On this page
- Personal Injury Accidents in St. Tammany Parish
- Car Accidents in Slidell and Covington
- I-10 Accidents in St. Tammany Parish
- I-12 Accidents
- I-59 Accidents
- 18-Wheeler Accidents
- Truck Driver Fatigue
- Distracted Truck Drivers
- Truck Maintenance
- Multiple Commercial Defendants
- Interstate Commercial Insurance
- Multi-Vehicle Interstate Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury Claims
- Future Medical Care
- What Compensation May Be Available?
- Louisiana's 51% Comparative Fault Rule
- Louisiana's General Two-Year Filing Period
- Wrongful Death in St. Tammany Parish
- Where Are St. Tammany Parish Personal Injury Cases Filed?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Jacqueline Scott & Associates Serves St. Tammany Parish
The parish's location and interstate network make it an important transportation area in southeast Louisiana.
If another driver, trucking company, employer, or business caused your injuries, Louisiana law may allow you to pursue compensation.
Jacqueline Scott & Associates represents accident victims in Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Pearl River, Abita Springs, and communities throughout St. Tammany Parish and Louisiana.
Our personal injury practice includes:
- car accidents;
- I-10 accidents;
- I-12 accidents;
- I-59 accidents;
- 18-wheeler wrecks;
- commercial vehicle accidents;
- motorcycle accidents;
- pedestrian accidents;
- catastrophic injuries;
- wrongful death; and
- other serious personal injury cases.
Call (318) 746-5997.
Make ’Em Pay.
Personal Injury Accidents in St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish includes several major interstate routes.
The parish is served by I-10, I-12, and I-59, creating substantial local, regional, and interstate traffic.
Commercial trucks may be traveling between Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and destinations beyond the Gulf South.
Car Accidents in Slidell and Covington
Car wrecks may result from:
- distracted driving;
- speeding;
- following too closely;
- unsafe lane changes;
- failure to yield;
- running traffic signals;
- unsafe turns;
- impaired driving; and
- aggressive driving.
In populated areas, surveillance or traffic video may sometimes help establish what happened.
I-10 Accidents in St. Tammany Parish
I-10 carries substantial passenger and commercial traffic through the Slidell area.
Serious crashes can involve:
- 18-wheelers;
- rear-end collisions;
- unsafe lane changes;
- merging accidents;
- congestion;
- driver fatigue;
- distraction;
- rain;
- poor visibility; and
- multi-vehicle collisions.
I-12 Accidents
I-12 serves the Covington and northshore region and connects the area with Baton Rouge and I-10.
Serious I-12 accidents can involve local commuters, interstate travelers, and commercial trucks.
I-59 Accidents
I-59 connects the Slidell area with Mississippi.
Commercial vehicles using I-59 may be engaged in interstate transportation.
That can make federal motor-carrier evidence particularly relevant after a serious trucking accident.
18-Wheeler Accidents
Potential commercial trucking evidence can include:
- electronic logs;
- GPS;
- telematics;
- dashcam footage;
- driver-facing cameras;
- dispatch communications;
- driver qualification records;
- maintenance documents;
- inspection records; and
- cargo information.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Covered commercial drivers are subject to federal hours-of-service regulations.
When fatigue may have contributed to a wreck, investigators may compare electronic logs with GPS, dispatch, fuel, delivery, and other time-stamped information.
Distracted Truck Drivers
Potential distractions can include:
- phones;
- messages;
- navigation systems;
- dispatch devices;
- paperwork;
- food; and
- other activity.
Electronic evidence may be particularly valuable when distraction is disputed.
Truck Maintenance
Potential equipment failures include:
- brakes;
- tires;
- steering;
- lighting;
- suspension; and
- coupling equipment.
Preservation of the truck may become critical when a mechanical defect is suspected.
Multiple Commercial Defendants
A serious trucking accident can involve several businesses.
Potential defendants may include:
- truck driver;
- motor carrier;
- employer;
- tractor owner;
- trailer owner;
- maintenance contractor;
- cargo-loading company; and
- another negligent entity.
Each party's actual role should be investigated.
Interstate Commercial Insurance
Commercial trucking cases may involve:
- primary liability coverage;
- excess insurance;
- umbrella coverage;
- self-insurance; or
- other arrangements.
Federal financial-responsibility requirements can apply to certain interstate commercial carriers, but the actual available coverage must be determined in the specific case.
Multi-Vehicle Interstate Accidents
Chain-reaction collisions may involve several drivers.
Potential evidence includes:
- dashcams;
- traffic or surveillance video when available;
- witnesses;
- vehicle damage;
- roadway evidence;
- electronic vehicle information;
- trucking records; and
- accident reconstruction.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists can suffer devastating injuries when another motorist:
- fails to yield;
- turns across their path;
- changes lanes unsafely;
- follows too closely; or
- drives distracted.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can involve:
- intersections;
- crosswalks;
- parking areas;
- neighborhoods; and
- commercial areas.
The investigation may examine right of way, visibility, lighting, speed, and distraction.
Catastrophic Injury Claims
Potential catastrophic injuries include:
- traumatic brain injury;
- spinal cord damage;
- paralysis;
- amputations;
- severe burns;
- crush injuries;
- multiple fractures;
- organ damage; and
- permanent neurological impairment.
Future Medical Care
Potential future needs can include:
- surgery;
- rehabilitation;
- physical therapy;
- medication;
- prosthetics;
- medical equipment;
- attendant care; and
- home modifications.
Future damages must be supported by appropriate evidence.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Depending on applicable law and the evidence, potential damages may include:
- past medical expenses;
- future medical care;
- 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
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323 changed effective January 1, 2026.
For claims governed by current law, a claimant found 51% or more negligent cannot recover damages.
When claimant negligence is below 51%, damages are reduced according to the assigned percentage.
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 can involve different rules.
Wrongful Death in St. Tammany Parish
Fatal interstate, commercial, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents may potentially create survival and wrongful-death actions under Louisiana law.
A fatal accident investigation may include:
- reconstruction;
- trucking records;
- medical evidence;
- employment information;
- financial evidence;
- insurance; and
- beneficiary information.
Where Are St. Tammany Parish Personal Injury Cases Filed?
St. Tammany and Washington Parishes comprise Louisiana's 22nd Judicial District.
The district maintains court operations serving St. Tammany Parish.
The proper venue for a particular personal injury lawsuit depends on Louisiana law, accident location, defendants, and other circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have after a St. Tammany Parish accident?
Louisiana's current general rule provides two years for delictual actions. Accident dates and specialized claims can affect the deadline.
What if an 18-wheeler hit me on I-10, I-12, or I-59?
The investigation may involve the driver, motor carrier, electronic logs, GPS, maintenance, equipment ownership, cargo, commercial insurance, and potentially multiple businesses.
What if the trucking company is located outside Louisiana?
An out-of-state motor carrier can still potentially face liability for a Louisiana accident. Jurisdiction, venue, and service issues depend on the particular facts.
What if several vehicles were involved?
The sequence of impacts and negligence of each driver may need to be reconstructed using physical, electronic, video, and witness evidence.
Can I recover if I was partially responsible?
For claims governed by current Article 2323, claimant negligence below 51% can reduce damages without necessarily eliminating recovery.
What if my injuries are permanent?
A catastrophic injury claim may require evaluation of future medical care, rehabilitation, disability, diminished earning capacity, and other long-term losses.
Jacqueline Scott & Associates Serves St. Tammany Parish
If you were seriously injured in Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Pearl River, Abita Springs, or elsewhere in St. Tammany 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.
