On this page
- Car Accidents in New Iberia
- US-90 Accidents Near New Iberia
- 18-Wheeler Accidents
- Truck Driver Fatigue
- Distracted Truck Driving
- Truck Maintenance and Mechanical Failure
- Who Can Be Responsible for a Commercial Truck Accident?
- Company Vehicle Accidents
- Oilfield and Industrial Third-Party Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury Claims
- Medical Evidence and Causation
- Future Medical Care
- Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity
- What Compensation May Be Available?
- Louisiana's 51% Comparative Fault Rule
- Louisiana's General Two-Year Filing Period
- Preserve Commercial Evidence Early
- Wrongful Death in New Iberia
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact a New Iberia Personal Injury Lawyer
Located in Iberia Parish near the US-90 corridor, New Iberia is connected to major commercial, industrial, agricultural, and energy-related activity across South Louisiana. When a serious collision involves a business vehicle or commercial truck, determining responsibility may require investigating more than the driver alone.
If another driver, trucking company, employer, contractor, or business caused your injuries, Louisiana law may allow you to pursue compensation.
Jacqueline Scott & Associates represents accident victims in New Iberia, Iberia Parish, and throughout Louisiana.
Our personal injury practice includes:
- car accidents;
- US-90 accidents;
- 18-wheeler wrecks;
- commercial vehicle accidents;
- company-vehicle accidents;
- motorcycle accidents;
- oilfield and industrial third-party accidents;
- catastrophic injuries;
- wrongful death; and
- other serious personal injury claims.
Call (318) 746-5997.
Make ’Em Pay.
Car Accidents in New Iberia
Potential causes include:
- distracted driving;
- texting;
- speeding;
- following too closely;
- failure to yield;
- unsafe passing;
- unsafe lane changes;
- improper turns;
- impaired driving; and
- failure to maintain control.
Potential evidence may include police documentation, photographs, witnesses, surveillance footage, dashcam video, vehicle damage, electronic vehicle information, and cellphone evidence when legally obtainable.
US-90 Accidents Near New Iberia
US-90 is an important transportation corridor through South Louisiana.
Potential serious accidents can involve:
- passenger vehicles;
- 18-wheelers;
- commercial trucks;
- work vehicles;
- equipment-hauling trucks;
- rear-end collisions;
- lane-change accidents; and
- multi-vehicle wrecks.
18-Wheeler Accidents
Commercial truck cases can involve evidence that may not exist in an ordinary passenger-car accident.
Potential evidence includes:
- electronic logging information;
- GPS;
- telematics;
- dashcam footage;
- driver-facing cameras;
- dispatch communications;
- driver qualification records;
- inspection documents;
- maintenance records; and
- cargo information.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Covered commercial drivers are subject to federal hours-of-service requirements.
When fatigue may have contributed to an accident, investigators may compare electronic logs with:
- GPS;
- dispatch records;
- fuel transactions;
- delivery records; and
- other time-stamped information.
Distracted Truck Driving
Potential distractions can include cellphones, messages, navigation systems, dispatch equipment, paperwork, food, and other activities.
Legally obtainable electronic information may help establish whether distraction contributed to a crash.
Truck Maintenance and Mechanical Failure
Potential mechanical issues can involve:
- brakes;
- tires;
- steering;
- lighting;
- suspension; and
- coupling equipment.
Preserving and inspecting the truck may become important when mechanical failure is suspected.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Commercial Truck Accident?
Potential defendants can include:
- truck driver;
- motor carrier;
- employer;
- tractor owner;
- trailer owner;
- maintenance provider;
- cargo-loading company; and
- another negligent entity.
Each party's actual role must be established.
Company Vehicle Accidents
Commercial accidents can involve:
- contractor trucks;
- work pickups;
- delivery vehicles;
- service vans;
- equipment-hauling vehicles;
- utility vehicles; and
- other company-owned vehicles.
Important questions can include:
- Who employed the driver?
- Who owned the vehicle?
- Was the driver performing work?
- Who controlled the trip?
- Who maintained the vehicle?
- What insurance potentially applies?
Oilfield and Industrial Third-Party Accidents
A worker injured during an oilfield, industrial, or commercial operation may need to determine whether someone other than the employer caused or contributed to the accident.
Potential third parties can include:
- contractors;
- subcontractors;
- commercial drivers;
- equipment companies;
- manufacturers;
- property owners; and
- other businesses.
Workers' compensation and third-party claims can interact.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists can suffer severe injuries when another driver fails to yield, turns across their path, changes lanes unsafely, follows too closely, or drives distracted.
Catastrophic Injury Claims
Potential catastrophic injuries include:
- traumatic brain injury;
- spinal cord injury;
- paralysis;
- amputations;
- severe burns;
- crush injuries;
- multiple fractures;
- internal organ damage; and
- permanent neurological impairment.
Medical Evidence and Causation
Potential evidence may include:
- emergency treatment;
- diagnostic imaging;
- specialist evaluations;
- surgery;
- therapy;
- physician opinions;
- medical restrictions; and
- relevant prior medical records.
Future Medical Care
Potential future needs may include:
- additional surgery;
- rehabilitation;
- physical therapy;
- medication;
- injections;
- prosthetics;
- medical equipment;
- attendant care; and
- home modifications.
Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity
A serious injury may prevent someone from returning to physically demanding employment.
Potential evidence can include payroll records, tax documents, employment history, medical restrictions, vocational evidence, and economic analysis.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Depending on Louisiana law and the evidence, potential damages may include:
- past medical expenses;
- future medical expenses;
- rehabilitation;
- lost wages;
- diminished earning capacity;
- property damage;
- physical pain;
- mental anguish;
- disability;
- loss of enjoyment of life; and
- other legally recoverable damages.
Specialized compensation systems may apply to certain workplace or maritime-related injuries.
Louisiana's 51% Comparative Fault Rule
For claims governed by Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323 as amended effective January 1, 2026, a claimant found 51% or more negligent cannot recover damages.
When claimant negligence is below 51%, damages are reduced according to the percentage assigned.
Louisiana's General Two-Year Filing Period
Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1 generally provides a two-year prescriptive period for delictual actions beginning when injury or damage is sustained.
The legislation establishing the period became effective July 1, 2024.
Older accidents and specialized claims may involve different deadlines.
Preserve Commercial Evidence Early
Potential evidence can disappear before the legal filing deadline.
Important evidence may include:
- dashcam footage;
- electronic logs;
- telematics;
- surveillance video;
- vehicle condition;
- maintenance documents;
- worksite records; and
- witness recollections.
Wrongful Death in New Iberia
Fatal car, truck, motorcycle, commercial-vehicle, industrial, and qualifying workplace accidents may potentially create survival and wrongful-death claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have after a New Iberia accident?
Louisiana's current general rule provides two years for delictual actions. Older and specialized claims may involve different deadlines.
What if an 18-wheeler hit me on US-90?
The investigation may involve electronic logs, GPS, dashcam footage, maintenance, driver records, cargo information, vehicle ownership, and commercial insurance.
What if a company truck caused my accident?
The driver's employer, purpose of the trip, vehicle ownership, company control, maintenance, and applicable insurance may become relevant.
What if I was injured while working?
Workers' compensation may apply, and depending on the circumstances, a separate claim against a negligent third party may exist.
Can I recover if I was partially responsible?
For claims governed by current Article 2323, claimant negligence below 51% may reduce damages without necessarily barring recovery.
What if I cannot return to oilfield or industrial work?
Diminished earning capacity may potentially be part of a claim when supported by appropriate medical, employment, vocational, and economic evidence.
Contact a New Iberia Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were seriously injured in New Iberia or elsewhere in Iberia Parish, contact:
Jacqueline Scott & Associates
(318) 746-5997
Make ’Em Pay.
Every case is different. Results depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each individual matter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Workplace and maritime matters may involve specialized laws. 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.
