Fatal Accident Deaths Down in Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development tracks the number of fatal accidents and deaths that occur on the state’s roads. Researchers at the Louisiana State University gathered information from those reports. The good news is that the risk of being involved in a fatal accident here has dropped.
The data indicates that in 2007, there were 900 deadly crashes, and in 2008, there were 916. By 2013, the number dropped to 651, and in 2014, the number went up to 737. Overall, the number of fatal wrecks here in Louisiana dropped 28 percent, and the number of deaths has decreased by 20 percent.
Even though any reduction in deaths on Louisiana’s roadways is encouraging, the numbers are still higher than the national average. Nearly 42 percent of fatal crashes in these figures involve alcohol, and no less than 27 percent included speeding as a factor (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Furthermore, it is alarming to know that distracted drivers are outpacing aggressive and drunk drivers when it comes to causing these crashes.
Regardless of the fact that the numbers are declining, far too many people still die in deadly wrecks across the state. Families who have lost loved ones in a fatal accident retain the right to file a wrongful death claim against the party or parties deemed responsible. Proving negligence could result in a monetary judgment to help defray the costs of the financial losses incurred as a result. In addition, surviving family members will never get back the loved one they lost, but they could receive some justice and closure at the end of a successfully litigated claim.