Shreveport Truck Accident Lawyers

The vehicle may be owned by a company. The driver may work for a motor carrier. A separate company may own the trailer. Another business may have loaded the cargo. Maintenance may have been outsourced. Electronic systems may contain information about the truck’s movements before the collision.

And there may be commercial insurance policies that are very different from the insurance involved in an ordinary passenger-vehicle accident.

If a commercial truck caused your accident in Shreveport and you were seriously injured, the investigation should begin with a fundamental question:

Why did this truck hit you?

At Jacqueline Scott & Associates, our Shreveport truck accident lawyers investigate the driver, trucking company, equipment, electronic evidence, commercial relationships, and potentially applicable insurance after serious trucking wrecks.

Call (318) 746-5997.

Why Are Truck Accident Cases Different?

Commercial trucking accidents can involve layers of evidence and business relationships.

Potentially relevant parties may include:

• truck driver;
• motor carrier;
• driver’s employer;
• tractor owner;
• trailer owner;
• maintenance contractor;
• cargo-loading company; and
• another company whose conduct contributed to the wreck.

No company should be added to a claim simply because its name appears somewhere in the paperwork.

Its actual conduct and legal relationship to the accident must be established.

What Causes Shreveport Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents can result from many forms of unsafe conduct, including:

• speeding;
• following too closely;
• unsafe lane changes;
• distracted driving;
• fatigue;
• failure to yield;
• running traffic signals;
• unsafe turns;
• improper passing;
• inadequate vehicle inspection;
• poor maintenance; and
• cargo problems.

Some accidents involve several contributing factors.

What If an 18-Wheeler Rear-Ended Me?

A rear-end truck accident should raise immediate questions.

Why didn’t the driver stop?

Investigators may examine:

• following distance;
• truck speed;
• braking;
• distraction;
• fatigue;
• traffic conditions; and
• mechanical condition.

A trucking company may describe the crash as a simple mistake.

The evidence may tell a more complicated story.

What If the Truck Changed Lanes Into Me?

Large trucks have significant blind areas.

But blind spots are known characteristics of commercial vehicles.

The investigation should determine whether the driver properly checked mirrors and available cameras, signaled, and allowed sufficient clearance for the entire tractor-trailer.

What If the Driver Fell Asleep?

Fatigue can be a major concern in commercial transportation.

Relevant evidence may include:

• electronic logging device information;
• GPS;
• dispatch records;
• fuel receipts;
• delivery records;
• toll information; and
• other time-stamped records.

The goal is to reconstruct the driver’s work and rest history.

What Is an ELD?

An electronic logging device, or ELD, is primarily used to record information relating to a commercial driver’s duty status and hours-of-service compliance.

It should not automatically be described as the truck’s "black box."

Different electronic systems perform different functions.

Does an 18-Wheeler Have a Black Box?

Commercial trucks may contain electronic control systems capable of storing certain information.

Exactly what information is available depends on the vehicle and system.

Other evidence may come from:

• GPS;
• telematics;
• dashcams;
• driver-facing cameras; and
• fleet-management platforms.

Why Is Electronic Evidence Important?

It can provide information that is more objective than someone’s memory.

Depending on the system, electronic evidence may help establish:

• truck location;
• route;
• driver activity;
• communications;
• vehicle operation; and
• events surrounding the collision.

Not every system records every data point.

How Quickly Should Trucking Evidence Be Preserved?

As quickly as reasonably possible in a serious case.

Some electronic or video evidence may be overwritten according to company retention practices.

Vehicles may be repaired.

Witnesses may become difficult to locate.

Surveillance video may disappear.

A legal filing deadline should not be confused with an evidence-preservation timeline.

What If the Truck Driver Was Texting?

Distracted driving can involve:

• texting;
• cellphone use;
• dispatch devices;
• navigation;
• paperwork;
• eating; or
• other in-cab activities.

Cellphone and company communication evidence may be relevant when distraction is suspected.

What If the Trucking Company Blames Me?

The evidence should decide the issue.

Current Louisiana law applies a modified comparative-fault system for accidents subject to the rule effective January 1, 2026. A claimant found 51% or more at fault cannot recover; if the claimant’s fault is less than 51%, damages are reduced proportionally.

That makes a thorough fault investigation particularly important.

What If the Truck Driver Was an Independent Contractor?

The label "independent contractor" does not by itself answer every liability question.

Commercial trucking arrangements can be complicated.

The investigation may need to examine:

• contracts;
• operating authority;
• ownership;
• control;
• dispatch relationships; and
• actual business practices.

What If the Tractor and Trailer Have Different Owners?

That can happen.

Photograph identification on both pieces of equipment whenever possible.

Investigators may need to determine:

• who owned the tractor;
• who owned the trailer;
• who operated the vehicle;
• who maintained the equipment; and
• what role each company played.

Ownership alone does not automatically establish fault.

What If Poor Maintenance Caused the Wreck?

Maintenance becomes important when an accident involves possible:

• brake failure;
• tire failure;
• steering problems;
• lighting problems;
• suspension defects; or
• other mechanical issues.

Potential evidence can include maintenance records, inspection documents, repair invoices, driver inspection reports, and the physical equipment.

What If Cargo Caused the Accident?

Improper loading or securement can contribute to:

• cargo falling into traffic;
• shifting loads;
• rollovers;
• instability; or
• loss of control.

Relevant evidence can include bills of lading, loading records, weight tickets, photographs, and securement information.

What Injuries Can Truck Accidents Cause?

Because of the size and weight differences between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, truck crashes can cause catastrophic injuries.

These can include:

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

Some victims require lifelong care.

What If Someone Was Killed?

A fatal trucking accident can create potential wrongful-death and survival claims for persons authorized by Louisiana law.

These cases require careful investigation because the person who experienced the collision may no longer be available to explain what happened.

Objective evidence becomes particularly important.

How Much Insurance Does a Trucking Company Have?

There is no single answer.

Commercial trucking operations can be subject to different insurance or financial-responsibility requirements depending on the operation.

Potential coverage may include:

• primary commercial liability;
• excess insurance;
• umbrella coverage;
• self-insurance arrangements; and
• coverage connected to other responsible entities.

Do not assume the amount of available coverage from the truck’s size or company name.

Could There Be Multiple Insurance Policies?

Potentially.

But multiple policies are not automatic.

The commercial relationships and actual policy documents should be investigated.

What Damages Can Be Recovered?

Depending on the facts and Louisiana law, a serious truck accident claim may involve:

• past medical expenses;
• future medical care;
• lost wages;
• diminished earning capacity;
• permanent impairment;
• rehabilitation needs; and
• other legally recoverable damages.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

Get medical attention.

Call law enforcement.

If safely possible, photograph:

• tractor;
• trailer;
• USDOT information;
• company markings;
• license plates;
• vehicle numbers;
• damage; and
• roadway.

Identify witnesses.

Save dashcam footage.

Keep medical and employment documentation.

High-Risk Freight Corridors in Shreveport

Shreveport serves as a major regional logistics hub in Northwest Louisiana, connecting freight traffic across state lines. Heavy commercial traffic routinely moves through key local routes:

• Interstate 20 (I-20): Primary east-west freight corridor carrying high volumes of long-haul semi-trucks through Caddo Parish.
• Interstate 49 (I-49): Major north-south route used by commercial vehicles traveling between South Louisiana and Arkansas.
• Bert Kouns Industrial Loop & Mansfield Road: Busy industrial bypasses frequently traveled by local delivery trucks, gravel haulers, and commercial tankers.
• Shreveport Barksdale Highway: Heavy commercial traffic connecting local distribution points with surrounding parish routes.

Critical Evidence in Truck Crash Investigations

Proving fault in a commercial truck crash requires securing electronic and documentary evidence before it is overwritten or discarded under standard corporate retention schedules. Essential evidence includes:

• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Records: Digital logs verifying driver hours of service and rest breaks.
• Engine Control Module (ECM / Black Box) Data: Technical data detailing vehicle speed, braking times, throttle position, and sudden stops.
• Driver Qualification Files: Background checks, driving histories, medical examiner certificates, and drug test logs.
• Maintenance & Repair Logs: Inspection reports, brake adjustment logs, and tire service records.

To protect this evidence, your legal team must send a formal spoliation letter immediately to the motor carrier to enforce their legal duty to preserve all relevant files.

Navigating Local Procedures and Medical Care

Following a serious truck crash, emergency response is typically handled by the Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, or Louisiana State Police Troop G. Severe injuries often require specialized trauma care at regional medical facilities, such as Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport or Willis-Knighton Health System.

Should formal legal proceedings become necessary, lawsuits are initiated at the Caddo Parish Courthouse (1st Judicial District Court) in downtown Shreveport.

Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, the prescriptive period (statute of limitations) for personal injury claims arising from truck accidents is two years from the date of the injury for incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024. Failing to file a lawsuit within this strict timeframe permanently bars you from seeking financial recovery in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk With Jacqueline Scott & Associates

If an 18-wheeler or commercial truck caused your Shreveport accident, do not treat it like an ordinary insurance claim.

The driver is only the beginning of the investigation.

Who employed the driver?

Who operated the truck?

Who owned the equipment?

Was the driver fatigued or distracted?

What electronic evidence exists?

Was the truck properly maintained?

What insurance may apply?

Jacqueline Scott & Associates investigates serious Shreveport and Louisiana trucking accidents involving commercial drivers, trucking companies, catastrophic injuries, electronic evidence, and potentially multiple sources of insurance.

Call (318) 746-5997.

Make ’Em Pay.

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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.