious injuries may require years of treatment.

Potential future needs can include:

• surgery;
• physical therapy;
• neurological treatment;
• injections;
• prosthetics;
• mobility equipment;
• medication;
• attendant care; and
• home modifications.

Future damages should be supported by appropriate evidence rather than speculation.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

If an injury prevents you from working, preserve:

• pay stubs;
• work schedules;
• employer statements;
• medical restrictions;
• overtime records; and
• other proof of lost income.

A catastrophic injury can also reduce a person’s future earning capacity even if that person eventually returns to some form of employment.

Wrongful Death Accidents in Caddo Parish

Some accidents result in death.

Louisiana recognizes both survival and wrongful-death actions in qualifying circumstances.

Although related, they are distinct claims.

A survival action generally concerns legally recoverable damages associated with the injury suffered by the deceased before death.

A wrongful-death action concerns legally recoverable losses sustained by qualifying survivors because of the death.

Louisiana law determines who may bring these claims and establishes specific filing periods.

Families should have fatal accident claims evaluated promptly.

What If a Drunk Driver Caused the Accident?

Louisiana generally does not award punitive damages in every negligence case.

However, Civil Code Article 2315.4 authorizes exemplary damages in specified circumstances involving injuries caused by an intoxicated motor-vehicle operator when the statutory requirements are met.

The evidence may involve:

• police investigation;
• toxicology;
• witnesses;
• video; and
• other records.

What Should You Do After an Accident in Caddo Parish?

First, protect your health and safety.

Then, when reasonably possible:

1. Call law enforcement.
2. Obtain medical care.
3. Photograph the accident scene.
4. Photograph vehicle damage.
5. Identify witnesses.
6. Save dashcam footage.
7. Keep insurance correspondence.
8. Save medical documents and bills.
9. Preserve employment records if you miss work.
10. Avoid disposing of important physical evidence.

If a commercial truck is involved, photograph identifying information when it can be done safely.

Should You Keep Your Damaged Vehicle?

After a catastrophic collision, yes, when reasonably possible until you determine whether an inspection is necessary.

A damaged vehicle may contain evidence concerning:

• impact location;
• collision direction;
• intrusion;
• crush patterns;
• occupant-compartment damage; and
• potentially available electronic information.

Do not personally attempt to inspect dangerous wreckage.

What If an Insurance Adjuster Calls?

Be accurate.

Do not guess.

Do not exaggerate.

And read documents carefully before signing them.

A liability insurer investigates claims for its insured and itself.

If you have an attorney, claim communications can generally be handled through counsel.

Where Can a Caddo Parish Personal Injury Lawsuit Be Filed?

Many civil matters arising in Caddo Parish are heard in Louisiana’s First Judicial District Court, subject to Louisiana’s jurisdiction and venue rules.

However, the proper court for a particular lawsuit depends on the defendants, accident location, applicable venue provisions, and other circumstances.

A case should not be filed in a particular court merely because the injured person prefers that location.

Frequently Asked Questions About Caddo Parish Accident Claims

How long do I have to bring a personal injury claim in Louisiana?

Louisiana now generally provides a two-year prescriptive period for delictual actions under Civil Code Article 3493.1. The accident date and type of claim matter, and special rules may apply.

Can I recover if I was partly responsible?

For claims governed by the current Article 2323, you may potentially recover when your negligence is less than 51%, although damages are reduced according to your percentage of negligence. At 51% or greater negligence, recovery is barred.

How much is my Caddo Parish accident case worth?

There is no universal calculator.

The value depends on factors such as liability, comparative fault, medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, earning capacity, permanent impairment, non-economic harm, responsible defendants, and available insurance.

Do I have to go to court?

Not necessarily.

Some claims resolve through negotiations.

Others require litigation.

Even after suit is filed, cases may resolve through settlement or mediation before trial.

Can I sue a trucking company after an 18-wheeler accident?

Potentially. Liability depends on the evidence and legal relationship between the driver, motor carrier, employer, equipment owners, and other entities.

What if the truck driver says I caused the accident?

The driver’s statement is evidence, not necessarily the final answer.

Electronic information, video, witnesses, vehicle damage, and other evidence may provide a more complete picture.

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurer?

You should be careful when giving detailed or recorded statements. Do not lie, but do not speculate about things you do not remember or medical conditions you do not yet understand.

What if my injuries require future surgery?

Future medical treatment may be part of a damages analysis when supported by appropriate medical evidence.

What if I cannot return to my job?

Lost wages and diminished earning capacity may be relevant depending on the evidence and circumstances.

What if my family member died?

Louisiana law may provide survival and wrongful-death actions to qualifying persons. Fatal accident claims should be investigated promptly.

Why Choose a Local Caddo Parish Accident Lawyer?

A serious personal injury claim requires more than submitting bills to an insurance company.

The case may require investigation of:

• liability;
• Louisiana comparative fault;
• electronic evidence;
• commercial trucking records;
• medical causation;
• insurance coverage;
• future treatment;
• lost income; and
• permanent disability.

The goal is to understand the whole case, not merely the first medical bill or first settlement offer.

Jacqueline Scott & Associates Serves Caddo Parish

If you were injured in Shreveport or elsewhere in Caddo Parish, you do not have to determine the legal issues by yourself.

Jacqueline Scott & Associates handles serious personal injury claims involving car wrecks, 18-wheelers, commercial vehicles, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death.

We investigate what happened.

We identify the evidence.

We evaluate the responsible parties.

We examine applicable insurance.

And we work to document the full consequences of the injury.

Make ’Em Pay.

Call Jacqueline Scott & Associates at (318) 746-5997.

Serving accident victims in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, and throughout Louisiana.

Every case is different. Results depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each individual matter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice.

This article is general information about Louisiana law and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines can change, and every case depends on its own facts. Past results do not guarantee or predict future outcomes. Reading this page or contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.