Up to $5,000 · 1 year to file.
Damage to your car or property caused by someone else. In Louisiana, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the City Court / Parish Court (small claims), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: Louisiana generally gives you 1 year from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $75 (About $50–$100 plus service, by parish.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: La. Rev. Stat. § 13:5200; deadlines: La. Civ. Code arts. 3492, 3499. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract (prescription) 10 yrs; delictual/property damage and personal injury 1 yr (Louisiana is uniquely short on torts).
Suing for something else in Louisiana: Louisiana unpaid loan · Louisiana security deposit · Louisiana unpaid rent · Louisiana contractor dispute.
Suing for property damage in nearby states: Texas ($20,000, 2 years) · Arkansas ($5,000, 3 years) · Mississippi ($3,500, 3 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026