Fatal wrecks in Shreveport come off I-20 and I-49, the Inner Loop, Youree Drive, Bert Kouns, and Mansfield Road, and off the commercial trucks moving through Caddo Parish on the interstates. The injured are taken to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport on Kings Highway, the Level I trauma center, or to Willis-Knighton or CHRISTUS Highland. Inside the city limits the Shreveport Police Department writes the report; outside them it is the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. Caddo death cases are filed and tried in the First Judicial District Court at the Caddo Parish Courthouse, 501 Texas Street, and Trey Morris Injury Lawyers is across the street at 509 Milam Street. In the first week we pull the crash report and the coroner’s file, request the chart from whichever hospital treated your relative, send preservation letters for the vehicles, and sort each surviving family member into the class that holds the claim.
The law that governs the claim is Louisiana law and it is the same in every parish. One death produces two separate claims, and Louisiana keeps them apart on purpose: the family claim under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 covers what the people left behind lost, and the survival action under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1 covers what your relative went through between the injury and the death. For a death on or after July 1, 2024, Art. 2315.2 prescribes in the longer of one year from the date of death or two years from the day the injury was sustained, and the same article ranks who may file: spouse and children, then parents, then siblings. We file both actions in the First Judicial District Court and start on fault early, before Art. 2323’s 51% bar gets used to zero out both claims at once.
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.
- $5 MillionWrongful Death
A hydraulic line exploded at a job site, taking the life of our client's loved one.
- $3.1 MillionWrongful Death
An 18-wheeler caused a fatal collision that took the life of our client's loved one.
- $2 MillionWrongful Death
A fatal collision caused by the at-fault driver took the life of our client's loved one.
- $1.7 MillionWrongful Death
An 18-wheeler made an unsafe lane change and caused a fatal collision; our client's loved one was killed.
- $1.5 MillionWrongful Death
A motorcycle collision took the life of our client's loved one.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts.
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled these cases in Caddo Parish for over 25 years.
Wrongful Death and Survival Actions Under Louisiana Law
Wrongful Death Action
The claim the surviving family brings in their own names under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2: lost financial support, lost companionship, the services the person provided, and the funeral bill. Spouse and children, then parents, then siblings.
Two statutes govern a Louisiana death case, and they do different work. La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 carries the family’s losses. La. C.C. Art. 2315.1 carries the decedent’s own claim, passed to the survivors. Different claims, different damages, one lawsuit.
Survival Action
The claim under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1 for what the person endured between the moment of injury and the moment of death. It is filed alongside the wrongful death action, not instead of it.
Here is the split in plain terms. The wrongful death action pays the family for what the death took from them: the paycheck that stopped, the rides to school, the work around the house. The survival action pays what your relative could have claimed had they lived: their pain between injury and death, their medical bills, their wages across that stretch. Both go in one petition, on one docket, built from the same evidence, because each reaches money the other cannot touch.
In Shreveport these cases come out of the freight running I-20 and I-49, head-on and intersection collisions on Youree Drive, and commercial trucks moving through Caddo Parish. Car accidents on those roads remain the most frequent cause of fatal injury claims in the parish, Louisiana big truck injury lawyers handle the fatal commercial vehicle side across the state, and medical negligence at Caddo Parish hospitals produces its share. The same framework governs any Shreveport injury claim.
Write the date of the injury and the date of death on one sheet of paper this week. Those two dates set your deadline and decide how much of the case the survival action carries.
Local Office. Statewide Record.
- Across the street
From the 1st JDC
Our 509 Milam St office sits across the street from the First Judicial District Court, where Shreveport injury suits are filed and tried.
- 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 the office at 509 Milam St. 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 Shreveport cases.
Who Can File: Louisiana’s Priority Order for Wrongful Death Claims
La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 sets a hierarchy, and it is exclusive. Closeness to the person who died is not the test. If a higher class exists, every class under it is shut out.
Class 1, the highest: the surviving spouse and the children. If a spouse or any child survives, no other class may file.
Class 2: the parents, and only when no Class 1 claimant survives.
Class 3: the siblings, only when no Class 1 or Class 2 claimant survives.
Class 4: the grandparents, only when nobody in the first three classes survives.
This is not an estate claim and it does not run through probate. It belongs to the eligible survivors directly. Survival action claimants follow the same order under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1.
Our intake sorts each family member into a class and confirms no higher class exists that would bar the claim, before anyone signs anything. Where standing is unclear, we say so plainly.
Put every surviving spouse, child, parent, sibling, and grandparent on one list with dates of birth. That list answers the standing question in about ten minutes.
What Damages Does Louisiana Law Allow in Wrongful Death and Survival Actions?
Wrongful Death Damages (La. C.C. Art. 2315.2)
These damages belong to the survivors, not to the estate. They pay the people left behind for their own losses.
Loss of love and affection covers the relationship itself, and it has no formula. Louisiana courts have awarded widely different amounts depending on how close the relationship was, the ages involved, and how much the claimant depended on the person who died. Loss of services covers the practical work: household labor, childcare, driving, the daily help nobody bills for. Loss of financial support covers the income that person would have earned and contributed over a working life, and an economist reduces it to present value. Funeral and burial expenses go to whoever paid them.
One cap reaches these cases. Medical malpractice defendants in Louisiana are capped at $500,000 in total damages under La. R.S. 40:1231.2, and governmental entity defendants are capped the same way under La. R.S. 13:5106. For an ordinary negligence defendant, which covers most vehicle crashes, Louisiana sets no damages cap at all.
Survival Action Damages (La. C.C. Art. 2315.1)
This action covers the window between injury and death. Three categories fill it.
Pain and suffering comes first. The evidence has to show your relative was consciously aware of the suffering during that window. A death at the moment of impact often cannot support it; if they lived hours, days, or weeks in a hospital, the chart and the accounts of the people at the bedside establish it. Second, the medical expenses run up in that window: ambulance, emergency department, surgery, ICU. Third, the wages lost from the date of injury to the date of death.
These damages pass to the same claimants who hold the wrongful death action, under the same standing rules. Our case results are public, and you should read them before you decide who to call.
Start pulling paper this week: the funeral invoice, the last two years of tax returns or W-2s, and itemized hospital bills rather than visit summaries. Those carry the economic side of both claims.
Shreveport 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.
Deadly Crashes and Other Causes of Wrongful Death in Caddo Parish
Fatal motor vehicle crashes drive most of these claims in Shreveport. I-20 and I-49 carry heavy commercial truck traffic through Caddo Parish, and Youree Drive produces a steady run of intersection and turning collisions. A fatal crash on either supports both a wrongful death action and a survival action, and how much the survival action is worth depends on how long your relative lived after the impact.
Plenty of these cases never involve a vehicle. Industrial and oilfield incidents, premises hazards, defective products, and medical negligence all produce fatal injury claims in the parish. The governing statutes do not change with the cause: the wrongful death action under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 and the survival action under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1. What changes is the evidence that proves fault and who ends up a defendant.
If a company vehicle, a machine, or a product was involved, ask in writing this week that it be held as it sits, not repaired, scrapped, or shipped back to the manufacturer. A one-paragraph letter can save the case.
What Shreveport Clients Say
- Emma Dvorak
I was overwhelmed dealing with everything after my injury, but their team took a lot of the pressure off of me.They were patient, answered all my questions, and made sure I understood what was happening.
- Diane Didier
I was recommended to Trey Morris by a friend, and they have been amazing!They kept me up to date with all the details of my case. I was in the loop during the entire process. Having to go over the details my accident was so uncomfortable, but they were so understanding and made every effort to make the entire process as smooth as possible. I would highly recommend Trey Morris and his team to anyone.
- Laurie Shearin
I'll always appreciate the way I was treated here.I felt heard, respected and taken care of from beginning to end.
- Zachary Krengle
Trey Morris and the team treated me so well after my accident.Beyond taking the steps to make sure my case was taken care of timely and apropiatelly. They listened and made me feel like I was a priority to them and not just another client. I hope none of my friends are put in a situation to need them, but if they do I would highly suggest Trey Morris and the team.
- Valorie Schneider
Really glad I chose Trey Morris Injury Law.They were easy to work with and made sure I understood what was going on.
- Alayna Cantrell
I would recommend Trey Morris to my friends and family.Trey Morris & the team there helped me with my case. The firm is amazing!
- Sunshine Halpert
This is the firm you want handling your car accident.Trey Morris Injury Lawyers is the best. Jessica, Seth, and Brian handled my case quickly. They kept me up to date and infor ed the whole time. I will send everyone I know to you guys. Thanks so much!
- Alyx Braud
My mans Trey Trey got it done!All the people at the firm were super friendly and they really made me feel like they cared about my case as much as I did. It didn't take too long and I got my settlement 🤑
- Raley Snead
I had a great experience with Morris Injury Attorneys.Everyone is professional, responsive, and kept me / my loved ones updated throughout the entire process. They made everything easy to understand and handled our cases quickly. I'm really pleased with the outcome and would definitely recommend them to anyone who needs a good injury attorney.
- Annabelle Lee
Trey morris injury lawyers handled my case with the utmost professionalism.I will definitely be recommending to any friends and family!!
- Lindsie Waguespack
Trey Morris Injury lawyers handled my claim with so much professionalism!Thank yall for everything!!
- LAM Rogers
Trey Morris and his team were the only attorneys i needed to call.After I was in an accident they helped my case and got me a settlement I am very happy with. They were very professional. I recommend them highly. Thank you to the whole office at Tray Morris.
Comparative Fault and the 51% Bar in Wrongful Death Cases
Comparative Fault
The rule that cuts what you collect by your share of the blame. In Louisiana, 51% or more and you collect nothing. At 50% or less, your damages come down by that percentage.
La. C.C. Art. 2323 changed as of January 1, 2026, and it is now a hard cutoff. If the person who died is found 51% or more at fault for the accident that killed them, the family collects nothing. The wrongful death action and the survival action both go to zero.
That matters in every case where liability is disputed, because it hands the insurer a way to end the claim outright instead of arguing about its value. Defense teams build a story: your relative was speeding, distracted, in the wrong lane. Get a jury or a judge to 51% and the file closes.
Shreveport cases have their own versions of that argument. Lane changes and merges on I-20 and I-49, where a high-speed collision turns on speed and lane position. Youree Drive intersections, where it turns on right-of-way and signal timing. In medical negligence cases, on whether the patient followed instructions or waited too long to come in.
Here is the hard part of a death case. The one person who could say what he was doing and why is not there to say it, so the fault narrative gets rebuilt out of physical evidence, witnesses, vehicle data, and expert reconstruction.
Crash reports, scene documentation, and the responding agency’s findings are the floor of that record. The Shreveport Police Department works city streets, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office works parish roads, and the Louisiana State Police work I-20, I-49, and the other state highways. We bring in accident reconstructionists and human factors experts to build the record before the insurer’s version hardens.
Find out this week which agency responded and get the report number. Everything else runs off that number.
Prescriptive Period: Filing Deadlines in Caddo Parish
Prescriptive Period
Louisiana’s word for the filing deadline, what other states call a statute of limitations. For a wrongful death on or after July 1, 2024, it runs for the longer of one year from the date of death or two years from the day the injury was sustained under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2.
For a death on or after July 1, 2024, the action under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 prescribes in the longer of one year from the date of death or two years from the day the injury was sustained. The family gets whichever of those two periods expires later. The survival action under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1 runs on the same longer-of rule.
The dates decide the rule. A death before July 1, 2024, falls under the prior one-year-from-death rule; a death on or after it uses the longer-of calculation, so the deadline turns on the date of death and the date of injury together. A medical-malpractice wrongful death action is the exception and prescribes one year from the date of death. Have a lawyer run the dates in your case rather than assuming which rule applies.
Run both periods and compare them. Injury in January 2025, death in March 2025: one year from death expires in March 2026, two years from injury expires in January 2027, and January 2027 controls because it falls later.
Wrongful death cases for Shreveport residents are filed in the First Judicial District Court for Caddo Parish at 501 Texas Street. Louisiana courts hold this deadline strictly. Grief does not stop the clock. Neither does an open negotiation with an adjuster, however friendly the calls sound.
Put both dates on a calendar this week, mark both deadlines, and set a reminder ninety days ahead of the earlier one, while there is still room to investigate.
Your Shreveport Trial Team
The lawyers who work your file. Every Shreveport case is handled by the firm's own trial attorneys.
What Happens When Trey Morris Injury Lawyers Takes a Wrongful Death Case
Standing comes first. We work out who holds statutory standing under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2 and La. C.C. Art. 2315.1, which of the two actions apply, and whether a higher-priority class exists that would bar your claim. If several people in one class want to bring it, we explain how they share what the case collects and coordinate one representation.
Evidence preservation starts the same week. In crash cases we bring in accident reconstructionists and request the official report from the Shreveport Police Department, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, or the Louisiana State Police, depending on who worked it. Scene documentation, witness names, and physical evidence all move or disappear in the first days.
On the medical side, the Level I trauma center at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport on Kings Highway takes the most serious injuries, and Willis-Knighton Health System treats trauma patients across Caddo Parish. We obtain the full treatment record: emergency department, surgery, ICU, and the discharge or the death summary. Those pages fix the injury timeline, the medical expenses, and the conscious-awareness question the survival action turns on.
Nursing notes on pain, level of consciousness, and response to treatment are what establish conscious suffering, along with accounts from hospital staff and the family in the room.
For economic dependency we use a vocational expert and an economist to put a present value on lost financial support, calculated separately for each claimant. A dependent child, a spouse, and a dependent parent each come out at a different number.
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled wrongful death cases in the First Judicial District Court for over 25 years. Our attorneys hold AV Preeminent ratings and have been selected for Super Lawyers. Our clients have left 2,753 five-star Google reviews, and those describe what the process was actually like rather than what we say it will be.
Call the office at 509 Milam Street with the date of the injury, the date of death, and the agency that responded, and we will pull the report and run both deadlines.