PERSONAL INJURY Protecting the Injured for Over 30 years
Get client-focused counsel—Call (504) 470-3935 to request your free consultation today! Our personal injury lawyers in New Orleans are dedicated to your needs – Womac Wins!
Cargo-Related Truck Accident Lawyer in New Orleans
Holding Every Responsible Party Accountable After a Freight Crash
When unsecured, overloaded, or shifting freight causes a crash, the liability rarely stops with the driver. These cases often reach back to the motor carrier, the shipper, a cargo-loading company, or a freight broker. That multi-party complexity is why how a firm prepares matters as much as who it calls.
Founded by Edward J. Womac, Jr., who has been admitted to the Louisiana Bar since 1983, Womac Law Firm has grown from a solo trial practice to a team of roughly 20 attorneys. We’ve represented more than 40,000 personal injury victims across Louisiana over more than three decades of dedicated trial-level work.
If freight on a truck caused your injuries, call (504) 470-3935 for a free, confidential case evaluation. There’s no cost to find out where you stand.
Trial-Ready from Day One
Cargo-related crashes are built for dispute. When responsibility is divided among several corporate defendants, each one has attorneys whose job is to push liability onto someone else. We prepare every case as though it will go to trial, including mock jury sessions and rigorous pre-trial preparation, so we aren’t caught off guard when a defendant refuses to settle fairly.
We represent injured people, not insurance companies. That focus shapes how we investigate, how we negotiate, and how we fight when a case ends up in a courtroom. Throughout the process, we stay communicative and responsive so you know where things stand.
Common Causes of Cargo-Related Truck Accidents
Cargo failures are a distinct cause category from driver fatigue or mechanical breakdown, but they can be just as devastating. Understanding what went wrong is the first step toward identifying who is responsible.
Common causes include:
- Shifting loads: Cargo that isn’t properly balanced or braced can move suddenly in transit, throwing the truck off balance and triggering a rollover or loss of control
- Overloaded trailers: Trucks exceeding legal weight limits face longer stopping distances and increased strain on brakes, tires, and steering
- Improper weight distribution: Loading cargo too heavy on one side increases the risk of jackknife accidents and rollovers
- Worn or missing tie-downs: Faulty straps, chains, or the absence of blocking and bracing are among the most common reasons cargo shifts during transport
- Falling debris: Construction materials, equipment, or other freight that falls onto the roadway can strike vehicles or create sudden obstacles
- Hazardous material spills: Leaking cargo can cause fires, chemical exposure injuries, and road closures that endanger anyone nearby
Louisiana Cargo Regulations & Who Can Be Held Liable
Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 32, Section 386 sets a general 80,000-pound gross weight cap on the interstate system and specifies axle weight limits. Louisiana law also requires that loads be securely fastened to prevent dropping, leaking, or spilling and that loose material loads be covered. Federal regulations impose cargo securement requirements as well, designed to prevent freight from shifting or falling during transport.
A violation of these rules is evidence of negligence, but identifying which company violated them matters just as much. Depending on who controlled the loading process, liability can extend to:
- The motor carrier responsible for the truck and driver
- A third-party cargo-loading company hired to prepare the trailer
- The shipper of the freight
- A freight broker who arranged the shipment
Documents like the bill of lading, loading records, and weight tickets become critical evidence. We move quickly to preserve them before they disappear.
New Orleans as a Freight Corridor
The Port of New Orleans and its connecting industrial corridors bring significant commercial truck traffic through the city. Interstate 10 runs directly through New Orleans and serves as a primary freight route linking the port to surrounding industrial areas and beyond. That volume means cargo-related crashes aren’t rare here, and local knowledge of the routes, the regulators, and the courts carries real practical value.
Compensation & Louisiana Legal Deadlines
A cargo-related truck accident claim can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The specific recovery depends on the facts of the crash and how Louisiana law applies to them.
Two deadlines matter. For incidents that occurred before July 1, 2024, the prescriptive period is one year from the date of the crash. For incidents on or after that date, it extends to two years. Louisiana also changed its comparative fault rules effective January 1, 2026. Under the current modified comparative fault system, a claimant found 51% or more at fault is barred from recovery. Acting promptly protects both your evidence and your right to file.
Start with a Free Case Review
On the defense side, cargo-related crash cases move fast. The companies involved begin protecting their interests immediately, and evidence like loading records and weight tickets doesn’t stay available indefinitely.
We offer a free, confidential consultation with no upfront cost. If we take your case, our fee is a percentage of the recovery. There’s nothing to pay unless we recover for you. Call (504) 470-3935 or use the contact form on this site to reach Womac Law Firm today.