Construction Zone Accident Lawyer in New Orleans

Understanding New Orleans Construction Zone Accident Laws

Louisiana law recently changed in ways that can directly affect your case, so it helps to act fast and know your rights.

Prescriptive Period (Statute of Limitations)

Louisiana calls its filing deadline the “prescriptive period.” For construction zone injuries:

• 2 years to file if your accident happened on or after July 1, 2024
• 1 year if your accident happened before that date

Comparative Fault

As of January 1, 2026, Louisiana uses a modified comparative fault rule. If you are less than 51% at fault, you can still recover money, though your award drops by your share of the blame. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover. Crashes before January 1, 2026 still follow the older pure comparative fault rule.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

A work zone crash usually involves more than one at-fault party. The driver who hit you must carry Louisiana’s minimum auto liability limits, but construction companies, subcontractors, and even the state DOTD often carry much larger commercial policies that may also cover your claim.

Louisiana’s minimum auto liability limits are:

• $15,000 bodily injury per person
• $30,000 bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 property damage

Because those driver minimums are often too low to cover a serious construction zone injury, we track down every available policy so no source of compensation gets left on the table.