The Impact Was Devastating. One Moment You Were Driving Through Iberville Parish—Perhaps Along the I-10 Corridor, Past the Industrial Facilities That Line the Mississippi River, or Through the Historic Communities Near Plaquemine—And the Next, 80,000 Pounds of Steel and Cargo Devastated Your Life.
If You’re Reading This, You or Someone You Love Has Likely Been Hit by an 18-Wheeler in Iberville Parish. You’re Not Alone. Every Year, the Heavy Trucks Serving the Port of South Louisiana—the Busiest Port by Tonnage in the Nation—and the Petrochemical Corridors of the Mississippi River Basin Pass Through Our Parish Carrying Hazardous Materials, Shipping Containers, and Industrial Equipment. When These Massive Vehicles Lose Control, They Leave Catastrophic Damage in Their Wake.
But Here’s the Thing That Most Trucking Accident Victims in Iberville Parish Don’t Realize: Evidence Is Disappearing Right Now. The Electronic Data Recorder—That “Black Box” in the Truck That Holds the Truth About Speed, Braking, and Hours of Service Violations—Can Be Overwritten in as Little as 30 Days. The Driver’s Cell Phone Records, Dispatch Communications, and Maintenance Logs That Could Prove the Trucking Company Knew This Driver Was Dangerous? They’re Being Scrubbed as You Read This.
You Have Just 365 Days to Take Legal Action. Louisiana Has the Shortest Statute of Limitations in America—Just One Year from the Date of Your Accident to File a Lawsuit. Wait Even a Day Longer, and You Lose Your Right to Compensation Forever.
We’re Attorney911, the Manginello Law Firm, and We Fight for Trucking Accident Victims Across Iberville Parish and Louisiana. Our Managing Partner, Ralph Manginello, Has Spent 25 Years—Since 1998—Taking on Fortune 500 Trucking Companies and Their Insurance Giants. Our Associate Attorney, Lupe Peña, Spent Years Defending Insurance Companies Before Joining Our Firm. Now He Uses That Insider Knowledge to Fight Against Them. That’s Your Advantage. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Today. Hablamos Español.
Why 18-Wheeler Accidents in Iberville Parish Are Different
An 18-Wheeler Isn’t Just a Big Car—It’s a 40-Ton Weapon Operating Under a Complex Web of Federal Regulations. When an 18-Wheeler Collides with a Passenger Vehicle in Iberville Parish, the Physics Are Brutally Simple: Your Vehicle Weighs Approximately 4,000 Pounds. A Fully Loaded Semi Can Weigh 80,000 Pounds. That’s Twenty Times the Mass, and When That Mass Is Traveling at 65 Miles Per Hour Along I-10, It Generates Kinetic Forces That Crush Steel and Concrete, Let Alone Human Bodies.
The Stopping Distance Alone Should Terrify Every Driver in Iberville Parish. At Highway Speed, an 18-Wheeler Needs Nearly Two Football Fields—525 Feet—to Come to a Complete Stop. If You’re Stopped in Traffic on the Horace Wilkinson Bridge or Waiting at a Light Near Plaquemine, and a Truck Driver Is Distracted, Fatigued, or Speeding, There’s Literally No Room to Avoid Impact.
But the Physics Are Only Half the Story. The Legal Complexity of Trucking Accidents in Iberville Parish Makes Car Accidents Look Simple. In a Typical Car Crash, You Might Be Dealing with Two Insurance Companies and Two Drivers. In an 18-Wheeler Accident, You’re Potentially Facing Ten or More Liable Parties: The Driver, the Trucking Company That Hired Them, the Owner of the Cab, the Owner of the Trailer, the Company That Loaded the Cargo, the Broker Who Arranged the Shipment, the Maintenance Company That Serviced the Brakes, the Manufacturer of the Tire That Blew Out, the Government Entity That Failed to Maintain Safe Roadways, and the Shipping Company That Pressured the Driver to Ignore Federal Safety Regulations.
Ralph Manginello Has Been Navigating This Complexity for Over Two Decades. With Admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and Dual State Licensure in Texas and New York, He Brings Federal Court Experience to Every Case. When You’re Fighting a Trucking Company That Operates Across State Lines, You Need an Attorney Who Understands Federal Interstate Commerce Laws and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations—Not Just Louisiana State Law.
Our Firm Has Recovered Over $50 Million for Families Devastated by Catastrophic Accidents, Including Multi-Million Dollar Settlements for Traumatic Brain Injuries ($1.5 Million to $9.8 Million Range), Amputations ($1.9 Million to $8.6 Million), and Wrongful Death Cases ($1.9 Million to $9.5 Million). We’ve Gone Toe-to-Toe with the World’s Largest Corporations, Including BP in the Texas City Refinery Litigation, and We’ve Won.
As Client Chad Harris Told Us After We Settled His Case: “You Are NOT a Pest to Them and You Are NOT Just Some Client… You Are FAMILY to Them.” That’s How We Treat Every Victim Who Walks Through Our Doors.
The One-Year Deadline: Louisiana’s Harsh Reality for Iberville Parish Trucking Accident Victims
Here’s What You Need to Know Immediately: Louisiana Is One of Only Two States in America with a One-Year Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims. In Iberville Parish, You Have Exactly 365 Days from the Date of Your Accident to File a Lawsuit. Miss That Deadline by a Single Day, and You Lose Your Right to Compensation Forever—No Matter How Severe Your Injuries, No Matter How Clearly the Truck Driver Was at Fault.
This Isn’t a Suggestion—It’s a Hard Legal Barrier. Unlike Texas or Mississippi, Which Give You Two or Three Years, Louisiana’s Civil Code Art. 3492 Creates an Unforgiving Timeline. If Your Accident Happened on December 1st, 2024, You Must File Your Lawsuit by December 1st, 2025, or Your Case Dies.
But Here’s Why You Can’t Afford to Wait Even Close to a Year: Critical Evidence Disappears Fast. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Only Requires Trucking Companies to Keep Hours-of-Service Logs for Six Months. Driver Qualification Files Might Be Altered. Dashcam Footage Gets Recorded Over. Witnesses’ Memories Fade. And the Truck Itself—the Most Important Piece of Physical Evidence—Gets Repaired and Put Back on the Road.
We Send Spoliation Letters Within 24 Hours of Being Retained. These Legal Demands Put the Trucking Company on Notice That They Must Preserve All Evidence Related to Your Crash, Including:
- Electronic Control Module (ECM) Data: The “Black Box” Showing Speed, Braking, and Engine Performance in the Seconds Before Impact (49 CFR § 395.8)
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Records: Proof of Whether the Driver Violated Federal Hours-of-Service Limits (49 CFR § 395.3)
- Driver Qualification Files: Employment Records, Medical Certifications, and Previous Safety Violations (49 CFR § 391.51)
- Maintenance Records: Inspection and Repair Histories for Brakes, Tires, and Steering Systems (49 CFR § 396.3)
- Cargo Securement Documentation: Bills of Lading and Tiedown Specifications (49 CFR § 393.100-136)
- Cell Phone and Dispatch Records: Proof of Distracted Driving or Pressure to Violate Safety Rules (49 CFR § 392.82)
Without an Immediate Investigation, This Evidence Gets Destroyed. And Once It’s Gone, Proving the Trucking Company’s Negligence Becomes Infinitely Harder. Donald Wilcox, Another Client We Helped, Explained It Best: “One Company Said They Would Not Accept My Case. Then I Got a Call from Manginello… I Got a Call to Come Pick Up This Handsome Check.” We Took the Case Other Firms Rejected, and We Won Because We Acted Fast to Preserve the Evidence They Missed.
The Trucking Corridors of Iberville Parish: High-Risk Zones
Iberville Parish Sits at the Heart of Louisiana’s Petrochemical and Shipping Infrastructure, Creating Unique Hazards for Drivers. Understanding These Corridors Helps Us Investigate Your Case and Prove Why Accidents Happen Here.
Interstate 10: The Gulf Coast Lifeline
I-10 Cuts East-West Across Iberville Parish, Carrying Traffic Between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. This Is One of the Busiest Truck Corridors in the Nation, Connecting the Port of South Louisiana to Interstate Commerce. The Traffic Density Near the Iberville-Parish Line, Combined with the Heavy Industrial Traffic Servicing the Plaquemine Area Plants, Creates a Perfect Storm for Accidents.
Trucks on I-10 Frequently Carry Hazardous Materials—Crude Oil, Chemicals, and Compressed Gases—Required by Federal Law to Carry $5 Million in Insurance Coverage (49 CFR § 387.403). When These Tankers Rollover or Jackknife, They Don’t Just Block Traffic—They Create Environmental Hazards and Explosion Risks That Require Specialized Evacuation Protocols.
The Mississippi River Bridge and Port Access Routes
The Infrastructure Connecting Iberville Parish to the Mississippi River Generates Significant Heavy Truck Traffic. These Routes Often Involve Steep Grades, Sharp Curves, and Frequent Stops as Trucks Navigate Between Industrial Facilities and Port Terminals. Brake Failure on These Downgrades Is a Common Cause of Catastrophic Runaway Truck Accidents.
Port Trucking Operations Also Create Unique Liability Issues. Many Drivers Serving the Port of South Louisiana Are Owner-Operators or Contracted Through Complex Brokerage Arrangements. Determining Whether the Driver Was an Employee or Independent Contractor—as Well as Which Company Controlled the Loading and Scheduling—Requires Immediate Investigation of Contracts and Industry Relationships.
State Highways and Rural Routes
Beyond the Interstates, State Routes Like LA-1 and LA-30 See Significant Truck Traffic Serving the Agricultural and Petrochemical Sectors. These Roads Often Lack the Safety Features of Interstates—No Median Barriers, Narrow Shoulders, and Limited Lighting—Making Nighttime Accidents and Head-On Collisions More Likely.
The Fog Coming Off the Mississippi River and Adjacent Bayous Creates Visibility Hazards That Truck Drivers Must Account For. Federal Regulations Under 49 CFR § 392.14 Require Drivers to Reduce Speed and Exercise Extreme Caution in Adverse Weather. When a Trucker Ignores These Rules and Crashes in Foggy Conditions on a Parish Highway, That’s Evidence of Federal Safety Violations.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: The Rules They Broke
Every 18-Wheeler on Iberville Parish Roads Must Comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Codified in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). These Aren’t Suggestions—They’re Federal Laws Enforced by the FMCSA. When Trucking Companies Violate These Rules, They Create Presumptions of Negligence That Strengthen Your Case.
49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification Requirements
Before a Trucking Company Can Let Someone Drive an 18-Wheeler, They Must Verify That Driver Meets Strict Federal Standards. The Driver Must:
- Be At Least 21 Years Old for Interstate Commerce (49 CFR § 391.11)
- Possess a Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
- Pass a Medical Examination Every 24 Months (49 CFR § 391.45)
- Provide a Three-Year Driving History (49 CFR § 391.23)
- Pass a Road Test or Provide Equivalent Certification (49 CFR § 391.31)
Trucking Companies Must Maintain a Driver Qualification File Containing These Documents (49 CFR § 391.51). If We Discover the Company Hired a Driver with a History of Safety Violations, Failed Drug Tests, or Medical Disqualifications, We Can Prove Negligent Hiring—a Direct Claim Against the Company for Putting a Dangerous Driver Behind the Wheel.
49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service (HOS) Rules
Fatigue Kills. The FMCSA Limits How Long Drivers Can Operate Without Rest:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit: No Driving Beyond 11 Consecutive Hours (49 CFR § 395.3)
- 14-Hour Duty Window: Cannot Drive After the 14th Consecutive Hour on Duty (49 CFR § 395.3)
- 30-Minute Break: Mandatory Break After 8 Cumulative Hours of Driving (49 CFR § 395.3)
- Weekly Limits: 60 Hours in 7 Days or 70 Hours in 8 Days (49 CFR § 395.3)
Since December 2017, Most Trucks Must Use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) That Track These Hours Automatically (49 CFR § 395.8). These Devices Sync with the Vehicle Engine and Cannot Be Easily Altered Like the Old Paper Logbooks. We Subpoena ELD Data Immediately to Prove Fatigue Violations.
49 CFR Part 393: Vehicle Safety and Cargo Securement
Trucking Companies Must Ensure Their Vehicles Are Safe. Key Requirements Include:
- Brake Systems: Must Meet Specific Performance Standards (49 CFR § 393.40-55)
- Tires: Minimum Tread Depth of 4/32″ on Steer Tires (49 CFR § 393.75)
- Cargo Securement: Tiedowns Must Prevent Shifting Under 0.8 G Deceleration Forces (49 CFR § 393.102)
- Lighting: Proper Reflectors and Operational Lights (49 CFR § 393.11)
When Improperly Secured Cargo Shifts on I-10, Causing a Rollover, or When Worn Brakes Fail on a River Bridge Descent, These Violations Prove the Trucking Company’s Negligence.
49 CFR Part 396: Inspection and Maintenance
Motor Carriers Must Systematically Inspect, Repair, and Maintain Their Vehicles (49 CFR § 396.3). Drivers Must Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections (49 CFR § 396.13) and Submit Daily Vehicle Inspection Reports (49 CFR § 396.11). If the Company Deferred Maintenance to Save Money, We Use Those Maintenance Records to Prove Corporate Profit Was Put Above Public Safety.
49 CFR Part 392: Safe Driving Practices
This Part Prohibits:
- Driving While Fatigued or Sick (49 CFR § 392.3)
- Drug or Alcohol Use (49 CFR §§ 392.4-392.5)
- Using Hand-Held Mobile Devices While Driving (49 CFR § 392.82)
- Speeding (49 CFR § 392.6)
A Texting Truck Driver on LA-1 Is Violating Federal Law—And That Violation Constitutes Negligence Per Se in Louisiana Courts.
The Ten Liable Parties: We Don’t Stop at Just the Driver
Most Law Firms Sue the Driver and the Trucking Company and Call It a Day. We Don’t. Our Investigation Identifies Every Party Who Contributed to Your Injuries, Because Every Liable Party Represents Another Insurance Policy—Another Pool of Money to Compensate You.
- The Truck Driver: For Speeding, Distracted Driving, Fatigue, or Impairment
- The Motor Carrier (Trucking Company): Vicariously Liable Under Respondeat Superior, Plus Direct Liability for Negligent Hiring, Training, or Supervision
- The Cargo Owner/Shipper: If They Required Improper Loading or Failed to Disclose Hazmat Risks
- The Loading Company: For Improper Cargo Distribution or Inadequate Securement
- The Truck Manufacturer: For Design Defects in Stability Control, Braking Systems, or Fuel Tanks
- The Parts Manufacturer: For Defective Tires, Brakes, or Steering Components
- The Maintenance Company: For Negligent Repairs or Failure to Identify Critical Defects
- The Freight Broker: For Negligent Selection of an Unsafe Carrier
- The Truck Owner (If Different from Carrier): For Negligent Entrustment
- Government Entities: For Dangerous Road Design or Failure to Maintain Safe Intersections
Lupe Peña’s Background as a Former Insurance Defense Attorney Gives Us Insider Knowledge of How These Different Insurance Policies “Stack” and How Defense Attorneys Try to Shift Blame Between These Parties. We Know Their Playbook Because He Used to Run It. Now He Uses That Knowledge to Maximize Your Recovery.
The Catastrophic Injuries We See in Iberville Parish Trucking Accidents
When 80,000 Pounds Collide with 4,000 Pounds, the Injuries Aren’t Minor. They’re Life-Changing or Life-Ending. We Specialize in Catastrophic Injury Cases Because These Victims Need Substantial Resources to Rebuild Their Lives.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
The Forces Involved in Truck Accidents Frequently Cause the Brain to Impact the Interior of the Skull, Resulting in Concussions, Contusions, or Diffuse Axonal Injuries. Symptoms May Not Appear Immediately—Victims Often Feel “Just Shaken Up” Only to Develop Memory Loss, Personality Changes, and Cognitive Deficits Weeks Later.
TBI Cases Often Settle in the $1.5 Million to $9.8 Million Range, Depending on the Severity and the Victim’s Age and Occupation. These Funds Pay for Cognitive Rehabilitation, Vocational Retraining, and Lifetime Care.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The Crumple Zones in Passenger Vehicles Are No Match for Truck Underride Accidents or Side-Impact Collisions. Spinal Fractures Can Result in Paraplegia (Loss of Use of Legs) or Quadriplegia (Loss of Use of All Four Limbs).
The Lifetime Cost of Care for a Quadriplegic Can Exceed $25.8 Million. We Work with Life Care Planners and Medical Economists to Calculate Every Future Medical Expense, Home Modification, and Assistive Care Need.
Amputations
When Cabins Crush or Fuel Fires Ignite, Victims May Lose Limbs Either at the Scene or Due to Subsequent Surgical Necessity. Modern Prosthetics Cost $50,000 to $100,000 Each and Must Be Replaced Every Few Years. Our Settlements for Amputation Cases Range from $1.9 Million to $8.6 Million.
Wrongful Death
When a Trucking Accident Takes a Loved One, Louisiana Law Allows the Surviving Spouse, Children, or Parents to Recover Damages for Lost Financial Support, Loss of Companionship, and Mental Anguish. While No Amount of Money Replaces a Life, We’ve Secured Verdicts from $1.9 Million to $9.5 Million to Ensure Families Remain Financially Secure.
As Glenda Walker, Whose Wrongful Death Case We Handled, Said: “They Fought for Me to Get Every Dime I Deserved.”
Evidence Preservation: The 48-Hour Rule
If You Remember Nothing Else, Remember This: You Have 48 Hours to Preserve Critical Evidence, But Only One Year to File Suit.
The Electronic Data Recorder (EDR) in the Truck’s Engine Control Module Records Speed, Braking, Throttle Position, and Seatbelt Usage in the Seconds Before Impact. This Data Can Prove the Driver Was Speeding, Failed to Brake, or Was Asleep at the Wheel. But Many Trucks Only Store 30 Days of Data—Some Overwrite Data After Just a Few Ignition Cycles.
Dashcam Footage Disappears Faster—Often Within 7 to 14 Days as Systems Record Over Old Files. Witness Memories Fade Within Days. Skid Marks Get Washed Away by Louisiana Rain.
That’s Why We Offer 24/7 Emergency Response for Trucking Accidents in Iberville Parish. When You Call 1-888-ATTY-911, We Dispatch Our Investigation Team to:
- Photograph the Accident Scene Before Weather or Traffic Erase Evidence
- Locate and Interview Witnesses
- Secure the Truck’s Physical Evidence Before It’s Towed and Repaired
- Serve Spoliation Letters to Preserve Electronic Data
- Subpoena Surveillance Footage from Nearby Businesses
Angel Walle, Another Client, Put It Simply: “They Solved in a Couple of Months What Others Did Nothing About in Two Years.” We Move Fast Because We Know What’s at Stake.
Louisiana’s Pure Comparative Fault: You Can Recover Even If You Were Partially at Fault
Louisiana Follows a “Pure Comparative Fault” System. This Means You Can Recover Damages Even If You Were 99% at Fault for the Accident—Though Your Recovery Is Reduced by Your Percentage of Fault.
For Example, If a Jury Awards You $1 Million but Finds You 20% at Fault, You Recover $800,000. If They Find You 51% at Fault, You Still Recover $490,000. Unlike Texas, Which Bars Recovery if You’re More Than 50% at Fault, Louisiana Doesn’t Have That Barrier.
However, Insurance Companies Will Try to Exploit This Rule to Minimize Your Payout. They’ll Claim You Were Speeding, Failed to Signal, or Could Have Avoided the Crash. That’s Why We Immediately Subpoena the Truck’s EDR Data—to Prove Objective Facts About Speed and Braking That Override Subjective Finger-Pointing.
The Insurance Battle: Why You Need Someone Who Knows Their Tactics
Trucking Companies Carry $750,000 to $5 Million in Liability Coverage Under Federal Law. But Getting That Money Requires Knowing How Insurance Companies Operate.
Lupe Peña Defended Insurance Companies for Years Before Joining Our Firm. He Knows Their Tactics:
- The Early Lowball Offer: They Call Within Days, Before You Know the Full Extent of Your Injuries, Offering a Fraction of Your Case’s Value in Exchange for a Quick Settlement. Never Accept an Offer Without Consulting an Attorney.
- The Blame Game: They Claim You Were Partially at Fault to Reduce Their Payout Under Comparative Negligence.
- The Independent Medical Exam (IME): They Send You to Their Doctor, Who Downplays Your Injuries.
- The Stalling Game: They Drag Out the Process, Hoping You’ll Accept Less Just to Get It Over With.
We Don’t Let Them Get Away With It. We Prepare Every Case as If It’s Going to Trial, Which Forces Insurance Adjusters to Take Us Seriously. When Defense Lawyers See Ralph Manginello’s Name on a Lawsuit—Backed by 25 Years of Federal Court Experience and Multi-Million Dollar Verdicts—They Know We Aren’t Bluffing.
Frequently Asked Questions: Iberville Parish Trucking Accident Cases
How Long Do I Have to Sue After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Iberville Parish?
You Have One Year from the Date of the Accident. Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations Is Among the Shortest in America. Don’t Wait.
What If the Truck Driver Says I Caused the Accident?
Louisiana Uses Pure Comparative Fault. Even If You Were Partially Responsible, You Can Recover Damages Reduced by Your Fault Percentage. We Use EDR Data and Accident Reconstruction to Prove the Truth.
Can I Sue the Trucking Company If the Driver Was an Independent Contractor?
Often, Yes. If the Company Controlled the Driver’s Schedule, Routes, or Equipment, They May Be Liable. We Investigate the Employment Relationship.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
It Depends on Injury Severity, Medical Costs, Lost Wages, and Available Insurance. Trucking Cases Often Settle for Six or Seven Figures. We’ve Recovered Millions for Clients.
Do I Have to Pay Anything Upfront?
No. We Work on Contingency—33.33% if Settled Before Trial, 40% if We Go to Court. You Pay Nothing Unless We Win.
What If I Don’t Have Health Insurance for Treatment?
We Can Refer You to Medical Providers Who Work on a “Letter of Protection” Basis—They Treat You Now and Get Paid From Your Settlement Later.
Should I Talk to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster?
Never. They Record Everything You Say to Use Against You. Refer Them to Your Attorney.
Hablamos Español?
Sí. Lupe Peña Es Bilingüe y Puede Ayudarle Directamente Sin Intérpretes. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.
Your Next Step: Call Before Evidence Disappears
If You’ve Made It This Far, You Already Know the Truth: Trucking Accident Cases Are Complex, Evidence Disappears Fast, and Louisiana Gives You Less Time Than Almost Any Other State to Act.
You Deserve an Attorney Who Treats You Like Family, Not a File Number. You Deserve a Firm Led by a 25-Year Veteran of Federal Court Who Has Taken on BP and Won. You Deserve Someone Who Knows the Insurance Companies’ Playbooks Because He Used to Write Them.
We Work on Contingency. You Risk Nothing by Calling. But You Risk Everything by Waiting.
Call Attorney911 Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
We’re Available 24/7. We Answer the Phone. We Fight for Every Dime You Deserve. And We Don’t Stop Until Justice Is Served.
The Information on This Page Is for Educational Purposes and Does Not Constitute Legal Advice. Every Case Is Unique. Results Vary. Consultation Required for Specific Legal Guidance Regarding Your Situation in Iberville Parish.
