Louisiana Just Passed New Insurance Laws – Here’s What Injury Victims Should Know
Governor Landry signed sweeping insurance legislation into law—some of which could make it harder for accident victims to get the compensation they deserve.
If you’ve ever struggled with high insurance rates or a delayed claim payout, you’re not alone. Louisiana consistently ranks among the most expensive states for car and homeowner’s insurance. Recently Governor Jeff Landry signed a package of new laws aimed at addressing those costs—but some of the changes could actually make things harder for people injured in accidents.
At Bono Law Firm, we represent people—not insurance companies. So we’re breaking down these new laws from the perspective of injury victims and what they really mean.
Major Change: HB148 – The “Rate Refund” Bill
House Bill 148 gives the state’s Insurance Commissioner sweeping new authority to:
Block proposed rate hikes from insurance companies
Declare existing rates “excessive,” and
Force insurance companies to issue refunds to policyholders
At first glance, this sounds like a win for consumers. But even the Insurance Commissioner himself opposed the bill, warning that it could drive insurance companies out of the state and make it harder for Louisianans to get covered—or get claims paid in a timely manner.
The bill also gives the Commissioner wide discretion to keep insurance rate data confidential, limiting public transparency. Less accountability isn’t usually good news for policyholders.
Other New Laws That Could Affect Your Injury Claim
Governor Landry also signed several other bills that could impact how much money injury victims can recover after a crash:
⚠️ HB 431: The 51% Fault Rule
If you’re found more than 51% at fault in an accident—even by a small margin—you can’t recover any compensation. That makes it easier for insurance companies to argue partial blame and deny your claim entirely.
⚠️ HB 434: Expansion of “No Pay, No Play”
Under this new rule, if you’re uninsured at the time of a crash, you won’t be allowed to recover the first $100,000 in damages, even if the crash wasn’t your fault. This hits low-income drivers the hardest and may unfairly block legitimate claims.
⚠️ HB 436: Limits on Immigrant Plaintiffs
This bill makes it harder for undocumented immigrants to bring claims after being injured in accidents—regardless of fault or injury severity.
⚠️ HB 450: Repeal of the Housley Presumption
For years, Louisiana law gave injury victims a helpful legal rule: if you were hurt in a crash and got timely medical treatment, the law presumed your injuries were caused by the crash. That rule is now gone.
This means injury victims may face a tougher fight proving that their injuries are accident-related—especially when insurance companies try to blame pre-existing conditions.
✅ HB 549: Dashboard Camera Discounts
This bill offers a small win for commercial drivers by giving insurance discounts to vehicles equipped with dashboard cameras. These cameras may help prove fault in some crashes—but the real benefit goes to insurance companies.
What This Means for Injury Victims in Louisiana
This legislative package was presented as a way to lower insurance costs, but many of the changes make it harder—not easier—for people to get the compensation they deserve after an accident. These bills give insurance companies more defenses, more tools to dispute claims, and more power to deny payouts.
At Bono Law Firm, we’re keeping a close eye on how these laws are implemented and how they’re used by the insurance industry. We’ll continue fighting for our clients—and helping everyday people stand up to big insurance companies.
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