How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Ruston, Louisiana?

The deadline depends on when the crash happened. For injuries sustained on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana allows two years from the date of injury under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1 (https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=1386443). For crashes before that date, the older one-year period under La. C.C. art. 3492 still controls. This deadline is called prescription, and once it runs, the claim is gone no matter how strong it was. A separate and much shorter practical clock also matters: the window to preserve the truck's electronic data before the carrier overwrites it.

How do I preserve the truck's electronic logging device data before it is overwritten?

Send a formal preservation demand to the trucking company and its insurer within days of the crash. Electronic logging device (ELD) records document driving time, on-duty hours, and rest periods, and they are direct evidence of whether the driver exceeded federal hours-of-service limits. Engine control module data records speed, braking, and throttle position in the seconds before impact. Both can be overwritten on a carrier's normal retention cycle, often within about 30 days, and dash camera footage can cycle out within 72 hours. A written preservation letter puts the carrier on notice to stop routine deletion and freeze the data for the case. Waiting weeks to send it can mean the difference between proving a duty-status violation from the device itself and arguing about it from a hand-written paper log.

Can I sue the trucking company and not just the driver?

Yes. The motor carrier that employed the driver is typically the primary defendant in a commercial vehicle case. Under La. C.C. art. 2320, a Louisiana employer answers for damage its employee causes while acting in the course and scope of employment, the doctrine also called respondeat superior. You can also name the carrier separately for negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision if it put an unfit driver or unsafe truck on the road. In most truck accident cases, the carrier and its insurer are the parties with the financial resources to pay a significant judgment. A cargo shipper, loader, freight broker, or maintenance contractor can share liability depending on what each one did.

What federal safety rules apply to the truck that hit me?

Commercial carriers operating in Louisiana must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Hours-of-service rules under 49 CFR Part 395 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-395) cap driving time and require rest breaks. Inspection, repair, and maintenance rules under 49 CFR Part 396 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-396) require carriers to keep trucks in safe operating condition and document their inspections. Controlled-substance and alcohol testing rules under 49 CFR Part 382 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-382) govern driver testing, including after qualifying crashes. A documented violation of one of these rules is evidence of negligence, which is why the carrier's records are central to the case.

How does Louisiana comparative fault affect my truck accident claim?

Under La. C.C. Art. 2323 (https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=109387), for causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026, a plaintiff who is 51 percent or more at fault recovers nothing. At 50 percent or less, your recovery is reduced by your assigned fault percentage. Trucking insurers raise comparative fault early because every point of fault shifted onto you cuts what they pay, dollar for dollar. Solid evidence, including the crash reconstruction, the truck's electronic data, and driver logs, is what pins the real percentages to the parties who earned them.

ruston truck accident lawyer

Tractor-trailers are involved in severe crashes on I-20, Highway 167, and other busy Ruston roadways. Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers provides representation with 20 years of experience winning tough truck wreck cases. The firm handles all types of tractor-trailer accident cases and is available 24/7 for initial consultations.

Morris & Dewett has recovered millions for 18-wheeler accident survivors and families who lost loved ones to fatal tractor-trailer accidents.

What Causes Most Tractor-Trailer Accidents?

Preventable mistakes, carelessness, and negligence cause most big rig wrecks. Many involve multiple acts of negligence from various parties including motorists, trucking companies, and equipment manufacturers.

Motorist Negligence and 18-Wheeler Wrecks

Driver errors include performance errors such as mishandling vehicles, perception and recognition errors such as misunderstanding surroundings, and decision errors involving poor choices. Truck drivers’ common errors include speeding, which is a factor in roughly one in three big rig wrecks, prescription drug use causing fatigue, and performance errors on unfamiliar roads, which affect approximately one in five crashes.

Motor Carrier Negligence and Tractor-Trailer Crashes

Trucking companies must follow regulations for safe trucks and drivers, maintaining safety-promoting policies. When companies fail these obligations, they can be liable for big rig wrecks. Discovering motor carrier negligence requires deeper investigations and experienced attorney help.

18-Wheeler Wrecks and Equipment Failures

About 6 percent of deadly semi-truck accidents involve mechanical problems or equipment failures. Mechanical issues affect 18-wheelers roughly twice as much as passenger vehicles. Failures typically involve brakes or tires, caused by design flaws, manufacturing failures, inspection failures, improper maintenance, overloading, or improper cargo balancing.

Cargo Problems and Truck Accidents

About 7 percent of semi accidents result from unstable or unsecured cargo, roughly 10,000 truck accidents yearly. When cargo is unstable, big rigs become top-heavy and difficult to control, resulting in rollovers, jackknife accidents, runaway trailers, and severe wrecks involving multiple vehicles and catastrophic injuries.

Weather, Road, and Traffic Conditions

About one in seven semi-truck wrecks occurs during poor weather including dense fog and heavy storms. Traffic conditions also present risks on slick or poorly maintained roads. Congestion or accident aftermath affects 28 percent of 18-wheeler wrecks, and highway work zones are involved in roughly one in three deadly work zone accidents.

The Federal Regulations Every Ruston Truck Crash Case Must Address

A commercial carrier on I-20 or Highway 167 follows the state traffic code plus a separate layer of federal safety rules that ordinary drivers do not. Those rules create documentation requirements that do not exist in a car accident case, and a documented violation is evidence of negligence. Knowing which records to request is the first task in building the case.

Hours-of-service rules under 49 CFR Part 395 cap driving time and require rest breaks so a fatigued driver is not behind 80,000 pounds. When a driver or carrier exceeds those limits, the electronic logging device and daily log records will show it. Fatigue is a recurring cause of serious truck wrecks, and these records are the proof.

Inspection, repair, and maintenance rules under 49 CFR Part 396 require carriers to keep brakes, tires, lights, and steering in safe condition and to document their pre-trip and post-trip inspections. If an inspection log noted a brake or tire defect before the crash and the carrier did not repair it, that is documented negligence.

Controlled-substance and alcohol testing rules under 49 CFR Part 382 govern driver testing, including the post-accident testing federal rules require after crashes involving a fatality, an injury requiring immediate medical treatment away from the scene, or a disabled vehicle. Failure to conduct required testing is itself a violation. Each of these federal rules connects to a specific record that a Ruston truck accident case is built on.

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1831 N Trenton St, Ste 2
Ruston, LA 71270

318-702-8648

Open 24/7 for injured Ruston residents

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Ruston and Louisiana Truck Accident Statistics

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes national and state large-truck and bus crash data in its Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts reports. Those reports track fatal, injury, and property-damage crashes involving commercial vehicles, broken out by state, and cover the driver, vehicle, and roadway factors most often present in these wrecks. The same federal factors turn up on the corridors around Ruston, where I-20 and Highway 167 carry heavy commercial freight through Lincoln Parish. Pulling the FMCSA data for a specific carrier and reviewing the crash report for a specific wreck is part of how a truck accident case is built.

What We Handle

Ruston Practice Areas

What to Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Ruston

Call 911 to get Ruston Police Department or other authorities on scene.
Collect information from other drivers and witnesses.
Get pictures and video of the crash site with maximum detail.
Do not state fault; avoid admissions when speaking to anyone at the scene or to insurance companies.
Visit a doctor as soon as possible and get all medical care needed for your injuries.
Call your insurance company to report the accident within a day or two.
Consult a Ruston truck accident attorney at Morris & Dewett for claim options.

Representative Results

$409 Million Wrongful 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 Million Motor 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 Million Industrial / 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 Million Industrial / Workplace

Brain and spinal injuries followed an oil-field company failing to maintain equipment and provide a safe work site.

$17.2 Million Commercial 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 Million Commercial 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.

$12.1 Million Motor Vehicle Accident

A commercial vehicle failed to stop at a red light subsequently crashing into our client causing serious brain injury and permanent loss of function.

$7 Million Motor Vehicle Accident

When the other vehicle struck our client, the result was a major hemorrhage and a stroke.

$7 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident

An 18-wheeler cut across traffic on an illegal left turn and hit our client, who suffered neck and back injuries.

$6.2 Million Motor Vehicle Accident

A fatigued commercial-vehicle driver fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended our client, leaving our client with severe neck and back injuries.

$5 Million Wrongful Death

A hydraulic line exploded at a job site, taking the life of our client's loved one.

$4 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident

Our client's vehicle was struck by the at-fault vehicle, resulting in neck and back injuries.

$3.2 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident

While our client was stopped, the at-fault driver rear-ended our client's vehicle and set it on fire, leaving our client seriously hurt.

$3.1 Million Wrongful Death

An 18-wheeler caused a fatal collision that took the life of our client's loved one.

$3 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident

A commercial vehicle struck and killed our client's loved one, who was on foot.

$3 Million Motor Vehicle Accident

Out on the highway, the at-fault driver hit our client.

$2.9 Million Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was rear-ended by the other driver and seriously injured.

$2.8 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident

On the highway, an unsecured load came off an 18-wheeler and struck our client's vehicle, causing orthopedic injuries.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts. See our full case results.

When Should I Contact a Ruston Truck Accident Lawyer?

Contact an attorney as soon as possible. Limited time exists to file claims, and at-fault parties may already be working to shield themselves from liability. Contacting an attorney helps protect your rights, retain experienced counsel, and build a stronger case.

Your Ruston Injury Attorneys

Founding partners Trey Morris lead every Ruston injury case Morris & Dewett takes.

Trey Morris
Founding Partner

What clients say

★★★★★
Mr Odom Was excellent in my case.
He explained everything throughly and gave me updates at every turn.
Jay BroRuston Office · Jul. 14, 2026
★★★★★
Joe and his crew of folks at the Ruston office are absolutely amazing you walk in they treat your family.
They cared about us when we were going through our worse and we greatly appreciate it from the tax of just checking on us to keeping us up-to-date how our case was doing they went above and beyond anything we could have asked for
David HerterRuston Office · Jul. 13, 2026
★★★★★
Morris and Dewett lawyers really took great care of me they explained everything, they checked on me.
I'm so grateful to them.
Patricia RushingShreveport Office · Jul. 20, 2026
★★★★★
I can't thank Josh Powell and Lizzie enough for taking care of me after my car accident.
I highly recommend using Morris & Dewett! They both made everything easy and stress free for me!! Thank you all so much!
marlena wrenCovington Office · Jul. 14, 2026
★★★★★
We are very grateful to Morris & DeWett Injury Attorneys for all their help and support during our car accident case.
Ms. Hancock and Ms. Mena were always very kind, professional, and attentive throughout the entire process. Excellent team.
ELvia GomezMinden Office · Jun. 29, 2026
★★★★★
First time being injured and needing a lawyer they where very helpful.
They answered my questions Id have very well. Highly recommend them.
Sarah StarlingLake Charles Office · Jun. 5, 2026

Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

How Much Are Truck Accident Settlements?

Compensation varies case by case based on injury severity and losses. More serious accidents typically result in higher compensation due to expensive medical bills and permanent losses. Damages generally cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Ruston, Louisiana?: The deadline depends on when the crash happened. For injuries sustained on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana allows two years from the date of injury under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1. For crashes before that date, the older one-year period under La. C.C. art. 3492 still controls. This deadline is called prescription, and once it runs, the claim is gone no matter how strong it was. A separate and much shorter practical clock also matters: the window to preserve the truck's electronic data before the carrier overwrites it.
How do I preserve the truck's electronic logging device data before it is overwritten?: Send a formal preservation demand to the trucking company and its insurer within days of the crash. Electronic logging device (ELD) records document driving time, on-duty hours, and rest periods, and they are direct evidence of whether the driver exceeded federal hours-of-service limits. Engine control module data records speed, braking, and throttle position in the seconds before impact. Both can be overwritten on a carrier's normal retention cycle, often within about 30 days, and dash camera footage can cycle out within 72 hours. A written preservation letter puts the carrier on notice to stop routine deletion and freeze the data for the case. Waiting weeks to send it can mean the difference between proving a duty-status violation from the device itself and arguing about it from a hand-written paper log.
Can I sue the trucking company and not just the driver?: Yes. The motor carrier that employed the driver is typically the primary defendant in a commercial vehicle case. Under La. C.C. art. 2320, a Louisiana employer answers for damage its employee causes while acting in the course and scope of employment, the doctrine also called respondeat superior. You can also name the carrier separately for negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision if it put an unfit driver or unsafe truck on the road. In most truck accident cases, the carrier and its insurer are the parties with the financial resources to pay a significant judgment. A cargo shipper, loader, freight broker, or maintenance contractor can share liability depending on what each one did.
What federal safety rules apply to the truck that hit me?: Commercial carriers operating in Louisiana must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Hours-of-service rules under 49 CFR Part 395 cap driving time and require rest breaks. Inspection, repair, and maintenance rules under 49 CFR Part 396 require carriers to keep trucks in safe operating condition and document their inspections. Controlled-substance and alcohol testing rules under 49 CFR Part 382 govern driver testing, including after qualifying crashes. A documented violation of one of these rules is evidence of negligence, which is why the carrier's records are central to the case.
How does Louisiana comparative fault affect my truck accident claim?: Under La. C.C. Art. 2323, for causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026, a plaintiff who is 51 percent or more at fault recovers nothing. At 50 percent or less, your recovery is reduced by your assigned fault percentage. Trucking insurers raise comparative fault early because every point of fault shifted onto you cuts what they pay, dollar for dollar. Solid evidence, including the crash reconstruction, the truck's electronic data, and driver logs, is what pins the real percentages to the parties who earned them.
When should I contact a Ruston truck accident lawyer?: Contact an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident. The prescriptive period sets the outer deadline to file, but the most valuable evidence has a much shorter shelf life. The carrier controls the ELD records, engine control module data, dispatch logs, and maintenance files, and much of it can be overwritten on routine retention schedules within weeks. Early legal contact means a preservation demand goes out before that data disappears, an independent investigation begins while the scene is still readable, and witnesses are located while their memory is fresh.