What to do after a car accident in Louisiana
Every rule below is quoted from Louisiana law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
Louisiana is an at fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays for the other driver's injuries and property damage when they are at fault. The driver must immediately report a crash to police if it injures or kills someone or causes more than $500 in property damage. You have 2 years to sue for injuries from a car crash in Louisiana.
Deadlines in Louisiana
- 2 years
- to sue for injuriesLa. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
- 2 years
- to sue for car or property damageLa. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
- 1 year from death, or 2 years from the crash
- for a family to sue after a deathLa. Civ. Code art. 2315.2(B)
- 90 days after filing suit
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedLa. R.S. 13:5107(A)(2)
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a Louisiana crash must stop at the scene, give their name, address, and vehicle registration number, and help anyone who is hurt.
“to stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident, to give his identity, and to render reasonable aid”
When you must call the police
The driver must immediately report a crash to police if it injures or kills someone or causes more than $500 in property damage.
“shall...immediately give notice of the crash to the local police department if the crash occurs within an incorporated city or town or...to the nearest sheriff's office or state police station”
Moving your car out of traffic
In Louisiana, if a crash does not seriously hurt or kill anyone and the driver is not hurt and the car can still be driven, the driver must move the car out of the travel lane to the nearest safe shoulder.
“In the event of a motor vehicle accident, if the driver is not prevented by injury and the vehicle is not disabled by the accident, or the accident has not resulted in serious injury or death of any person, the driver shall remove the vehicle from the travel lane of the highway to the nearest safe shoulder.”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
Louisiana does not require drivers to separately file their own crash report with a state motor vehicle agency. The investigating police, sheriff, or state police agency is the one required to forward a copy of the crash report to the Department of Transportation and Development, within 48 hours of finishing its investigation.
“the investigating law enforcement agency shall forward a copy of the crash report or data contained in the report to the Department of Transportation and Development”
Getting a copy of the crash report
Order an official Louisiana State Police crash report online through the LSP Crash Reports portal. Each report costs 11.$50, and reports are usually ready 10 to 15 business days after the crash.
“Each report costs $11.50, payable by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit or debit card.”
Who pays for the damage
Louisiana is an at fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays for the other driver's injuries and property damage when they are at fault.
“against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of such motor vehicle”
Insurance rules in Louisiana
What insurance every driver must carry
Louisiana drivers must carry at least $15,000 in liability coverage per person, $30,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage.
“Fifteen thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Louisiana does not require personal injury protection coverage. Drivers only have to carry liability insurance, or one of a few alternatives like a bond or cash deposit.
“shall be covered by an automobile liability policy with liability limits as defined by R.S. 32:900(B)(2) or 900(M), or a binder for same”
If the other driver has no insurance
Louisiana insurers must include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in every auto policy, but a named insured can reject it, choose lower limits, or choose an economic only version, in writing.
“the coverage required under this Section is not applicable when any insured named in the policy either rejects coverage, selects lower limits, or selects economic-only coverage”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
To file a complaint against an insurance company in Louisiana, use the online Consumer Complaint Form on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website, or print and mail a paper version.
“You may use this page to submit a complaint to the Louisiana Department of Insurance.”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 2 years to sue for injuries from a car crash in Louisiana.
“Delictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of two years. This prescription commences to run from the day that injury or damage is sustained”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 2 years to sue over vehicle or property damage from a car crash in Louisiana.
“Delictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of two years. This prescription commences to run from the day that injury or damage is sustained”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
For a death from a car crash, you have 1 year from the death, or 2 years from the crash itself, whichever is longer, to sue.
“The right of action granted by this Article prescribes one year from the death of the deceased or two years from the day that injury or damage is sustained, whichever is longer”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
Louisiana does not require a separate notice of claim before suing over a state or local government vehicle or road. The usual 2 year deadline to sue applies, but if you sue the state, the Attorney General must be served within 90 days after you file suit.
“Service shall be requested upon the attorney general within ninety days of filing suit”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)
- La. R.S. 32:861(A)(1)
- La. Civ. Code art. 2323(A)(2)(a)
- La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
- La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2(B)
- La. R.S. 13:5107(A)(2)
- La. R.S. 32:398(A)(1)
- La. R.S. 22:1295(1)(a)(i)
- La. R.S. 14:100(A)
- La. Rev. Stat. § 32:141(D)
- https://crashreports.dps.la.gov/
- Louisiana Department of Insurance, Consumer Complaint Form
- La. Rules of Prof'l Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.