La. Stat. tit. 45 § 502
When an animal has been killed or injured by the locomotive or cars of the railway company, the owner, his agent, or representative, shall notify in writing, within a reasonable time, the nearest station agent of the railway company, giving a description of the animal killed or injured, and stating the place where the killing or injury occurred and any other facts connected with the matter.
The agent so notified, without delay, shall notify in writing the superintendent, general agent or agent of the railway company at their domicile. The superintendent, general agent or agent shall instruct, without delay, an agent on behalf of the railway company, to confer with the owner or his representative of the stock killed or injured.
If they fail to agree upon the sum to be paid for the animal, each may select an arbitrator, from the parish in which the animal was killed or injured. The arbitrator shall not be the agent or servant of either party. The matter shall be referred to the arbitrators, and in case they fail to agree, they shall call in an umpire, whose decision shall be final. If the arbitrators do not agree on the selection of an umpire, the nearest magistrate shall appoint the umpire. The arbitrators and umpire shall be sworn to make a just award, and the arbitration shall be held at the railroad station nearest to the place where the stock was killed or injured.
La. R.S. § 45:502