New Orleans Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Skilled Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney in New Orleans, LA

Commercial transportation vehicles and other commercial vehicles can get into vehicle accidents like any other car on the road. Because these vehicles are subject to unique regulations and often involve commercial insurance companies, it can complicate the process of filing for compensation. Working with a New Orleans commercial vehicle accident lawyer could help you protect your rights and financial interests and relieve stress as you physically recover.

Commercial transportation companies are typically held to a higher standard of safety than private individuals and private organizations. While commercial vehicle accidents may occur less frequently than other kinds of vehicle accidents, they nevertheless do occur and can result in significant personal injury to one or more passengers.

If you have been injured in an accident while in a taxi, bus, limo, or another commercial vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation.

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Navigating Claims Against Commercial Transportation Companies With Hammond Law Firm, LLC

Exceptional legal support can be the difference between a successful claim that recovers your losses and having your claim denied. Whether you are a passenger in one of these transportation vehicles or a third party involved in an accident, Hammond Law Firm, LLC can help you navigate a claim, investigate fault, and work for the compensation that you are owed.

For over 40 combined years, our New Orleans personal injury attorneys have supported individuals injured by the negligence of others. When commercial transportation companies fail to uphold their duty of care, or the negligence of parties causes another type of commercial vehicle crash, you can recover financial losses like income, medical bills, and property damage. We provide you with reliable and dedicated legal support.

“Common Carrier” Law in New Orleans, Louisiana

Most personal injury cases are based on what are referred to as negligence rules. This means a party owes you a duty of care, breaches that duty of care, and causes you damages as a result. Commercial transportation providers have a duty to take a certain standard of precaution to help ensure the safety of their passengers.

A claim against these providers occurs when the commercial transportation provider does not fulfill its duty of care to its passengers. The standard of care required of commercial transportation providers depends on the state, but in many states, commercial transportation providers have a responsibility to take a higher degree of precaution than other individuals and organizations.

Transportation companies are often subject to the “common carrier” law. Common carriers include such transportation as tour buses, taxi cabs, and limousines. Operators and other employees of transportation companies have a high duty of care for their passengers and are required to receive particular training as part of their job.

The Process of Filing a Claim Against a Publicly-Owned Transportation Organization

The procedure for bringing a claim against a commercial transportation company may also differ from a standard personal injury claim. If the common carrier is owned by the government, it is subject to specific rules. Publicly owned common carriers may require you to give notice to the government before you can sue for personal injury so that the government may try to settle with you out of court. A civil claim cannot be filed until the settlement deadline has passed.

There is also a maximum time limit, or statute of limitations, to your right to bring a personal injury claim to court. Different states may have different laws governing civil claims against government organizations, and only an experienced attorney may know state-specific laws for personal injuries and property damage in commercial transportation accidents.

Meeting the deadlines for these claims and following the other requirements is easier when you hire a commercial vehicle accident lawyer. The attorneys of Hammond Law Firm, LLC can help you to not miss your window for filing a claim against a commercial transportation company in the case of a personal injury or property damage.

What Makes Commercial Vehicle Accidents More Complicated?

In Orleans Parish in 2025, there were 182 crashes involving transit buses, 40 of which resulted in suspected injuries; 12 crashes involving mini-buses, two of which were suspected injury crashes; and 14 crashes involving motor coaches. There was one crash involving a large limo. There were a total of 209 commercial vehicle crashes reported in the parish the same year. Commercial crashes are especially likely on major transport corridors like I-10.

There are several reasons why commercial vehicle accidents are harder to navigate and secure fair compensation compared to other types of motor vehicle accidents, including:

Damage Severity

Some commercial vehicles, such as buses, semi-trucks, transportation trucks, or limos, are much larger and heavier than other vehicles. This factor can increase the severity of an accident and the injuries and other damages that those in smaller vehicles sustain. Although damages are more significant, it is still difficult to get insurers to offer a settlement that fairly compensates for these losses.

Federal Regulation

Certain transportation vehicles are regulated by state and federal laws. This may include how taxi or bus drivers are trained or vetted, how the vehicles are maintained, and other guidelines to improve safety. When these regulations are ignored, a company can be held liable. An attorney is crucial for understanding these laws and whether they were broken.

Potential Liable Parties

Many companies and individuals are responsible for the upkeep, use, and transportation of commercial vehicles. Because so many parties are involved, many of them may be partially or fully liable for an accident. It takes a much more in-depth investigation into the accident to determine who can be held liable.

Liability may include the driver’s employer, the manufacturer, the party responsible for vehicle maintenance, or the owner of the vehicle. Often, if the driver of the commercial vehicle is at fault, the employer is vicariously liable. A third party in the accident could also be liable.

Commercial Insurers

Commercial vehicles mean the involvement of commercial insurers. Even if it is determined that they are not liable, these companies will investigate the accident. Like all insurers, their goal is to mitigate their liability, and commercial insurers have even more resources to do this. They work to undermine your claim, potentially even trying to blame you for the accident, all to avoid paying a full and fair settlement.

An experienced attorney can help you understand your options for compensation and has the resources to investigate the accident and its cause.

How Do Commercial Vehicle Accidents Happen in New Orleans?

The majority of commercial vehicle accidents happen in New Orleans because of driver negligence. The driver of the commercial vehicle or other drivers on the road can be negligent in many ways, including:

• Distracted driving, which can be more likely when commercial drivers have routes to pay attention to or passenger distractions
• Speeding, which may happen when commercial drivers have tight deadlines to meet
• Fatigued driving, especially when drivers work long hours on the road
• Failure to yield, especially at complex New Orleans intersections
• Reckless driving, including unsafe turns or lane changes, ignoring key rules of the road, or failing to account for the major blind spots on certain large commercial vehicles
• Impaired driving, which is incredibly dangerous and is more likely to result in fatal accidents

Some commercial vehicle accidents are caused by other parties besides the drivers. Accidents can be caused by:

• Vehicle malfunctions. These can be the result of poor maintenance on commercial or other vehicles, leading to breakdowns that inspectors or trucking companies should have addressed. They can also be caused by defective or unsafe car components, making the product manufacturer potentially liable. Vehicle breakdowns can also occur because a vehicle is overloaded past its carrying capacity.
• Hazardous roads. Dangerous road conditions can include construction sites, potholes, degraded roadsides, flooding, and other inclement weather. Drivers who are going too quickly for the conditions of the road can be liable if they caused an accident. A governmental agency could also be liable for hazards on the road that it failed to fix.
• Cargo issues. Collisions with commercial vehicles transporting cargo can be caused if that cargo is overloaded, unevenly loaded, or improperly secured. Overturns or cargo spills can cause major, multi-vehicle accidents. The loading or shipping company might be liable for improperly loading a vehicle.

In Louisiana, commercial companies that employ drivers could also be liable if they failed to properly train those drivers, and the driver caused an accident as a result.

No matter how your commercial vehicle accident happened, it’s important to work with an attorney who can investigate why the crash occurred and who is liable for your injuries.

Common Injuries in Commercial Collisions

Commercial vehicle collisions often involve larger vehicles like 18-wheelers or transit buses, and can cause many serious injuries as a result. Some of them include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, from concussions to penetrating brain injuries
• Fractured bones, including multiple fractures and crushing injuries
• Soft tissue injuries like sprains or strains
• Lacerations and contusions
• Whiplash
• Burns
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Amputations
• Mental and emotional trauma

Hire a New Orleans, LA Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer: Effective Representation at Hammond Law Firm, LLC

If you have suffered a personal injury or property damage in an accident involving commercial transportation, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages sustained. Hammond Law Firm, LLC in New Orleans, LA, has court-tested experience and a comprehensive understanding of specific state laws that may apply to civil claims against common carriers.

Contact our New Orleans commercial transportation accident attorney today or call (504) 586-3535 to schedule your free case review and consultation with us.

New Orleans Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Reviews

Al B. 
“Exceptional service from start to finish. The attorneys were knowledgeable, responsive, and fought hard on my behalf. Their efforts led to positive outcome. Highly recommended!”

Denny Henderson
“I would like to thank Mr. Hammond and his team. When I would have a question or a concern they would be prompt with a response. They did everything to make sure that I received the best outcome possible, and I highly recommend them.”

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Hammond Law Firm, LLC – New Orleans Office

650 Poydras St., Ste. 2617
New Orleans, LA 70130