What To Do After An 18-Wheeler Accident in New Orleans
After getting into an accident with an 18-wheeler, your day and the days following are forever changed. These accidents can happen quickly and are often chaotic and confusing. While you can’t change what has already happened during those few seconds, there are immediate steps you can take after an accident that can help you see that you’re taking care of yourself. Knowing what to do after an 18-wheeler accident in New Orleans can help you take the proper next steps.
Advocate For Your Safety
During the moments right after your accident, safety should be your number one concern. Take care of yourself and those around you by moving to a safe location away from traffic if possible and turning on your hazard lights. From there, call 911 to report the accident and allow law enforcement and medical professionals to come out and evaluate any injuries.
Don’t assume you’re fine just because you feel okay. After the initial adrenaline rush of being involved in an accident, you may not feel things right away. Head injuries are particularly concerning because you might not know you have one until much later.
In 2025, there were 3,630 trucks involved in accidents in Louisiana. Out of these accidents, 106 were involved in fatal crashes, and 3,524 were involved in non-fatal crashes.
Contact Law Enforcement and Document the Accident
Traffic accidents in New Orleans can sometimes feel unavoidable. With trucks and trolleys running through busy intersections crowded with pedestrians, having a police report can be incredibly beneficial to have if you’re involved in an accident.
Law enforcement officials typically take care of logging the accident. They speak with everyone involved to get their account of what happened. In addition to calling the police, take care of documenting your personal information about the accident while everything is fresh in your mind. You can do the following:
- Record footage of any vehicle damage, both yours and others that may be involved
- Document road conditions at the time of the accident
- Take pictures of any visible injuries you, passengers, or anyone else may have suffered
- Gather the contact information of any witnesses or passersby who stopped to help
- Jot down your recollection of how the accident happened
Documentation like this can be crucial down the road, especially if you find yourself involved in an 18-wheeler accident case. Commercial trucks add a unique layer to any accident in which they are involved.
Exchange Information With the Other Driver
Once you’ve secured your safety, you can exchange information with the truck driver at a safe spot. When doing this, try to be courteous but straightforward with the driver. Avoid apportioning blame or making any emotional comments. All you need to do is gather basic information like their name, contact information, insurance information, and employer.
Due to federal 18-wheeler accident laws requiring commercial trucking companies to insure their vehicles through the employer, there may be more people involved in the accident than just the driver.
Be Mindful When Speaking to Insurance Companies
One of the first phone calls you can expect to receive after your accident is going to come from an insurance adjuster. They likely won’t contact you until after a police report has been filed, but it’s only a matter of time. While insurance companies are also interested in knowing what happened, as you likely are, they are interested in lessening the financial impact for them.
Hire an 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer
Whether or not to hire an 18-wheeler accident lawyer is up to you, but most people choose to at least consult with a lawyer to discuss their options. Truck accidents have many intricacies that typical car accidents do not.
Accidents involving 18-wheelers can require further inspection into company practices, driver schedules, and maintenance logs. If you were significantly damaged, injured, or both, chances are your accident will require additional analysis that may not be readily visible.
A New Orleans 18-wheeler accident attorney can help you make sense of the situation and provide further knowledge on what to expect, as well as how to gather the information you need.
FAQs
How Much Could I Get After Being Hit By an 18-Wheeler in Louisiana?
How much you can get after being hit by an 18-wheeler in Louisiana varies. Factors such as injuries, medical bills, and lost wages all play a role.
Since 18-wheeler accidents tend to involve more serious injuries and damages, the compensation has the potential to be higher than your average car accident. Each case is unique, and it all boils down to the facts of your case, documentation, and how severely the accident impacts you for years to come.
What Happens After a Semi-Truck Accident?
After a semi-truck accident, law enforcement will likely respond to secure the scene of a semi-truck accident and help anyone who may have been injured. The insurance company will likely investigate the accident, and multiple parties associated with the truck may be involved in the investigation. Medical treatment, auto repairs, and insurance claims will also be evaluated during this time.
Why Should You Never Admit Fault in a Truck Accident?
You should never admit fault in a truck accident because you rarely know the entire story at that time. You may not know if there was a mechanical problem or if someone else made a move that caused or contributed to the accident.
Anything you say at the scene can be used against you during an insurance or legal investigation later on. Just state the facts and allow the investigator to determine who is at fault.
What if Multiple Parties Were Involved in the Accident?
If multiple parties were involved in the accident, there may be more than one person responsible for what happened. It could involve the driver themselves, the trucking company, or the maintenance company that worked on the truck.
Figuring out who is responsible can take time. Investigating the records and evidence is key to pinning down how each party played a role.
Contact Hammond Law Firm, LLC
Hammond Law Firm, LLC has over 40 years of collective experience handling these types of cases. Founded in New Orleans, we believe in representing our clients in complex matters to advocate for favorable outcomes.
Our New Orleans personal injury attorneys have familiarity with the Orleans Parish Civil District Court located at 421 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, and can help you with your case. Contact us today for a consultation.
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