When a normal car accident happens in Louisiana, the steps for getting compensated are usually clear. When the crash involves something different, like an RV, ATV, golf cart, dirt bike, side by side, e-bike, electric scooter, classic car, custom-built vehicle, commercial van, or other specialty vehicle, the situation becomes much more complex. These accidents often lead to severe injuries and confusing insurance problems. Many victims feel stressed and unsure about their next steps.
Loyd J Bourgeois Injury & Accident Lawyer understands the heavy load you are carrying. You may feel fear, confusion, or shame after the accident. You might worry about bills, missed work, and what your future looks like. You deserve a legal team that listens to you, stands with you, and guides you with care. Our Louisiana personal injury lawyers know how to handle these difficult cases with both compassion and strong legal skill.
Louisiana had 652 fatal crashes in 2024, which caused 699 deaths, according to LSU’s Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety. Specialty vehicle crashes bring added risks. Victims in these incidents often need a deeper legal plan to protect their health and financial future.
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What Makes Specialty Vehicle Accidents So Different?
Specialty vehicles operate under different rules, different physics, and different insurance systems. An RV has large blind spots and a high center of gravity. A crane or tractor has limited visibility. A dirt bike, e-bike, or electric scooter offers little protection to the rider. A golf cart or side-by-side can tip or roll easily.
These factors can create severe injuries. Identifying fault is rarely simple. Specialty vehicle accidents need careful investigation and a team with real experience.
Why Do Standard Accident Claims Not Always Apply?
Many specialty vehicles are not designed for public roads. When they are used on a street or highway, new questions often come up about safety, permission, and legal use. Many cases involve questions such as:
- Did a mechanical part fail?
- Was the operator trained or licensed for this type of vehicle?
- Was the vehicle street legal when used on a public road?
- Did a repair shop overlook an important issue?
- Was the property or roadway unsafe for the type of vehicle involved?
The attorneys at LJBLegal understand how to gather evidence, review these factors, and identify every responsible party.
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773What Types of Specialty Vehicle Accidents Do We Handle?
These vehicles are not built like standard cars. Our team helps with claims involving:
- RV and Motorhome Accident Lawyer: These large vehicles have heavy bodies, large blind spots, and long stopping distances.
- ATV and UTV Accident Lawyer: Rollovers are common and often involve property or trail safety issues.
- Side-by-Side Accident Lawyer: These vehicles are used in campgrounds, trails, and rural areas where serious injuries often occur.
- Golf Cart Accident Lawyer: Common in neighborhoods, events, and recreation areas with limited protection for riders.
- Dirt Bike Accident Lawyer: These crashes can happen on or off public roads and offer very little protection to the rider.
- Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer: These cases often involve rental scooters, uneven pavement, or children using scooters in neighborhoods.
- E-Bike Accident Lawyer: Higher speeds and mixed traffic create added risks for riders.
- Construction and Agricultural Equipment Accident Lawyer: Includes accidents involving tractors, forklifts, bulldozers, and cranes.
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773Why Do These Crashes Often Cause Severe Injuries?
Some specialty vehicles are much heavier than a regular car, while others are smaller, meant for recreation, and offer little protection. This mix creates a dangerous mismatch that can cause life-changing injuries.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Severe road rash or crush injuries
- Wrongful death
These injuries can affect work, hobbies, family life, and daily routines. LJBLegal makes sure your full story is heard and valued.
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773What Legal Challenges Make These Cases More Complicated?
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Specialty Vehicle Accident?
Responsibility for a specialty vehicle accident may fall on the driver, their employer, the vehicle owner, a manufacturer, maintenance provider, government agency, or third-party contractors. Liability depends on factors like negligence, defective equipment, or poor maintenance, assessed through a legal test of duty, breach, causation, and damages.
Liability may involve:
- The vehicle operator
- The operator’s employer
- The vehicle manufacturer
- A maintenance or repair shop
- A property owner
- A government agency responsible for the roadway
- A loading or cargo company
Can the Vehicle Owner Be Responsible for Allowing an Unsafe Driver?
Yes, a vehicle owner can be held liable under negligent entrustment if they knowingly allow an unfit driver, such as someone unlicensed, intoxicated, or underage, to operate their vehicle. This often happens with recreational and off-road vehicles like ATVs, golf carts, side-by-sides, dirt bikes, and similar vehicles.
Negligent entrustment means giving someone control of a vehicle when you know, or should know, they are not safe to drive it. In Louisiana, this applies whether the vehicle is used on the road, at a camp, or in a neighborhood. The law also looks at how the owner maintained the vehicle. If the brakes, headlights, or other critical parts were not working and this caused an accident, the owner may be liable for poor maintenance.
In many cases, parents may also be held responsible when their minor children cause accidents. If a parent allows a child to drive without a license, especially on public roads, they can be held liable for the damages that result.
The owner could be responsible if they:
- Allow a child to operate the vehicle without proper supervision
- Let an unlicensed or inexperienced person drive
- Permit someone to use the vehicle while impaired
- Ignore known safety problems or defects before letting someone drive
- Fail to give safety instructions or explain how the vehicle should be used
- Fail to maintain the vehicle properly, such as ignoring faulty brakes or lights
These cases are serious. If someone was injured because a vehicle owner made a careless decision, that owner may be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. This is why it is important to understand who is allowed to use a vehicle, especially when children or guests are involved.
How Do FMCSA and DOT Rules Affect These Cases?
Some specialty vehicles, such as commercial vans and shuttle buses, must follow federal safety rules, including:
- FMCSA hours-of-service rules
- DOT inspection and maintenance standards
- Required safety inspections
- Driver qualification files
These rules help identify negligence if a violation occurred.
What Evidence Should Be Collected After a Specialty Vehicle Accident?
After a specialty vehicle accident, you should collect evidence from the scene, including photos and videos of the vehicles, skid marks, and road conditions, and gather documents like the police report and medical records. Also, collect witness information, vehicle data (like “black box” information), and keep a journal of any injuries.
Key evidence may include:
- Black box data, if equipped
- Maintenance and repair logs
- Fleet inspection reports
- Operator training records
- Repair shop service files
- Photos and videos of the scene and vehicle damage
- Property owner or trail maintenance records, for off-road locations
- Maps or diagrams showing the trail, roadway, or golf cart path
- Surveillance or security footage from nearby homes or businesses
- Neighborhood or HOA rules for golf cart or low-speed vehicle operation
- VIN or serial number information specific to ATVs and UTVs
- Manufacturer warnings and safety bulletins for the specific model
- Modifications, lift kits, or aftermarket parts that may affect safety
- Helmet or safety gear condition and usage at the time of the crash
- Witness statements regarding speed, handling, or unsafe operation
- Evidence of whether the vehicle was street legal at the time of use
Can Government Road Conditions Cause These Accidents?
Some crashes happen because of unsafe road conditions, such as:
- Potholes
- Missing hazard signs
- Shoulder drop-offs
- Poor road design
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773What Is the Louisiana Statute of Limitations for Injury Claims?
Louisiana now gives most injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is strict. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to compensation. Contacting LJBLegal early helps protect your rights.
What Should You Do After a Specialty Vehicle Accident?
After a specialty vehicle accident, seek immediate medical care, even if injuries aren’t visible. Call the police to file an official report. Document the scene by taking photos of vehicles, injuries, and road conditions, and collect contact details from any witnesses to support your claim.
Should You Get Medical Care Right Away?
Yes. Your health comes first. Some injuries do not show symptoms right away, and medical records help link your injuries to the crash.
Should You Call the Police and Get a Report?
Yes. A police report creates an official record of what happened and is important for your claim.
How Should You Document the Scene?
If you can, take photos and videos of vehicles, injuries, and road conditions. Gather witness contact information as well.
How Can LJBLegal Help You Move Forward?
You deserve a legal team that listens to you, explains your options, and stands with you from start to finish. Loyd J Bourgeois Injury & Accident Lawyer (LJBLegal) combines compassion with strong legal experience to guide you through this difficult time.
How Does Our Client Portal App Support You?
Our client portal app gives you 24 hour access to your case information. You can upload documents, send messages, track updates, and get answers at any time.
How Does LJBLegal Charge for Injury Cases?
At LJBLegal, cost should never stop you from getting help. We work on a contingency fee basis.
- No upfront costs. You do not pay anything to hire us.
- No fee unless we win. We only get paid if we recover money for you.
- No surprises. Our fee stays the same even if we file a lawsuit or go to trial.
You get legal support with no financial risk.
Are You Ready to Talk About Your Next Steps?
A specialty vehicle accident can change your life in an instant. You do not have to face this on your own.
LJBLegal is here to protect your rights, help you understand your options, and pursue the compensation you need. We listen to your story, treat you with care, and stand with you through the entire process.
Contact us at 985-240-9773 for a free consultation and let us help you move forward with confidence.
