An accident with an 18-wheeler can change your life in seconds. While you are dealing with medical treatment, a damaged vehicle, missed work, and questions about what happens next, the trucking company or its insurer may already be investigating the collision.
Commercial truck accidents are also different from ordinary car wrecks. Important evidence may include the driver's Electronic Logging Device records, electronic truck data, maintenance history, driver qualification information, dispatch communications, cargo records, video, and other business records that are not usually part of a passenger-car claim.
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we investigate serious truck accidents in Bossier City, Shreveport, and throughout Northwest Louisiana. With more than 35 years of legal experience, Jacqueline Scott understands that when the accident is serious, the investigation should be too.
Injured in an 18-wheeler accident? Call 318-746-5997 for a free consultation.
Why Are 18-Wheeler Accidents Different From Regular Car Accidents?
A commercial tractor-trailer can be significantly larger and heavier than the passenger vehicles around it. When a collision happens, that difference in size and weight can contribute to serious injuries and extensive property damage.
But the physical severity of the accident is only one difference.
Commercial trucking may involve several people and businesses, including the driver, motor carrier, truck or trailer owner, cargo loader, maintenance contractor, shipper, or manufacturer. Depending on what caused the collision, one or several parties may need to be investigated.
Trucking operations may also be subject to federal safety regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as well as Louisiana law.
That means an attorney investigating a Bossier City 18-wheeler accident may need to examine much more than the police report.
Major Commercial Truck Routes in Bossier City and Bossier Parish
Bossier City sits along major transportation routes used by local, regional, and interstate traffic. Commercial trucks regularly travel throughout Bossier City and Bossier Parish while moving freight through Northwest Louisiana.
Important routes include:
- Interstate 20: A major east-west interstate carrying passenger vehicles and commercial freight through Bossier City.
- Interstate 220: A bypass connecting areas of Bossier and Caddo parishes and providing access around portions of the Shreveport-Bossier metropolitan area.
- U.S. Highway 71 / Barksdale Boulevard: A major corridor serving businesses, neighborhoods, and areas near Barksdale Air Force Base.
- Louisiana Highway 3 / Benton Road: A heavily traveled route connecting Bossier City with communities north of the city.
- Airline Drive: A major commercial and retail corridor with significant local traffic and frequent intersections.
- Red River crossings between Bossier City and Shreveport: Bridges connecting the two cities can experience changing traffic conditions and congestion.
Louisiana State Police Troop G is located in Bossier City and serves Bossier Parish as part of its seven-parish patrol area.
The location of a truck accident can affect which law-enforcement agency responds, what roadway evidence exists, whether nearby video may be available, and which witnesses or businesses may have information about the collision.
What Causes 18-Wheeler Accidents?
There is no single cause of every commercial truck collision. A proper investigation should determine what actually happened rather than assume the driver or trucking company was responsible.
Factors that may contribute to an 18-wheeler accident include:
Driver Fatigue
Commercial drivers may spend long periods on the road and work irregular schedules. Federal Hours-of-Service rules place limits on driving and on-duty time for covered drivers.
A driver may also become dangerously fatigued even while technically remaining within the maximum federal driving limits.
After an accident, ELD records, dispatch information, trip schedules, fuel receipts, and other evidence may help establish the driver's activities before the collision.
Distracted Driving
A commercial driver may be distracted by a cellphone, navigation system, dispatch equipment, other electronic device, or activity inside or outside the truck.
When distraction is suspected, investigators may examine available electronic evidence, video, witness statements, and other information.
Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions
Commercial trucks need adequate time and distance to slow or stop.
Driving above the posted speed limit or traveling too fast for traffic, weather, roadway, or visibility conditions may increase the risk of a serious collision.
Improperly Loaded or Secured Cargo
Cargo that is improperly loaded or secured may shift during transportation, affect the truck's stability, contribute to a rollover, or fall from the vehicle.
When cargo is suspected of contributing to a crash, bills of lading, loading documents, weight information, photographs, and other records may become important.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Commercial trucks require regular inspection, repair, and maintenance.
Problems involving brakes, tires, steering components, lighting, suspension systems, or other equipment may contribute to a collision if they are not identified and corrected.
Driver Qualification Issues
Motor carriers subject to applicable federal regulations have responsibilities concerning driver qualifications.
An investigation may examine whether the driver held the required license, satisfied applicable medical requirements, had appropriate experience, and whether the motor carrier completed required qualification procedures.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Bossier City 18-Wheeler Accident?
The truck driver is not necessarily the only person or company that should be investigated.
Potentially responsible parties may include:
The Truck Driver
A commercial driver may bear responsibility when unsafe conduct contributes to a collision, including speeding, distraction, impairment, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, or other careless driving.
The Motor Carrier or Trucking Company
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, the trucking company may have potential responsibility based on its relationship with the driver or its own conduct.
Issues may include driver qualification, training, supervision, vehicle maintenance, dispatch practices, or compliance with applicable safety regulations.
Cargo Loaders
A third-party loading company, shipper, warehouse, motor carrier, driver, or another party may become relevant when improperly loaded or secured cargo contributes to an accident.
The important question is who had responsibility for the cargo and whether that party's actions contributed to the collision.
Maintenance and Repair Companies
Trucking companies may hire outside mechanics or repair companies to service commercial vehicles.
If faulty repair work contributes to a mechanical failure and collision, the repair company's conduct may need to be investigated.
Truck or Component Manufacturers
When a defective vehicle or component contributes to an accident, a manufacturer or another party in the product's chain of distribution may potentially be involved in a product liability claim.
Other Drivers or Businesses
Not every accident involving an 18-wheeler is caused entirely by the truck driver or trucking company. Another motorist, contractor, business, or other party may also contribute to the collision.
A thorough investigation should identify the people and businesses whose conduct may have played a role.
What Evidence Should Be Preserved After a Truck Accident?
Some of the most important evidence in a commercial truck case may be controlled by the motor carrier or another business.
Depending on the case, attorneys may investigate:
Electronic Logging Device Records
An Electronic Logging Device, or ELD, records information related to a driver's driving time and duty status.
The records may help establish when the truck was being driven, how long the driver had been driving, and whether applicable Hours-of-Service requirements were followed.
ECM and Other Electronic Truck Data
Commercial trucks contain electronic systems that control and monitor different vehicle functions.
Depending on the truck and its installed systems, available electronic information may include vehicle speed, engine RPM, accelerator position, brake status, sudden deceleration events, or other vehicle activity.
Not every truck records the same information, so the vehicle and its electronic systems should be properly identified before conclusions are drawn.
Dash-Camera and Other Video
Some commercial trucks are equipped with forward-facing or driver-facing cameras.
Video may also exist from nearby businesses, traffic systems, security cameras, or other vehicles.
Because some video systems retain footage for limited periods, identifying possible sources early can be important.
Driver Qualification Records
Driver records may help determine whether applicable licensing, driving-history, medical-qualification, road-test, and other driver qualification requirements were satisfied.
Inspection and Maintenance Records
Maintenance histories, repair orders, inspection reports, tire records, brake records, and other documents may help determine the condition of the truck before the accident.
Dispatch and Company Communications
Dispatch messages, delivery instructions, trip schedules, and other company communications may help establish the driver's timeline and what instructions were given before the collision.
What Is a Spoliation or Preservation Letter?
Because some trucking evidence may be time-sensitive, an attorney may send a preservation or spoliation letter identifying potentially relevant evidence that should be preserved.
The notice may address:
- ELD records;
- ECM and other electronic vehicle data;
- dash-camera footage;
- GPS and telematics information;
- driver qualification records;
- inspection and maintenance records;
- dispatch communications;
- cargo documents; and
- the tractor, trailer, or damaged components.
A preservation letter does not guarantee that every requested item exists or that court sanctions will automatically result if evidence becomes unavailable.
However, giving early notice can be an important step in protecting evidence that might otherwise be overwritten, altered, repaired, or lost through normal operations.
How Does Louisiana's 2026 Comparative Fault Law Affect a Truck Accident Claim?
Louisiana changed its comparative-fault law effective January 1, 2026.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323, if a person seeking damages is 51% or more at fault, that person generally cannot recover damages. If the person's percentage of negligence is less than 51%, recoverable damages are generally reduced according to that percentage of fault.
For example, if an injured person is found 20% responsible for an accident governed by the current law, the amount of recoverable damages may generally be reduced by 20%.
This makes evidence concerning how the accident occurred particularly important.
Fault may be disputed in a commercial truck claim, so photographs, witness statements, video, electronic vehicle data, physical evidence, and company records can become important when evaluating the actions of everyone involved.
How Long Do I Have to File an 18-Wheeler Accident Claim in Louisiana?
Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1 generally provides a two-year liberative prescriptive period for delictual actions, beginning on the day the injury or damage is sustained. The provision became effective July 1, 2024.
However, determining the exact deadline in a particular case may involve additional legal issues.
An injured person should not wait until the end of the filing period to speak with an attorney.
In a commercial truck case, evidence can become more difficult to obtain long before the legal filing deadline expires. Video may be deleted, electronic information may be overwritten, vehicles may be repaired, and witnesses' memories may fade.
Starting the investigation early can help identify what evidence exists and where it may be located.
What Injuries Can Result From an 18-Wheeler Accident?
Commercial truck accidents may cause serious or life-changing injuries.
Depending on the collision, injuries may include:
- traumatic brain injuries;
- spinal cord injuries;
- neck and back injuries;
- herniated or damaged discs;
- broken bones;
- crush injuries;
- internal injuries;
- burns;
- amputations;
- nerve damage;
- scarring or disfigurement; and
- other permanent physical limitations.
Some injuries require surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, ongoing specialist care, or assistance with daily activities.
Understanding the full extent of an injury may therefore take time.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Bossier City Truck Accident?
The damages available depend on the facts of the case, the injuries, fault, insurance coverage, and Louisiana law.
Potentially recoverable damages may include:
Medical Expenses
Past and future medical expenses may include ambulance care, emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, medical equipment, and other medically necessary treatment.
Lost Income and Loss of Earning Capacity
An injured person may lose wages while unable to work.
A serious or permanent injury may also affect the person's ability to earn income in the future.
Pain and Suffering
Depending on the circumstances, damages may include compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and other legally recognized losses.
Property Damage
A claim may also include damage to the vehicle and other property affected by the collision.
No attorney can guarantee the amount that will be recovered in a particular case. The value of a claim depends on the evidence, injuries, available coverage, fault, and other individual circumstances.
Who Investigates 18-Wheeler Accidents in Bossier Parish?
The responding agency depends on where the collision occurs.
A commercial truck accident in or around Bossier City may be investigated by agencies such as the Bossier City Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, or Louisiana State Police, depending on jurisdiction and circumstances.
Louisiana State Police Troop G is headquartered in Bossier City and its patrol area includes Bossier Parish.
The police investigation is important, but it is not necessarily the same as a civil truck-accident investigation.
A personal injury attorney may seek additional evidence that does not appear in the police report, including trucking-company records, electronic data, video, maintenance information, driver records, and other evidence related to liability and damages.
What Should I Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Bossier City?
Your health and safety should come first.
Call 911 and seek appropriate medical attention.
If it is safe to do so, consider taking photographs or video of:
- the vehicles;
- visible damage;
- the roadway;
- debris;
- skid or tire marks;
- traffic signals and signs;
- commercial truck markings;
- the USDOT number;
- license plates; and
- tractor and trailer numbers.
Obtain witness contact information when possible.
Keep copies of medical bills, repair estimates, photographs, receipts, and communications related to the accident.
Be cautious before giving recorded statements or signing releases or broad authorizations requested by an insurance company.
Why Choose Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates?
An 18-wheeler accident can involve federal regulations, commercial insurance, electronic records, corporate relationships, and multiple potentially responsible parties.
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we bring more than 35 years of legal experience to the investigation of serious injury claims.
Our approach is not simply to ask what happened in the final seconds before impact.
We work to understand:
What was the driver doing before the crash?
Was the driver operating within applicable safety requirements?
Was the truck properly inspected and maintained?
What electronic evidence exists?
Who owned and controlled the truck?
Was cargo loading or securement involved?
What companies or individuals may bear legal responsibility?
How have the injuries affected the client's life and future?
When the accident is serious, the investigation should be too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bossier City 18-Wheeler Accidents
Why are 18-wheeler cases more complicated than regular car accidents?
Commercial truck cases may involve federal regulations, multiple businesses, commercial insurance policies, electronic truck data, ELD records, maintenance information, driver qualification records, cargo documents, and other evidence that is not commonly involved in an ordinary car accident.
Can I sue the trucking company after an 18-wheeler accident?
Potentially. Whether a motor carrier can be held responsible depends on the relationship between the company and driver, the company's own conduct, the cause of the collision, and applicable Louisiana and federal law.
An investigation may examine driver qualification, supervision, maintenance, dispatch practices, and other company conduct.
What if the trucking company is located outside Louisiana?
An out-of-state trucking company's involvement does not necessarily prevent an injured person from pursuing a Louisiana claim when the accident occurred in Louisiana.
Jurisdiction, venue, insurance, and other legal issues depend on the particular circumstances and should be evaluated by an attorney.
What is a spoliation letter?
A preservation or spoliation letter notifies a person or company that potentially relevant evidence should be preserved.
In a truck accident case, the request may identify ELD records, electronic truck information, video, maintenance records, driver records, dispatch communications, and physical vehicle evidence.
Does an ELD show whether the truck driver was tired?
Not directly.
An ELD records driving time and duty-status information. Those records may help determine whether Hours-of-Service requirements were followed, but they do not measure whether the driver actually slept or felt fatigued.
Other evidence may be needed to investigate fatigue.
Does black box data prove how an accident happened?
Not necessarily.
Electronic truck data can provide important information about vehicle activity, but it should be interpreted together with physical evidence, witness statements, photographs, video, and other information.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Louisiana?
Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1 generally provides a two-year prescriptive period for delictual actions beginning when the injury or damage is sustained. Different circumstances can affect legal deadlines, so the applicable period should be evaluated for the specific case.
What happens if I am partly responsible for the accident?
For claims governed by Louisiana's current comparative-fault law, a person who is 51% or more at fault generally cannot recover damages. If the person's fault is below 51%, damages are generally reduced according to the percentage of negligence assigned to that person.
Talk to a Bossier City 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or other commercial vehicle accident in Bossier City or Bossier Parish, early investigation can be important.
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we investigate serious commercial truck accidents and work to identify the evidence that may help determine what happened and who may be legally responsible.
With more than 35 years of legal experience, our firm serves injured people in Bossier City, Shreveport, and throughout Northwest Louisiana.
Call Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates at 318-746-5997 for a free, confidential consultation.
Bossier City Office: 401 Hamilton Road, Suite 110 Bossier City, Louisiana