Chalmette wrecks happen on LA-39, the St. Bernard Highway, where commuter traffic shares the road with heavy trucks from the Mississippi River industrial corridor, and on Judge Perez Drive, Paris Road, and LA-47, which carries refinery and plant traffic. The people hurt in them are taken to St. Bernard Parish Hospital on West Judge Perez Drive. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office writes the report. St. Bernard Parish suits are filed and tried in the 34th Judicial District Court at 1101 West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers handles Chalmette cases from our Covington office on River Highland Boulevard, and in the first week we pull the report, request the hospital records, and send preservation letters for the truck data and business video before it is overwritten.
The law that governs the claim is Louisiana law and it is the same in every parish. For injuries on or after July 1, 2024 you have two years to sue under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1. We start on the fault evidence early, before an adjuster reaches for the 51% bar under La. C.C. Art. 2323.
Results for Louisiana Clients
- $409 MillionWrongful Death
A tragic case where an impaired driver of a commercial vehicle ran a red light, then collided with our client, causing serious bodily injury to the mother and the loss of life of her daughter.
- $49 MillionMotor Vehicle Accident
An impaired driver of a stolen vehicle driving the wrong way collided with our client head-on, resulting in brain injury and multiple broken bones.
- $32.2 MillionIndustrial / Workplace
Failure to maintain proper safety protocols led to an explosion at an industrial plant causing a series of catastrophic injuries from broken bones, burns, spinal injury, and mental anguish.
- $31.5 MillionIndustrial / Workplace
Brain and spinal injuries followed an oil-field company failing to maintain equipment and provide a safe work site.
- $17.2 MillionCommercial Vehicle Accident
Client was struck head-on by a disconnected load of an 18-wheeler that crossed the median causing broken bones and amputation.
- $13 MillionCommercial Vehicle Accident
On the interstate, an 18-wheeler failed to yield right of way then made an unsafe lane change causing the accident which resulted in major bone breaks, damaged organs, and ultimately a leg amputation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts.
There are qualified personal injury attorneys who serve St. Bernard Parish. You are doing your research, which means something happened. Something serious enough to look for legal help. No one reads lawyer websites until they need one.
This page explains how injury cases work in Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish, what Louisiana’s recent tort reform changes mean for your claim, and where your case gets filed. Chalmette’s industrial economy and high-traffic corridors create injury patterns that require specific legal knowledge. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled personal injury cases across Louisiana for over 25 years. Read this page. Compare us to others. Make the decision that is right for your situation.
Traffic Patterns and Crash Risks in St. Bernard Parish
Chalmette is the parish seat of St. Bernard Parish, located southeast of New Orleans. The parish’s road network handles both local commuter traffic and heavy commercial vehicle traffic from the industrial corridor along the Mississippi River.
LA-39, known locally as St. Bernard Highway, is the main north-south route through Chalmette. It runs parallel to the Mississippi River and carries a mix of residential and commercial traffic. Judge Perez Drive, both East and West, serves as the primary commercial corridor. Retail centers, restaurants, and businesses line this road, and intersections along it see frequent collisions during peak hours.
Paris Road connects Chalmette to I-510 and the greater New Orleans metro area. This route carries commuters and commercial vehicles between St. Bernard Parish and Orleans Parish daily. LA-47 adds industrial traffic from refineries and manufacturing operations in the parish.
St. Bernard Parish recorded approximately 2 fatal crashes and 259 suspected injury crashes in 2023 according to CARTS data. Refinery and industrial truck traffic adds weight and volume to roads not designed for the load. Car accident claims and truck accident claims on these corridors involve evidence and liability issues specific to the mix of industrial and residential traffic in St. Bernard Parish.
Ask any attorney you are considering what percentage of their caseload involves motor vehicle accidents. An attorney who handles a handful of accident cases a year approaches evidence preservation differently than one who handles hundreds. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers’s practice is limited to personal injury. That is all we do.
Local Office. Statewide Record.
- $1 Billion+
Recovered for Louisiana clients
Verdicts and settlements won across the state by the same trial team that handles Chalmette cases.
- 11
Trial attorneys, one team
Your case is handled by the firm's own trial attorneys, and we respond in minutes, 24/7.
- 24/7
We come to you
Hospital, home, or our Covington office at 661 River Highland Blvd. Free case review, and no fee unless we win.
- 122
Cases resolved over $1 million
Verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more, won by the same trial team that handles Chalmette cases.
Industrial Accidents and Refinery Injuries in St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish has a significant industrial presence along the Mississippi River corridor. Refineries and petrochemical operations are among the largest employers in the parish. These facilities provide jobs but also expose workers to serious hazards.
Industrial workers in St. Bernard Parish face risks including chemical exposure, burns, explosions, equipment failures, and falls from heights. These are not minor workplace incidents. Chemical burns and blast injuries cause permanent damage. Crush injuries from heavy equipment can result in amputations. Toxic chemical exposure creates long-term respiratory and neurological conditions that may not appear for months or years after the initial contact.
Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system covers on-the-job injuries, but those benefits have limits. Workers’ compensation pays a portion of lost wages and covers medical treatment. It does not compensate for pain and suffering, and the wage replacement is capped. For serious industrial injuries, workers’ compensation alone may not cover the full extent of your losses.
Third-party liability claims allow injured workers to pursue additional compensation. If someone other than your employer caused or contributed to your injury, you can file a separate claim against that third party. On a refinery or industrial site, third parties include equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, maintenance companies, and chemical suppliers. This is a separate legal action from workers’ compensation.
OSHA sets federal workplace safety standards for industrial facilities. Violations of OSHA regulations can serve as evidence of negligence in a personal injury claim. Your attorney should know how to obtain OSHA inspection records and violation histories for the facility where your injury occurred. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled industrial injury claims including plant and refinery accidents and construction site accidents throughout Louisiana.
Preservation Letter
A formal legal demand sent to the employer or facility operator requiring them to preserve all evidence related to the incident. Stops the company from overwriting electronic data or destroying logs on their normal retention schedule.
Evidence preservation is critical in industrial cases. The employer controls the accident scene. Equipment gets repaired or replaced. Maintenance logs get updated. Witness statements get taken by company investigators before your attorney ever arrives. Ask any attorney you are considering how quickly they send Preservation Letter preservation letters after you hire them. Delays in industrial cases cost evidence that cannot be recovered.
Chalmette Practice Areas
Car AccidentsRear-end, intersection, and highway collisions across Louisiana.
Truck Accidents18-wheeler and commercial-vehicle wrecks governed by federal trucking rules.
Catastrophic InjuryBrain, spinal-cord, amputation, and severe-burn injuries that change a life.
Wrongful DeathClaims brought by families after a fatal accident or act of negligence.
Premises LiabilitySlip-and-fall and unsafe-property injuries on someone else's premises.
Product LiabilityInjuries caused by defective or unreasonably dangerous products.
Oilfield AccidentsDrilling, pipeline, and refinery injuries across the energy sector.
Industrial AccidentsPlant, warehouse, and heavy-equipment injuries in industrial settings.
Offshore AccidentsRig, platform, and vessel injuries beyond the shoreline.
How Do Louisiana Tort Reform Changes Affect St. Bernard Parish Injury Cases?
Prescriptive Period
Louisiana’s term for statute of limitations. The legal deadline to file a lawsuit. For personal injury, it is two years from the date of injury under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1 (effective July 1, 2024).
Comparative Fault
A legal rule that reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault. In Louisiana, if you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages are reduced proportionally.
Louisiana’s Prescriptive Period is now two years, and the Comparative Fault bar is now 51%. These are the two most significant changes from the 2020-2026 tort reform cycle. They affect every personal injury case filed in the 34th Judicial District Court.
The prescriptive period for personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury for injuries on or after July 1, 2024, under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1. Injuries that occurred before that date fall under the prior 12 month deadline set by La. C.C. Art. 3492. Missing the deadline that applies to your date of injury means your case is barred regardless of its merits.
The comparative fault threshold changed to a 51% bar for causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026 under La. C.C. Art. 2323, as amended by Act 15 of the 2025 Regular Session (HB 431). If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. At exactly 50% fault, you can still recover, reduced by your share. This is a hard cutoff. Accidents before January 1, 2026 remain under the prior Louisiana rule, which allowed recovery even when a plaintiff carried nearly all of the fault.
The collateral source rule also changed under La. R.S. 9:2800.27. For causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026, recovery for past medical expenses is limited to what your health insurer or Medicare actually paid, plus your own deductibles and co-pays. The old rule that allowed a percentage above the paid amount is gone. This changes damage calculations significantly, especially in cases with large medical bills.
Louisiana’s direct action statute historically allowed injured people to sue the at-fault party’s insurance company directly. As of August 1, 2024, La. R.S. 22:1269 limits this right. Insurers generally cannot be named as defendants in certain circumstances. Your attorney needs to know which exceptions still apply.
Ask any attorney you are considering to walk you through how the 2024 and 2026 changes affect your specific case. If someone quotes you a flat three-year deadline, or the pre July 2024 deadline, without first asking when your injury occurred, they are not current on Louisiana personal injury law.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim in the 34th Judicial District Court
Most Chalmette personal injury cases are filed in the 34th Judicial District Court. This is the state court that handles civil matters in St. Bernard Parish. The court is located at the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse in Chalmette.
Venue rules determine where your case gets filed. Generally, you file where the accident occurred or where the defendant resides. For accidents in St. Bernard Parish, the 34th JDC is the default venue. Cases involving injuries on LA-39, Judge Perez Drive, Paris Road, or LA-47 within the parish go here.
Some cases end up in federal court. The Eastern District of Louisiana, based in New Orleans, handles cases involving parties from different states where the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Federal court operates under different procedural rules and timelines than state court. Industrial injury cases involving out-of-state corporations often land in federal court.
After filing, a personal injury case moves through several stages. Discovery is where both sides exchange documents and take depositions. Mediation is a settlement conference with a neutral third party. If mediation fails, the case proceeds to trial. The entire process typically takes 12 to 24 months from filing to resolution, depending on complexity.
Ask your attorney whether they have handled cases in the 34th JDC. Knowing the local judges, their procedural preferences, and how juries in St. Bernard Parish evaluate cases matters. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled cases across Louisiana’s judicial districts. We also handle wrongful death claims under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2, along with survival actions under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1, that go through this same court system.
Proving Negligence in a Chalmette Injury Case
Louisiana uses a comparative fault system, but proving the other party was negligent requires establishing four elements. You must show the defendant owed you a duty, breached that duty, that the breach caused your injury, and that you suffered actual damages.
Louisiana courts apply the duty-risk analysis. This is different from the standard negligence test used in most states. Under duty-risk, the court examines whether the risk that caused your injury falls within the scope of protection the duty was meant to address. It is a more nuanced analysis than simple foreseeability.
Police reports from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office are the starting point for establishing fault. The Sheriff’s Office handles accident response throughout St. Bernard Parish. Witness statements, traffic camera footage, and surveillance video from nearby businesses add to the evidence picture.
Loss of Earning Capacity
The difference between what you could have earned over your working lifetime and what you can earn now after the injury. Calculated by a vocational expert and converted to present value by an economist.
Expert witnesses play a critical role in complex cases. Accident reconstructionists can establish speed, impact angles, and driver behavior from physical evidence. Medical experts connect specific injuries to the accident. Vocational economists calculate Loss of Earning Capacity when injuries affect your ability to work.
Insurance companies assign fault in their own internal evaluation before you see an offer. Their adjusters look for ways to shift blame onto the injured person. Recorded statements, social media posts, and gaps in medical treatment are the tools they use. Your attorney should know how to counter each of these tactics before the adjuster deploys them. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers sends preservation demands within 24 hours of engagement to lock down evidence before it disappears.
In industrial injury cases, evidence preservation is especially critical. The employer controls the facility, the equipment, and the records. Ask any attorney you are considering how they handle evidence collection when the defendant controls the accident scene.
What Compensation Does Louisiana Law Allow After an Injury in Chalmette?
Louisiana law divides personal injury compensation into three categories. Understanding each category helps you evaluate whether a settlement offer is fair.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses. Medical expenses include hospital bills, surgery costs, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and future treatment. Lost wages account for income you missed during recovery. Loss of earning capacity compensates for reduced earning ability going forward.
Loss of Consortium
A legal claim available to a spouse for the loss of companionship, affection, and support caused by the injured person’s condition. It is a separate damage category from the injured person’s own claims.
Non-economic damages cover losses that do not have a receipt. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and Loss of Consortium fall into this category. These damages are real but harder to quantify. Your attorney should explain how St. Bernard Parish juries have valued similar injuries in recent cases.
Punitive damages are rare. Louisiana allows them only when the defendant’s conduct was intentional or wanton. Drunk driving cases are the most common example. These damages exist to punish the defendant, not to compensate you.
The comparative fault rule reduces your total recovery by your percentage of fault. If the jury finds you 20% at fault on a case valued at $200,000, you receive $160,000. At 51% fault, you receive nothing under the current law.
Documenting your injuries and treatment from day one is critical for valuation. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries are not as serious as claimed. Follow your treatment plan. Keep every receipt and medical record organized.
Ask any attorney you are considering how they document and calculate damages. A good injury attorney can explain the difference between billed medical amounts and paid amounts under the current collateral source rule. If they cannot, find one who can.
What Types of Injury Cases Are Most Common in Chalmette?
Motor vehicle accidents, industrial injuries, and premises liability claims are the most common personal injury cases in Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish.
Motor vehicle accidents account for the largest share. Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents occur on LA-39, Judge Perez Drive, Paris Road, and LA-47. The mix of industrial truck traffic and residential traffic creates conditions where collisions involve vehicles of dramatically different sizes.
Industrial and refinery accidents along the Mississippi River corridor produce some of the most serious injuries in St. Bernard Parish. Burns, chemical exposure, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries are common in these cases. Industrial injury claims and catastrophic injury claims from these facilities require attorneys who understand both state tort law and federal safety regulations.
Boat and maritime accidents on the Mississippi River involve federal maritime law in some situations. The rules for waterway injuries differ from land-based accidents. Commercial vessel operations, recreational boating, and river industry all create the potential for injuries governed by different legal frameworks.
Premises liability cases involve injuries on someone else’s property. Slip and fall accidents at commercial properties along Judge Perez Drive and inadequate security claims at apartment complexes are common in the area.
When evaluating an attorney for your case, ask what types of cases they handle most frequently. An attorney whose practice is split across family law, criminal defense, and personal injury will not have the same depth as one focused on injury claims. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers handles personal injury cases only.
Steps to Take After an Accident in Chalmette
The actions you take immediately after an accident affect your case. Here is what to do.
Call 911 and request a police report. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office responds to accidents throughout the parish. Their main office is at 2 Courthouse Square in Chalmette. A police report documents the scene, the parties involved, and the officer’s observations about fault.
Seek medical treatment even if your injuries seem minor. St. Bernard Parish Hospital provides local emergency care. Ochsner Medical Center in nearby New Orleans East is equipped for serious trauma cases. Some injuries, particularly soft tissue damage and concussions, do not show symptoms immediately. Going to a doctor creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the accident.
Document everything you can at the scene. Photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries are valuable evidence. Get the contact information for any witnesses. Do not move vehicles unless they are blocking traffic and it is safe to do so.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company without consulting an attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to reduce your claim. Anything you say can be used to argue comparative fault.
Contact an attorney before the prescriptive period that applies to your injury date expires. For injuries on or after July 1, 2024, that period is two years under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1. The sooner an attorney gets involved, the sooner evidence preservation demands go out. Stay off social media regarding the accident. Insurance companies monitor social media accounts for posts that contradict injury claims.
Ask how quickly an attorney sends evidence preservation demands after you sign. Delays in preserving surveillance footage, vehicle data, and industrial facility records can cost you critical evidence. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers sends preservation letters within 24 hours of engagement.
What Our Clients Say
- Pamela Hughes
The team here (Brian, Seth, Chelsea, and Jessica) have been amazing.We were new to the area and hit by an impaired driver. Their support, guidance and friendship got us through a very difficult time. Thank you so much!
- eli
Working with Trey Morris and his team on my case was incredibly easy.They kept me informed throughout the entire process and took care of everything for me. It was such a blessing not having to deal with the insurance companies myself. They were efficient, professional, and truly made the whole experience stress-free. I would highly recommend Trey Morris and his team to anyone needing an exceptional personal injury team.
- Sarah Starling
First time being injured and needing a lawyer they where very helpful.They answered my questions Id have very well. Highly recommend them.
- Kimberly Capers
Attorney Shavers & Sarah were awesome!They made me feel important & as if I was their only client! A big thank you to the entire business.
- Clay Meyer
Mrs.Liz and Lizzie took care of my wife very well. They helped her through a difficult time and her wreck and they continue to help her as she continues to deal with her injuries. We could have asked for better staff members to help my wife. I recommend this firm and these staff members 100%. They really seem to enjoy their work and it shows in how they take care of and treat their clients.
- Janice Ladner
My experience with Morris and Dewett was very much what I needed at the time and everyone was very professional.
- jillian caminita
So great!Highly recommend!!! Andrew was extremely helpful in my time of need can’t recommend him enough!!!
- Starteia Porter
Jaime Carter is the best you can ever ask for!Great personality, always kind, always willing to help. She will go above and beyond for you for sure.
- Dylan Rachinskas
The best place you can ask for they shoot it straight to you and are very respectful.I would highly recommend them they let you know everything going on with your case provided updates. If I ever get hurt again I'm coming back
- Tonia Taylor
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the professionalism, care and support that Atty Brian Trainor, Atty Elizabeth Hancock and their staff provided me regarding my case and I highly recommend them.Thank you all again. Sincerely,
- Beth Reedy
Chelsea was great and easy to work with and always communicated with us about everything and was very professional and went out of her way to make sure we got every penny and kept us informed
- Eric Wyler
Everyone at the Covington Office were Professional, Informative, and Engaging.The entire team went above and beyond; they exceeded all of my expectations. And a special Thank You to Chelsea. She made us feel right at home; like we were members of the family. A warm and beautiful personalty.
Your Chalmette Trial Team
The lawyers who work your file. Every Chalmette case is handled by the firm's own trial attorneys.
How Trey Morris Injury Lawyers Handles Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish Injury Cases
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled personal injury cases across Louisiana for over 25 years. Our practice is limited to personal injury. We do not handle divorces, criminal defense, or business disputes.
We have experience handling cases in the 34th Judicial District Court in St. Bernard Parish. We know how cases move through the system and what local procedural rules apply.
Our investigation process starts immediately. We work with accident reconstructionists to establish how the accident happened. We consult medical experts to document the full extent of injuries and connect them to the accident. We send evidence preservation demands to prevent the destruction of surveillance footage, vehicle data, employment records, and facility maintenance logs.
St. Bernard Parish’s industrial economy means we handle cases involving refinery injuries, chemical exposure, and industrial equipment failures. These cases require coordination between workers’ compensation claims and third-party liability actions. We have the experience to manage both simultaneously.
Contingency Fee
A fee arrangement where the attorney is paid a percentage of the recovery and only if there is a recovery. The client pays nothing upfront and owes no attorney fees if the case is unsuccessful.
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers operates on a Contingency Fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We collect a fee only if we recover compensation for you.
Our clients have left over 2,753 five-star reviews on Google. We hold an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and have been recognized by Super Lawyers. You can review our case results, read client reviews, and learn about our attorneys to evaluate whether we are the right fit for your case.