Louisiana Interstate Accident Lawyers: Serious Wrecks on I-10, I-12, I-20, I-49, I-55 and I-220

When something goes wrong at interstate speed, an ordinary driving mistake can become a catastrophic accident.

A distracted driver may not notice traffic stopping ahead. An 18-wheeler may change lanes without sufficient clearance. A fatigued commercial driver may drift from a lane. Heavy rain can reduce visibility. A vehicle entering from an on-ramp can collide with highway traffic. One initial impact can trigger a multi-vehicle pileup.

At Jacqueline Scott & Associates, we investigate serious interstate accidents in Shreveport and throughout Louisiana.

If another driver or company caused your injuries, the investigation should determine exactly what happened, who was responsible, what insurance applies, and how the accident will affect your future.

Make ’Em Pay.

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

Which Louisiana Interstates Have Serious Accident Risks?

Major interstate corridors include:

• Interstate 10;
• Interstate 12;
• Interstate 20;
• Interstate 49;
• Interstate 55;
• Interstate 59;
• Interstate 110;
• Interstate 210;
• Interstate 220; and
• Interstate 310.

Different sections present different traffic patterns.

North Louisiana drivers may regularly encounter heavy interstate traffic on I-20, I-49, and I-220.

South Louisiana interstate travel can involve dense urban traffic, major freight corridors, bridges, construction, and severe weather.

The legal question is not simply which highway was involved.

The question is why the wreck happened.

Why Are Interstate Accidents So Dangerous?

Speed changes everything.

At highway speeds, drivers have less time to recognize a hazard and respond.

Interstate accidents can involve:

• high-speed rear-end impacts;
• sideswipes;
• rollovers;
• median-crossing collisions;
• chain-reaction crashes;
• commercial trucks;
• concrete barriers; and
• multiple impacts.

A vehicle may be struck once and then pushed into another lane, barrier, or vehicle.

Rear-End Interstate Accidents

Traffic on an interstate can go from highway speed to stopped traffic quickly.

Construction, congestion, previous accidents, lane closures, or merging traffic may create sudden backups.

Drivers should remain attentive to traffic ahead.

After a serious rear-end collision, investigators may ask:

• How fast was the striking vehicle traveling?
• How long had traffic been slowing?
• Was the driver distracted?
• Was the driver following too closely?
• Did the driver brake?
• Was an 18-wheeler involved?

Dashcam footage can be particularly important.

Interstate Lane-Change Accidents

Changing lanes at highway speed requires careful observation.

Drivers need to account for:

• vehicles beside them;
• closing speed;
• blind spots;
• motorcycles;
• trucks; and
• traffic entering or exiting the interstate.

A sideswipe can force a vehicle into another lane or off the roadway.

Entrance-Ramp Accidents

On-ramps create interactions between vehicles accelerating onto the interstate and vehicles already traveling at highway speed.

Fault can be disputed.

One driver may claim:

“They cut me off.”

The other may say:

“They changed lanes into me.”

Evidence may include:

• dashcam footage;
• witnesses;
• vehicle damage;
• roadway markings;
• surveillance;
• GPS information; and
• electronic vehicle information.

Interstate Exit Accidents

Exit areas can become dangerous when drivers:

• brake suddenly;
• make last-second lane changes;
• cross multiple lanes;
• enter gore areas;
• follow too closely; or
• realize too late that they are about to miss an exit.

An 18-wheeler making a sudden exit maneuver can occupy substantial roadway space.

What If an 18-Wheeler Caused the Accident?

Then the case may require a commercial trucking investigation.

Potential evidence can include:

• driver qualification information;
• ELD records;
• GPS;
• telematics;
• dashcam footage;
• dispatch records;
• cellphone evidence;
• maintenance records;
• inspection information; and
• cargo records.

The truck driver may not be the only potentially responsible party.

Who Can Be Responsible for an Interstate Truck Wreck?

Depending on the evidence, parties may include:

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

Each party’s actual role must be established.

Multiple Defendants Can Mean Multiple Insurance Questions

Commercial accidents may involve several businesses.

That does not automatically mean every business is liable or every policy pays.

The investigation should determine:

• who caused the accident;
• each party’s legal relationship;
• which insurance policies apply; and
• whether excess or umbrella coverage exists.

Louisiana’s Rules for Multiple At-Fault Parties

Louisiana Civil Code Article 2324 generally provides that when two or more persons negligently cause damages, liability is joint and divisible.

In general, a negligent joint tortfeasor is responsible for that party’s degree of fault rather than automatically paying damages attributable to another person’s fault.

That makes identifying every potentially responsible party particularly important.

Suppose an interstate truck crash involves allegations that:

• the driver was speeding;
• a maintenance contractor failed to repair the brakes; and
• another driver contributed to the collision.

The percentage of fault attributed to each responsible party can matter significantly.

What Insurance Does an Interstate Trucking Company Carry?

Federal financial-responsibility requirements can apply to interstate motor carriers.

The required minimum depends on the operation, vehicle, and cargo.

For certain covered for-hire interstate or foreign property carriers operating vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more and transporting nonhazardous property, the federal minimum is generally $750,000.

Certain operations transporting oil or specified hazardous materials can be subject to $1 million requirements.

Specified higher-risk hazardous-material transportation can require $5 million.

These are federal minimum financial-responsibility requirements—not guarantees of the amount actually available in a particular accident.

A trucking company may have more coverage.

Other responsible entities may have separate policies.

What About Excess or Umbrella Insurance?

A serious trucking operation may have additional coverage above a primary policy.

Potential insurance can include:

• primary liability;
• excess coverage;
• umbrella coverage;
• self-insurance arrangements; and
• separate policies belonging to other responsible businesses.

Coverage must be investigated rather than assumed.

Can I Sue the Trucking Company’s Insurance Company Directly?

Louisiana historically had an unusually broad Direct Action Statute.

That changed substantially in 2024.

Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1269 now generally prohibits direct actions against a liability insurer unless one of the statutory circumstances exists.

Examples include certain situations involving:

• bankruptcy;
• insolvency;
• unsuccessful service or failure to defend under the statutory conditions;
• an uninsured-motorist carrier;
• a deceased insured; or
• certain coverage disputes involving reservation of rights or denial of coverage.

Whether direct action is available depends on the facts and procedural posture of the case.

Will the Jury Be Told About Insurance?

Louisiana law restricts when the existence, identity, or amount of insurance can be communicated to a jury.

The insurance investigation can therefore be critically important to the lawyers handling the case even though insurance may not be presented to jurors in the same way.

What If Several Vehicles Were Involved?

Multi-vehicle interstate crashes require careful reconstruction.

Investigators may need to determine:

1. which vehicle caused the initial event;
2. the sequence of impacts;
3. whether later drivers had time to react;
4. whether commercial vehicles were involved; and
5. whether more than one driver contributed.

Do not assume the vehicle that physically struck you first was necessarily the only cause.

What If Weather Contributed?

Louisiana interstate accidents can occur during:

• heavy rain;
• fog;
• standing water;
• thunderstorms; and
• reduced visibility.

Bad weather does not automatically eliminate driver responsibility.

Drivers may need to reduce speed and increase following distance according to actual conditions.

What Evidence Should Be Preserved?

Potential evidence includes:

• photographs;
• dashcam footage;
• surveillance;
• witnesses;
• police reports;
• vehicle electronic information;
• trucking-company records;
• GPS;
• telematics;
• ELD information;
• dispatch communications; and
• cellphone evidence where appropriate.

What Injuries Can Interstate Wrecks Cause?

High-speed collisions can cause:

• traumatic brain injury;
• spinal cord injury;
• paralysis;
• multiple fractures;
• internal injuries;
• crush injuries;
• amputations;
• severe burns;
• nerve damage; and
• permanent disability.

Some victims require emergency surgery or intensive care.

What If Someone Dies?

A fatal interstate collision may create potential Louisiana wrongful-death and survival claims for persons authorized under Louisiana law.

Objective evidence can become particularly important because the person who experienced the accident may no longer be available to explain what happened.

What Should I Do After a Louisiana Interstate Accident?

Seek medical care.

Contact law enforcement.

If safely possible:

• photograph vehicles;
• photograph roadway conditions;
• identify witnesses;
• save dashcam footage;
• document commercial-truck identification; and
• preserve insurance information.

Keep your medical and employment records.

Jacqueline Scott & Associates Investigates Louisiana Interstate Wrecks

An interstate accident can involve far more than two damaged vehicles.

The investigation may need to determine:

Who caused the first collision?

Was someone distracted?

Was an 18-wheeler involved?

Was the truck driver fatigued?

What electronic evidence exists?

Are several companies responsible?

What insurance policies apply?

Jacqueline Scott & Associates investigates serious accidents on Louisiana interstates, including I-20, I-49, I-220, I-10, I-12, and other major highways.

Make ’Em Pay.

Call (318) 746-5997.

Every case is different. Results depend on the facts, applicable law, responsible parties, and available insurance. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article 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.