Covington truck wrecks happen on I-12 and at its interchanges with US-190 and LA-21, on the US-190 and LA-25 approaches into town, and on Causeway Boulevard. The people hurt in them are taken to St. Tammany Parish Hospital on South Tyler Street, the Level III trauma center, or to Lakeview Hospital on Judge Tanner Boulevard, the Level II trauma center. The Covington Police Department writes the crash report inside the city limits, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office writes it for a wreck outside them. A St. Tammany Parish suit is filed with the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court and tried in the 22nd Judicial District Court at 701 North Columbia Street in Covington, the parish seat. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers is at 661 River Highland Boulevard in Covington. We pull the crash report, send the carrier a preservation letter for the hours-of-service and electronic logging device records, and photograph the truck’s DOT markings and the scene. We send that letter once the facts give us an honest basis for it, because moving as early as the law permits is how the evidence is kept and gathered. Those records show how long the driver had been on duty before the crash and whether the carrier knew it.
The law that governs the claim is Louisiana law and it does not change from parish to parish. A truck-crash injury after July 1, 2024 is a two-year filing under La. C.C. art. 3493.1; earlier wrecks remain under the one-year period of art. 3492. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers preserves the FMCSA hours-of-service and electronic logs so the carrier’s version of the crash is not the only one left.
Truck Accident Attorneys in Covington, LA
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers handles 18-wheeler and tractor-trailer accident cases in Covington. Our attorneys are backed by two decades of experience in commercial truck accident claims, including cases involving trucking companies and their insurers.
We handle big rig accident cases and are available 24/7 for new clients. View our case results to see our track record.
Our Covington Office
661 River Highland Blvd
Covington, LA 70433
Open 24/7 for injured Covington residents
Get directions →What Are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?
Avoidable errors, failures, oversights, and other types of negligence cause most 18-wheeler accidents.
With tractor-trailer wrecks, several forms of negligence are often present in a single crash. Driver errors, mechanical failures, and violations of federal trucking regulations can all contribute simultaneously.
Here is a closer look at some of the leading causes of truck accidents in Covington, Louisiana, and the U.S. (sources: FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study and FMCSA Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts).
Driver Negligence and Truck Accidents
Trucker error is a factor in about 1 in every 3 truck wrecks involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle. Speeding, distraction, and impairment are the leading trucker errors that contribute to big rig accidents.
Trucking Company Negligence and Tractor-Trailer Crashes
Motor carriers are responsible for putting safe drivers and vehicles on the roads. They are also required to comply with federal trucking regulations. When they fail those obligations, or when their policies or scheduling creates unsafe conditions, trucking companies can be at least partly at fault for the resulting crashes.
With motor carrier negligence and 18-wheeler accidents, it’s important to note that:
- About 13,000 truck crashes a year (9%) involve truckers who say they were under some type of work-related pressure at the time of the accident.
- About 5,000 wrecks a year (3%) involve truckers who say they felt pressured to drive even though they were fatigued.
- Uncovering motor carrier negligence usually demands deeper investigations into records, policy documents, and a lot more.
18-Wheeler Wrecks Caused by Faulty Equipment
When big rigs experience mechanical failures, drivers may lose control of the truck, resulting in wrecks. Every year in the U.S., about 6% of all fatal 18-wheeler accidents are caused by defective and malfunctioning vehicle equipment. In fact:
- Faulty equipment causes about twice as many truck crashes as car accidents.
- Tires and brakes are the most common types of trucking equipment to fail and cause deadly big rig wrecks.
Equipment failures are not always obvious factors that leave behind clear evidence at the scene of a crash. With faulty equipment, various parties may be liable, including:
- Manufacturers who make and distribute trucking equipment that is innately dangerous or faulty
- Motor carriers who fail to properly maintain their 18-wheelers
- Truck drivers who fail to properly inspect and/or maintain the big rigs they’re responsible for
- Technicians who fail to properly fix or maintain trucking equipment
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts. See our full case results.
Cargo Problems and Truck Accidents
Shifting cargo on trucks causes about 4% of all 18-wheeler accidents a year. Cargo securement failures are involved in about 3% of these wrecks. That adds up to roughly 10,000 tractor-trailer wrecks from cargo issues each year.
Unsecured and shifting cargo can destabilize 18-wheelers, increasing the risks of jackknife and rollover truck wrecks. Cargo problems can also lead to the spillage of hazardous materials. More than 50% of all hazardous materials spills caused by truck accidents involve the release of volatile or flammable materials.
Loading dock workers, truck drivers, motor carriers, and others can be liable for tractor-trailer accidents caused by cargo issues.
Other Truck Accident Causes: Weather, Road, and Traffic Conditions
Weather is a factor in more than 14% of the big rig crashes that happen each year on America’s roads. More than 1 in 4 of these crashes happen during cloudy, foggy, raining, or hailing conditions. Adverse weather can also leave behind unsafe road conditions. Nearly 16% of all deadly truck accidents a year occur on wet, icy, or snowy roads.
Beyond weather, traffic conditions can also make roads dangerous:
- About 28% of 18-wheeler accidents occur when there’s congestion or right after a previous crash.
- At least one tractor-trailer is involved in about 30 of all fatal work zone crashes. For injury-only work zone wrecks, at least one big rig is involved about 10% of the time.
- Various parties can be liable for unsafe roads, depending on the specific factors involved in a crash.
Covington and Louisiana Truck Accident Injuries
Truck wrecks in Covington and across Louisiana can produce severe outcomes.
These crashes can result in traumatic brain injury, spinal trauma, and other catastrophic injuries. The consequences of a single crash can affect a family for years.
If you or a loved one has been in a tractor-trailer crash in the Covington area, a truck accident attorney at Trey Morris Injury Lawyers can explain your options.
Your Covington Injury Attorneys
Founder Trey Morris leads every injury case the firm takes.
What Should I Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Covington, LA?
Call 911 and get medical attention as soon as possible if you have been moderately or seriously hurt. Then wait at the scene for help. If you can do so without risking further injury, try to take these steps:
- Exchange information with the other drivers.
- Take pictures and video of the damaged truck, other involved vehicles, damaged road features, debris on the road, and people at the scene. Capture every detail you can.
- Only state facts you know. Do not admit fault or apologize when speaking to other parties, witnesses, police, or your insurance company.
- See a doctor after the accident if you did not receive medical attention at the scene. Continue medical care for as long as needed to treat your injuries.
- Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as reasonably possible.
- Speak with a Covington truck accident lawyer to understand your legal rights and options.
When Do I Need a Covington Truck Accident Lawyer?
As soon as possible after a crash. A Covington 18-wheeler accident lawyer can explain liability, how to start your case, and how to protect your rights. From there, your attorney can investigate the accident, identify liable parties, and gather the evidence needed to support your claim.
The alternative is navigating a complex legal process without guidance while managing the physical and financial impacts of a wreck.
Our trucking accident attorneys have handled cases involving motor carrier negligence, equipment failures, cargo issues, and driver error. We handle the investigation and case-building from start to finish.
Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in the 22nd Judicial District Court
A Covington truck accident lawsuit is filed in the 22nd Judicial District Court, which serves St. Tammany Parish and sits in Covington, the parish seat. Filing suit does not end settlement talks; it opens discovery, where each side exchanges documents and takes testimony under oath, and that process often produces the leverage a pre-suit demand could not. A lawyer who appears in that courthouse regularly knows the local filing conventions and the clerk of court’s intake process, which keeps a case moving without avoidable delay.
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Testimonials do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
How Much Are Truck Accident Settlements and Compensation?
The value of a truck accident case depends on the injuries, damage, and losses caused by the accident.
Truck accident cases can include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
View our case results to see examples of our recoveries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Louisiana?
What should I do immediately after a truck wreck in Covington?
Who pays when the trucker was working at the time of the crash?
Last updated October 7, 2026