Laplace Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Lawyer Laplace, LA

If you were injured in a collision with a commercial truck in Laplace, the trucking company’s insurance team was likely working on their defense before you were discharged from the hospital. Our Laplace, LA truck accident lawyer at Kiefer & Kiefer has been representing seriously injured clients across Louisiana for over 40 years, and we know exactly how to fight back. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Why Choose Kiefer & Kiefer for Truck Accidents in Laplace, LA?

We’ve Handled These Cases From Both Sides

There is a meaningful difference between an attorney who has litigated truck accident cases and one who has litigated them from both sides. Before representing injured victims, our personal injury lawyer in Laplace, LA worked for insurance companies defending commercial truck and 18-wheeler accident claims. We sat at the defense table. We saw how trucking companies respond to crashes, what evidence their lawyers prioritize, and what arguments they make to shift blame onto injured victims.

Nat Kiefer Jr. has been practicing Louisiana personal injury law for over 40 years. He graduated from Tulane University Law School in 1982 with honors, earned membership in the Order of the Coif, and received the Walter Sutton Award. He served on the Moot Court Board and has spent decades as an adjunct instructor at Loyola University Law School. His trial experience in Louisiana courts is among the deepest in the state, and it covers some of the most complex commercial vehicle cases we have handled.

Chris Short is a partner who graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School and is licensed in Louisiana and Florida. His methodical approach to building truck accident cases has produced consistent results for seriously injured clients across Louisiana.

Megan Kiefer is a partner and one of Louisiana’s most recognized personal injury attorneys. She earned her J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 2009 and holds specialized training in mediation and negotiation from Humboldt University of Berlin. She has been named to Super Lawyers in 2022, 2023, and 2024, inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and recognized as a top personal injury lawyer by New Orleans Magazine. She is a two-time recipient of the New Orleans City Business Leadership in Law award and serves as an adjunct instructor at Tulane University Law School’s trial advocacy program.

Multiple Seven-Figure Results in Commercial Vehicle Cases

Kiefer & Kiefer has recovered over $100 million for injured clients across Louisiana, including multiple seven-figure results specifically in truck and commercial vehicle cases. Our results include a $1.4 million settlement for a commercial vehicle accident requiring back surgery, $1.3 million for an 18-wheeler collision involving multiple surgeries and disc herniations, $1 million for an 18-wheeler accident causing neck and shoulder injuries, and $765,000 for a truck accident requiring shoulder surgeries.

Every one of those results required work that started long before any settlement conversation. Preservation of black box data and driver logs. Retention of accident reconstruction specialists. Identification of hours of service violations. Analysis of maintenance records. That preparation is what separates a full recovery from an inadequate one.

We Move Before Evidence Disappears

Trucking companies send accident response teams to crash scenes fast. By the time most victims are thinking about an attorney, the defense has already begun documenting the scene, interviewing witnesses, and securing data from the truck. We respond with the same urgency. We issue spoliation letters immediately, demand preservation of all electronic data and vehicle records, and begin building your case before critical evidence is lost. The key factors in truck accident claims are time-sensitive, and early action consistently produces better outcomes.

No Fees Unless We Win

Every truck accident case we handle is taken on a contingency fee basis. No upfront costs, and no fees unless we recover compensation for you.

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“This law firm is EXCEPTIONAL! If you need some one who will truly fight for you, look no further. This is the Law Firm to hire! Knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly skilled. I’m beyond satisfied with the results of my son’s case! Thanks Megan Kiefer, and the entire team at Kiefer & Kiefer who assisted with my case!!” — Anunka L.

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Laplace

Commercial vehicle accidents along the I-10 corridor and throughout St. John the Baptist Parish take many forms. The type of truck involved, the circumstances of the crash, and the parties responsible all affect how a claim is built and who can be held liable. We handle all of the following.

• 18-wheeler and semi-truck accidents. Fully loaded tractor-trailers traveling at highway speeds cause devastation when they collide with passenger vehicles. Driver fatigue, hours of service violations, improperly secured cargo, and equipment failures are among the most common causes we investigate.
• Tanker and hazardous materials trucks. These vehicles carry risks beyond the impact of the crash itself. Spills, fires, and chemical exposure can compound the injuries sustained, and the regulatory framework governing hazardous materials transport adds additional layers of potential liability.
• Garbage and municipal trucks. Frequent stops, limited visibility, and operation in areas with heavy pedestrian and cyclist traffic make these vehicles a consistent source of serious accidents. When their drivers are inattentive or their equipment fails, the consequences can be severe.
• Truck accidents involving motorcyclists. Commercial trucks are particularly dangerous to riders. Blind spots and wide turns account for a significant number of the fatal and catastrophic motorcycle crashes we handle, and the liability analysis in these cases frequently extends to the trucking company as well as the driver.
• Truck accidents involving pedestrians. A pedestrian struck by a commercial vehicle rarely escapes without life-altering injuries. We pursue every available avenue of recovery in these cases, including both driver negligence and corporate liability where applicable.
• Multi-vehicle truck accidents. When a commercial vehicle causes a chain reaction crash involving multiple vehicles, the liability picture becomes more complex. Multi-vehicle truck pileups require careful investigation to establish the sequence of events and identify every responsible party.
• Fatal truck accidents. When a commercial vehicle collision causes a death, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim against the driver, the trucking company, and potentially other parties. These cases require immediate action and a thorough understanding of both the legal framework and the full human cost of the loss.

Louisiana Legal Requirements for Truck Accident Cases

Commercial trucks operating in Louisiana are subject to both federal motor carrier regulations and Louisiana state law, and violations of those requirements are often central to how a truck accident case is built.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets hours of service rules that limit how long a commercial driver may operate without rest. Under 49 C.F.R. Part 395, truck drivers must maintain detailed logs of their driving hours, and violations of those limits can establish negligence directly. Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of serious truck accidents on Louisiana highways, and hours of service records are among the first pieces of evidence we move to preserve.

Federal insurance minimums for large commercial trucks under 49 C.F.R. Part 387 range from $750,000 to $5 million depending on the cargo carried. Understanding how much insurance a commercial truck is required to carry matters to how a case is valued and pursued, and it is something we analyze in every commercial vehicle case we take.

Beyond the driver, trucking company negligence in hiring, training, and supervising drivers is a separate and significant source of liability. When a company knowingly employs an unqualified driver or fails to enforce its own safety policies, that failure is actionable and can materially affect the total recovery available.

Louisiana’s comparative fault rules under La. C.C. Art. 2323 apply to truck accident cases as they do to all personal injury claims. The statute of limitations under La. C.C. Art. 3492 gives injured victims one year from the date of the accident to file a claim. In cases involving government-owned vehicles, notice requirements may shorten that window further. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development maintains road safety data that can also be relevant when road conditions contributed to a crash.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Laplace Truck Accident?

The injuries caused by commercial truck accidents are frequently catastrophic. The disparity in size and weight between an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle means that collisions produce damage that is fundamentally different from a typical car accident.

Economic damages cover the direct financial losses your injuries have caused. Past and future medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. Lost wages from time missed at work. Reduced earning capacity if your injuries have permanently limited your professional life. In serious cases involving long-term disability or permanent impairment, we retain life care planners and forensic economists to calculate future costs and lost income with precision. 

Non-economic damages address the losses that don’t come with a bill. Pain and suffering. Emotional distress. Loss of enjoyment of the life you had before the crash. The impact of permanent injuries on your relationships and daily activities. Louisiana law allows full recovery for these losses, and in catastrophic truck accident cases they often represent the largest component of the total damages. How those losses are documented and presented to an insurance company or a jury is something we invest significant attention in on every case we handle.

Punitive damages are not routinely available in Louisiana personal injury cases, but where a truck driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash, enhanced recovery may be available under La. R.S. § 32:1502. We evaluate that question in every case involving an impaired driver. Evidence of corporate negligence in hiring or supervision can also affect the total liability exposure of the trucking company, which in turn affects what is recoverable for you.

Contact Kiefer & Kiefer

If you were hurt in a truck accident in Laplace, do not speak with any insurance adjuster or sign anything before talking to us. Trucking companies move fast after a crash, and the decisions made in the first days after an accident can affect the outcome of your case significantly. We offer free consultations and handle every truck accident case on a contingency basis. No fees unless we win. Contact us today.