Car wrecks in Louisiana can be quite serious and may leave multiple people injured, suffering or even dead. A recent motor vehicle accident left four people injured.
According to authorities, the accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when a silver Ford Taurus entered the westbound lane of a road from an off-ramp. The vehicle hit a westbound gold Mazda.
Authorities are still investigating the car accident and its cause. According to reports, two individuals were in each car, all of whom sustained injuries in the crash. They were taken to area hospitals where their injuries reportedly ranged from minor to critical.
The most severely injured was the front-seat passenger in the Ford Taurus. The other occupants reportedly suffered moderate injuries. The passengers in the other vehicle were said to have suffered injuries initially characterized as minor to moderate.
Car accidents like this one can understandably result in a great deal of emotional and physical damage, not just to the owners of the vehicles, but their passengers as well. When people get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in Louisiana, they are expected to show reasonable care to others in or near the roadway. Practicing safe driving and obeying traffic laws, as well as being cautious and aware of drivers who may not be driving as safely, can help keep people out of harm’s way.
One can only hope that those involved in this collision recover quickly and completely from their injuries. As with all car accidents, they may turn to Louisiana state courts to seek reimbursement for damages caused by the negligence of another person.
Car Accidents
91-Year-Old Driver Hits, Kills Welsh Man in Lake Charles Accident
Louisiana State Police responded to a crash in Lake Charles on Highway 14 on the evening of May 4 in which a pedestrian was reported to have been struck by a vehicle. The victim was a 45-year-old local man who later died from injuries he sustained in the fatal accident. He was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle as he worked to flag traffic after dark for a broken-down truck.
A truck pulling a camper was headed westbound on Hwy 14 when it stalled and pulled onto the road shoulder. A second vehicle stopped to assist and pulled to the front of the disabled truck to try and jump-start the engine. The passenger from the assisting truck exited his vehicle and walked to the rear of the camper to direct traffic. While flagging traffic he was struck by a car driven by a 91-year-old Lake Charles man.
After running into the pedestrian, the car also struck the parked camper. The elderly driver was taken to a Lake Charles hospital and treated for minor injuries. Police reports indicate that he was wearing his seat belt. Investigators are awaiting the results of routine toxicology samples that were submitted for analysis. The wreck is still under investigation, and no charges have yet been filed.
Studies show that 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur after dark. To help prevent a fatal accident of this nature, Louisiana law enforcement encourages pedestrians to always wear light-colored clothing. Reflective materials and flashlights can also help ensure that pedestrians are visible to drivers. Drivers are also asked to adhere to traffic laws, be alert and keep an eye out for pedestrians at all times. Hopefully the victim’s family is able to find comfort in one another during this time of grief.
Hit-and-Run Crash Leaves Lake Charles Man Dead
Pedestrian accidents rarely end well. Cars are powerful machines, and often a human body is no match. Sadly, a Louisiana family is now grieving after a pedestrian was hit by a car and killed on Saturday.
Police say the fatal accident occurred in the early morning hours of May 5. For reasons unknown, a 35-year-old Lake Charles man was apparently lying on Louisiana Highway 3112 when he was struck by an oncoming car. Unfortunately, the driver of the car did not stay behind to attend to the injured pedestrian. Sadly, the pedestrian died from injuries sustained in the car accident.
Although police are not sure why the Lake Charles man was in the road at the time of the accident, drivers still have a responsibility to remain at a crash scene, should they ever be involved in one. While we don’t know the exact circumstances of this incident, it’s not unfathomable that this man could have received treatment and possibly lived had the driver stopped and called authorities. Now, however, this man’s family is left to wonder if something could have been done to save his life.
When faced with tragedy of this nature, it is important for Louisiana residents to know that they have legal rights. When death or serious injuries occur due to someone else’s negligence, it may be possible to seek compensation. While it may seem insensitive to talk about money at such a difficult time, a death in the family shouldn’t bring with it major economic hardships as well. Seeking compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death claim could result in monetary awards that can go toward hospital costs and funeral expenses, allowing families of victims to focus less on the financial aspect and more on helping one another through such a difficult time.
Tire Change Death of Lake Charles Man, Wrongful Death?
A 44-year-old Louisiana man from Lake Charles lost his life in a fatal accident as he was trying to change a flat tire on April 22. State police say the man, a passenger in a vehicle that became disabled by a flat tire, was attempting to retrieve a spare from the car trunk when the collision occurred about 7 p.m. The driver of the car that caused the fatal accident was a 25-year-old female, also of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Both drivers and another person in the vehicle with the flat tire were also injured. Authorities say a 13-year-old passenger in that car suffered more serious injuries than the driver, though both were said to be wearing their seat belts. All three individuals in the fatal accident were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Louisiana law enforcement confirmed that toxicology tests will be a part of the investigation. Many other circumstances of the crash are likely to be discovered in the still-open accident investigation. If it is determined that negligence on the part of any individual caused or contributed to the collision, a legal basis to pursue civil claims for personal injury and wrongful death may exist.
Whether or not criminal charges are filed against anyone in this fatal accident, the deceased man’s family may consider filing a wrongful death claim against any party or parties whose negligence caused the death. Similarly, those seriously injured through no fault of their own may decide to file personal injury claims against any at-fault party. A successful claim may include reimbursement for medical bills and other damages, including pain and suffering related to the accident.
Louisiana Car Wreck in Reserve Ends in Death and Injury
A three-car accident ended in injuries and death for several Louisiana residents recently. The April 17 car wreck occurred shortly after 6 a.m. on River Road in Reserve. The site of the collision was near the road’s intersection with West 22nd Street.
Police say that a 31-year-old man from Lutcher was driving a car on the roadway when he inexplicably struck the back end of another vehicle. The impact of the collision caused the vehicle to veer into the oncoming lane of traffic before coming to a rest. Authorities say the man began to get out of his car, and as he did, the car was struck by a pickup truck operated by another Lutcher resident.
As a result of the collision, both drivers were taken to local hospitals. Sadly, the 31-year-old driver later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the pickup was said to have suffered injuries characterized as moderate and remained hospitalized for further medical care.
Louisiana police are continuing to investigate the cause of this fatal car wreck. Reports indicate that they do not suspect alcohol or impairment of the drivers, but toxicology test results are pending. Once the investigation concludes, a cause for the accident will likely be determined. The report may also address which party or parties are deemed to have been at fault in causing or contributing to the fatal collision.
In any Louisiana car accident, if one of the drivers is found to have been the cause of the accident, any victims may have the right to file civil claims. In a case in which a deceased driver is determined to have been negligent, any liability would potentially result in a claim against his estate. If, however, another party is determined to have negligently caused the death, the victim’s surviving family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim in Louisiana courts.
Shreveport Car Wreck Leaves 1 Dead, 2 Children Injured
A car accident involving three vehicles reportedly backed up traffic on LA 3132 on April 12 in Shreveport. The car wreck occurred at the intersection of the highway and Line Avenue. Authorities indicated the accident may have been caused in part by an earlier collision on the same road.
An SUV was hit by a pickup truck then pushed into the path of an 18-wheeler. Three occupants of the SUV, a male driver and two children, were seriously injured.
They were taken to LSU Health Shreveport. Though the man was said to be in critical condition and the children in serious condition, the man subsequently died. No other injuries to those involved in the car wreck were reported.
As the police investigation continues, there will likely be a causal determination for this tragic car wreck. In the event one or more parties are found to have acted negligently in a manner that caused or contributed to the fatal accident, civil liability for injuries and other legal consequences could follow.
The injured children may suffer more than the physical injuries that have left them in the hospital. They may now be facing a long road to recovery. And the family of the deceased male driver must not only cope with his loss of life, but may also have expenses occasioned by the crash. In situations like this, damages may be able to be recovered through personal injury claims under Louisiana law should the accident be attributable to the negligence of another party. In the case of a fatality, the claim would be made in the form of a wrongful death action by the victim’s surviving family. While such a claim could never replace a life lost, it can help a victim’s family worry less about finances so they can focus on comforting one another during such a difficult time.