The Louisiana State Police are investing a crash in which the driver of an SUV was killed. The truck accident occurred on US 190 West. It took authorities approximately seven hours to gather evidence and clear the wreckage from the scene.
A Peterbilt tractor-trailer was traveling east on the highway as it approached a private driveway. The trucker began his turn into that private driveway as a westbound SUV was heading toward him. The SUV ended up crashing into the tractor trailer. The impact was forceful enough to trap the vehicle under the 18-wheeler. As a result, the vehicle was dragged into the private driveway as the truck came to a stop.
The driver whose vehicle became wedged under the truck died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the accident. The Louisiana State Police are not yet able to say whether the driver of the truck was impaired at the time of the accident. A toxicology sample was taken in order to make that determination. It isn’t yet known whether any charges will be filed in connection with the accident.
The victim in this fatal truck accident met an untimely death, and now his family is forced to face this fact. They will also be forced to incur expenses in connection with his death, including funeral costs. Being reimbursed for these expenses may not be the first thing the family thinks about, but it may become a concern at some point. The family retains the right to file a wrongful death action in an attempt to recover these expenses based upon proof that the trucker negligently caused the fatal accident.
Truck Accidents
A Minor Truck Accident Leads to the Death of a Louisiana Man
A minor accident between two trucks on U.S. Highway 190 in Louisiana became the scene of a horrific accident. After that truck accident, one of the drivers was struck by a third vehicle not involved in the first accident. Authorities do not suspect that anyone involved in either of the accidents was impaired at the time.
Two Freightliner tractor trailers were headed eastbound on U.S. Highway 190 early one morning on the Friday before Christmas. When the driver of the first Freightliner slowed to make a left hand, the tractor trailer that was trailing behind rear ended the first truck. This first accident caused minor damage to both trucks.
The driver of the first truck was in the process of placing warning triangles on the roadway in order to alert other vehicles to the accident. While he was doing so, a vehicle heading eastbound struck him. He suffered severe injuries and was taken to Baton Rouge General Mid-City Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel at the hospital, the driver’s injuries were too severe and caused his death.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the truck accident and the crash that followed, toxicology samples have been sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. The family of the driver that died has the right to file a wrongful death action based upon evidence of negligence that is deemed to have caused the fatality. If liability is established to the court’s satisfaction in a civil action, the court will consider claims for monetary damages sustained as a result of the tragedy.
Louisiana Truck Accident Claims the Life of an Infant
Until children reach a certain age, they rely on their parents for almost everything. Parents typically do what they can to keep their children safe, and that includes keeping them safe on the Louisiana roadways. However, even when a parent takes every precaution, the possibility of a car accident or truck accident still exists.
A Dodge Stratus containing two adults and two children was pulled over on the right shoulder of I-12 when tragedy struck recently. A delivery truck drifted off the road onto the same shoulder, causing the Freightliner to slam into the right rear of the Dodge. The impact sent the Dodge spinning across the roadway into the median.
According to the Louisiana State Police, the truck driver was not paying attention to the road when this truck drifted onto the shoulder. He has been charged with negligent homicide, among other things, due to the death of a 1-year-old that was in the Dodge at the time of the accident. A front seat passenger is in serious condition at North Oaks Medical Center. The driver and a 2-year-old boy suffered moderate injuries and were transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
There are several potential legal actions as a result of this truck accident. The surviving family of the deceased baby retains the right to pursue a wrongful death action based on proof of negligence by any party deemed at fault for the tragedy. Further the three people injured in the crash also have the right to press forward with personal injury claims, again based upon evidence of negligence. If liability is established, claims for monetary damages will be considered.
Failure to Stop Leads to Fatal Truck Accident on Louisiana Road
Hundreds, if not thousands, of 18-wheelers travel the highways of Louisiana every day. Truckers spend more time behind the wheel than the average American, and that can sometimes lead to complacency. A distracted truck driver increases the risk of being involved in a truck accident, which often leads to devastating consequences.
One trucker found this out the hard way. While exiting off of Interstate 49 onto Highway 84, the truck driver failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled in front of a Chevy Impala, which was unable to avoid hitting the 18-wheeler. According to the Louisiana State Police, the driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene. The other occupant of the Chevy was airlifted to a Shreveport hospital.
Authorities are still investigating the reason why the 27-year-old truck driver failed to stop. In the meantime, he was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign. The Louisiana State Police have also reported that the occupants of the Chevy were not wearing their seat belts.
Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the fact remains that this truck accident claimed the life of one person and seriously injured another. The families of the two occupants of the Chevy retain their right to pursue civil action should it be determined that the death and injuries were caused by the negligence of another party. Filing a wrongful death action or a personal injury lawsuit and taking it through the court process can be both time consuming and complicated. In a time of uncertainty, when the families struggle to cope with their grief and try to make sense out of what occurred, the right advice may help in assessing liability and damage issues under Louisiana law.
Truck Accident on I-20 in Louisiana Leaves 1 Dead
The interstates in Louisiana regularly experience traffic delays. These traffic delays can be caused by a myriad number of things, such as weather, construction, an auto accident or a truck accident. Occasionally after traffic has come to a standstill for one event, an accident occurs. Often, these accidents happen because a vehicle comes up on the stopped traffic too quickly and is unable to stop.
That scenario occurred on Interstate 20 west of Gibsland in mid July. Traffic had come to a stop due to a wreck in the eastbound lanes of I-20. A pickup truck had safely come to a stop behind an 18-wheeler when it was struck from behind by a second 18-wheeler that failed to stop in time. The impact was so violent that the pickup truck was crushed between the two tractor-trailers.
When authorities reached the pickup truck, they found the driver deceased at the scene. The Louisiana State Police are trying to identify the victim. It is unknown at this time what citations, if any, will be issued as a result of the accident.
Due to the sheer size and weight of an 18-wheeler, it is not uncommon for a truck accident to cause an incredible amount of damage to a car or pickup truck. However, property loss is only the beginning of the damage. Severe injuries and fatalities are also common when an accident occurs between a commercial trucking vehicle and a standard automobile. In this case, once the family of the victim has been notified, they will be faced with the enormity of this accident. Once the investigation is complete they may move forward with a wrongful death suit against the parties responsible for this tragic accident.