On this page
- Injured in an Accident in Shreveport?
- Shreveport Car Accidents
- Shreveport 18-Wheeler Accidents
- Who Can Be Responsible for a Truck Accident?
- I-20 Accidents in Shreveport
- I-49 Accidents
- I-220 Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Commercial Vehicle Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury Claims
- Medical Evidence Matters
- Future Medical Care
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
- What Compensation May Be Available?
- Louisiana's 51% Comparative Fault Rule
- Louisiana's General Two-Year Filing Period
- Wrongful Death in Shreveport
- What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
- Common Personal Injury Cases in Shreveport
- Why Local Representation and Evidence Matter
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact a Shreveport Personal Injury Lawyer
Shreveport accidents can involve everything from an ordinary intersection collision to a catastrophic 18-wheeler wreck on an interstate.
Jacqueline Scott & Associates represents injured people in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, and throughout Louisiana.
Our personal injury practice includes:
- car accidents;
- 18-wheeler accidents;
- I-20 accidents;
- I-49 accidents;
- I-220 accidents;
- motorcycle accidents;
- pedestrian accidents;
- commercial vehicle wrecks;
- catastrophic injuries;
- wrongful death; and
- other serious injury claims.
Call (318) 746-5997.
Injured in an Accident in Shreveport?
A serious accident can immediately create questions:
- Who caused the wreck?
- Which insurance company is responsible?
- Who pays the medical bills?
- What happens if you cannot work?
- What if the other driver blames you?
- What if an 18-wheeler was involved?
- How long do you have to file a claim?
The answers depend on the circumstances.
A serious personal injury claim should begin with determining what happened, identifying potentially responsible parties, preserving evidence, documenting injuries, and evaluating applicable insurance.
Shreveport Car Accidents
Car accidents can result from:
- distracted driving;
- texting;
- speeding;
- following too closely;
- running traffic signals;
- failure to yield;
- unsafe lane changes;
- improper turns;
- impaired driving;
- aggressive driving; and
- failure to maintain control.
Potential evidence may include:
- police documentation;
- accident-scene photographs;
- witness statements;
- nearby surveillance video;
- dashcam footage;
- vehicle damage;
- cellphone evidence when legally obtainable; and
- electronic vehicle information.
Shreveport 18-Wheeler Accidents
A commercial truck accident should not necessarily be investigated like an ordinary car wreck.
Potential evidence can include:
- electronic logging device information;
- GPS;
- telematics;
- dashcam footage;
- driver-facing cameras;
- dispatch communications;
- driver qualification records;
- inspection records;
- maintenance documents;
- cargo information; and
- other motor-carrier records.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Truck Accident?
Potentially responsible parties can include:
- truck driver;
- motor carrier;
- employer;
- tractor owner;
- trailer owner;
- maintenance contractor;
- cargo-loading company; and
- another negligent business.
Each party's actual involvement must be established.
I-20 Accidents in Shreveport
Interstate 20 carries passenger and commercial traffic through Shreveport and across North Louisiana.
Potential I-20 accidents include:
- 18-wheeler collisions;
- rear-end wrecks;
- unsafe lane changes;
- merging accidents;
- multi-vehicle crashes;
- construction-zone accidents;
- fatigued-driving crashes; and
- weather-related collisions.
I-49 Accidents
I-49 is another major transportation corridor serving Shreveport.
High-speed interstate accidents can produce severe injuries, particularly when commercial vehicles are involved.
Potential evidence may include:
- dashcams;
- commercial trucking records;
- electronic vehicle data;
- witnesses;
- accident-scene photographs; and
- reconstruction evidence.
I-220 Accidents
I-220 serves as a major bypass around portions of Shreveport and Bossier City.
Serious accidents may involve:
- commercial trucks;
- passenger vehicles;
- merging traffic;
- unsafe lane changes;
- rear-end impacts;
- distracted driving; and
- multi-vehicle collisions.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists can suffer catastrophic injuries when another driver:
- fails to yield;
- turns across their path;
- changes lanes unsafely;
- follows too closely; or
- drives distracted.
Potential injuries include traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, fractures, internal injuries, severe road rash, nerve damage, and amputations.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians have little physical protection from a moving vehicle.
Potential pedestrian cases can involve:
- crosswalks;
- intersections;
- parking lots;
- commercial properties;
- residential streets; and
- roadside areas.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial accidents can involve more than tractor-trailers.
Potential vehicles include:
- delivery trucks;
- work pickups;
- utility vehicles;
- contractor vehicles;
- vans;
- buses; and
- other company-owned vehicles.
Catastrophic Injury Claims
Potential catastrophic injuries include:
- traumatic brain injuries;
- spinal cord injuries;
- paralysis;
- amputations;
- severe burns;
- crush injuries;
- multiple fractures;
- internal organ damage; and
- permanent neurological impairment.
Medical Evidence Matters
Potential evidence can include:
- emergency records;
- diagnostic imaging;
- specialist evaluations;
- surgical records;
- therapy;
- treating physician opinions;
- medical restrictions; and
- relevant prior medical records.
Future Medical Care
Potential future needs can include:
- surgery;
- rehabilitation;
- physical therapy;
- medication;
- injections;
- prosthetics;
- medical equipment;
- attendant care; and
- home modifications.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
A serious injury can affect someone's ability to work temporarily or permanently.
Potential evidence may include:
- payroll records;
- tax information;
- 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;
- lost wages;
- diminished earning capacity;
- rehabilitation;
- property damage;
- physical pain;
- mental anguish;
- disability;
- loss of enjoyment of life; and
- other legally recoverable damages.
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.
If 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 establishes 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.
Wrongful Death in Shreveport
Fatal car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and commercial-vehicle accidents may potentially create survival and wrongful-death actions under Louisiana law.
These claims can involve evidence concerning the accident, medical treatment, lost financial support, relationships, insurance, and qualifying beneficiaries.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a legal process that allows an injured person to seek financial compensation from the party responsible for causing their harm. In Louisiana, personal injury cases are grounded in the concept of civil negligence—proving that another party failed to exercise reasonable care, directly resulting in harm.
To recover financial compensation, your legal team must establish four core elements:
- Duty of Care: The responsible party owes you a legal obligation to act safely (such as a driver following traffic laws or a store owner maintaining clear walkways).
- Breach of Duty: The responsible party failed to meet that obligation through careless or reckless actions.
- Causation: The party's failure directly caused your accident and resulting injuries.
- Damages: You suffered measurable financial, physical, or emotional losses as a result.
Common Personal Injury Cases in Shreveport
Personal injury claims arise from many different types of incidents throughout the Shreveport area. Frequent cases include:
- Motor Vehicle Collisions: Crashes occurring on major local thoroughfares like I-20, I-49, Youree Drive, Mansfield Road, and Bert Kouns Industrial Loop.
- Commercial Truck Accidents: Collisions involving heavy 18-wheelers carrying freight through local interstate corridors.
- Premises Liability: Slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, broken pavement, or unsafe conditions at local businesses and commercial properties.
- Wrongful Death: Claims filed by surviving family members following a fatal accident caused by negligence.
Why Local Representation and Evidence Matter
Building a strong claim requires preserving key evidence before it disappears. Depending on the type of accident, evidence may include scene photographs, surveillance video, medical records, and official accident reports.
In Shreveport, crash reports are typically generated by the Shreveport Police Department, the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, or Louisiana State Police Troop G. Furthermore, injury victims often receive emergency care at regional medical centers like Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport or Willis-Knighton Health System. Having precise medical documentation from local providers connects your injuries directly to the incident.
If a lawsuit must be filed, formal court proceedings take place at the Caddo Parish Courthouse (1st Judicial District Court) located in downtown Shreveport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an accident claim in Shreveport?
Louisiana's current general rule provides two years for delictual actions. Accident dates and specialized claims may affect the deadline.
What if an 18-wheeler hit me on I-20, I-49, or I-220?
The investigation may involve the truck driver, motor carrier, electronic logs, GPS, maintenance, vehicle ownership, cargo, commercial insurance, and other companies.
Can I recover if I was partially responsible?
For claims governed by current Article 2323, negligence below 51% may reduce damages without necessarily barring recovery.
What if the insurance company says the accident was my fault?
The insurer's position does not determine legal fault. Physical evidence, witnesses, electronic data, photographs, and reconstruction may provide additional evidence.
What if I need future surgery?
Reasonably supported future medical treatment may potentially be included in a serious injury claim.
What if I cannot return to work?
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity may be recoverable when supported by appropriate evidence.
What compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?
You may be eligible to recover economic damages (such as medical bills, future treatment costs, lost wages, and property repair) and non-economic damages (such as physical pain, suffering, and emotional distress).
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Louisiana follows a comparative fault system. You can still recover compensation even if you contributed to the accident, though your total financial recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
How do I obtain a copy of my Shreveport crash report?
Crash reports can be requested directly from the responding law enforcement agency—either online, by mail, or in person at the Shreveport Police Department Information Services Bureau or Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office.
Contact a Shreveport Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were seriously injured in Shreveport or elsewhere in Caddo 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. 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.
