Any driver in Louisiana who has been involved in an accident or had a close call knows how important it is to pay attention to one’s surroundings and exercise patience while driving. It can be easy to become frustrated with traffic or to become distracted. The problem is that a few seconds of distraction or impatience can lead to a car wreck, resulting in the injury or death of innocent people.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police Have not yet said whether impatience, distraction or some other factor led to a recent accident in which a motorcyclist was killed. It was reported, however, that there is no reason to believe that impairment was a factor. The crash occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on a Thursday.
The car involved was stopped at an intersection, preparing to turn. As the 23-year-old driver entered the intersection and began her turn, she did so directly into the path of a motorcycle that reportedly had the right of way. The motorcycle rider was unable to avoid crashing into the side of the woman’s car. The 22-year-old man was thrown off his motorcycle and later died at University Hospital in New Orleans from the injuries he suffered in the crash.
What charges, if any, the woman may face in connection with the car wreck remains to be seen. The family of the motorcycle rider does not have to wait for that determination to be made and may exercise their right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver of the car. A Louisiana court may determine from evidence presented in such a claim that the woman’s negligence caused or contributed to the victim’s death. If that is the case, then the deceased victim’s family may receive an award of damages that could help alleviate much of the financial impact concerning the tragedy.
Car Accidents
Spinal Cord Damage From a Car Wreck is Often Irreversible
Spinal cord injuries can vary in severity, from a fractured vertebra to quadriplegia (paralysis of both the arms and legs). Bones, muscles and ligaments may heal, but the damage done to the spinal cord is often irreversible. Even relatively mild injuries can leave the sufferer with chronic pain that requires lifelong medical care and adjustments to daily life. If you were injured in a car wreck here in Louisiana that was caused by the negligence of another, you may be able to receive a monetary judgment to cover the financial impact that the injury had on your life.
Before any damages will be awarded by a Louisiana court, however, it will be necessary to establish a causal connection between the car wreck and the spinal cord injury. An attorney will work with doctors, accident reconstruction experts and others to make that connection and prove that the other party was responsible for your injuries. It will also be necessary to illustrate to the court how the injury has affected your life and livelihood.
Depending on the severity of your spinal cord injury, you may no longer be able to work in your chosen vocation. It may be difficult to play with your children, ride a bike or perform any other ordinary task. The inability to enjoy your life as you did prior to the accident may be the most frustrating part of the accident’s aftermath.
Many attorneys may be able to handle your case, but it is important that you find one with whom you feel comfortable and one who you believe will be an aggressive advocate on your behalf. Suffering a spinal cord injury in a car wreck can turn your life upside down. Filing a personal injury claim may not get you back on your feet physically, but a successfully litigated claim can get you back on your feet financially.
Some Stretches of Road See More Car Accidents Than Others
Many roads and intersections in Louisiana are not well designed and can pose a danger to motorists. In fact, some stretches of road see more car accidents than others. People suffer serious or fatal injuries in these areas on a consistent basis, at least according to local residents.
In one such area, an accident recently occurred at approximately 8:17 a.m. on a Wednesday. A commercial truck and a passenger car collided. Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I were not able to confirm how the crash happened.
Locals in the area near Mahogany Driver and Louisiana 749, which is in St. Landry Parish, say that the stretch of road where the vehicles crashed sees more than its share of accidents. The curve there is not deep, but very little shoulder makes that stretch of road unforgiving if a driver makes a mistake. One resident in particular has lived in the area since 1972 and told reporters that many people, including a child and a state trooper, perished on the road.
In this most recent accident, one person died and two other people suffered what were only described as serious injuries. No further details regarding their identities or current conditions were provided at the time of this writing. Until authorities determine which driver was at fault, all of the parties involved, including the family of the deceased individual, would benefit from understanding their rights and responsibilities. As is the case with other car accidents, the party determined to be at fault could be found negligent by a Louisiana court, in which case the party or parties could end up owing damages to the victims.
Over 25 Percent of Car Accidents Involve Excessive Speed
Nearly every Louisiana resident drives over the speed limit once in a while. Unfortunately, excessive speed is a factor in at least one out of every four car accidents in the state, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Other factors — such as impairment or distracted driving — may vary, but speed is regularly cited as a cause as well.
Many local law enforcement agencies here in Louisiana believe that the number of fatal accidents involving speed is actually higher. This is in part because, without speed, the force necessary to cause a fatality does not ordinarily exist. The faster a vehicle is traveling at impact, the more likely it is that one or more people involved will perish.
Admittedly, freak accidents can occur that are not easily explainable by the usual factors such as speed. Nevertheless, a lieutenant with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Department’s traffic unit noted that fatal accidents are more often the result of a driver who is distracted, impaired and/or speeding. The victims who are unfortunate enough to come across these drivers often pay the price for the poor decisions made by those drivers.
When families lose loved ones in these types of car accidents, they retain the right to file wrongful death claims seeking restitution for financial losses. As part of these civil actions, it is necessary to prove that the party or parties sued were negligent in a manner that caused or contributed to the accident before the court will consider any request for damages. Evidence of speeding, impairment and/or distracted driving can help establish fault. Any monetary judgments awarded may help the families of the victims overcome the financial impact occasioned by the death of their loved ones.
Lawsuit Filed After Forklife Vs Auto Accident
Car accidents can occur nearly anywhere — highways, city streets and even on the property of businesses. It may seem improbable that a serious accident could occur on a store’s property, but it does happen. A Louisiana man claims that he was seriously injured at a Louisiana U-Haul store by one of its employees in a forklift vs. auto accident.
According to documents filed in Louisiana’s 24th Judicial District Court, the man was in his vehicle at the U-Haul location on Sept. 30, 2014. One of the location’s employees was operating a forklift at the same time. The forklift rammed into the back of the man’s vehicle, which caused the victim to suffer head and neck injuries that have proved to be debilitating.
The forklift driver is accused of being reckless and creating an unnecessary hazard by driving too fast. The U-Haul employee is also accused of failing to prevent the collision and warn the victim of the impending crash. The man further claims that the driver’s negligence caused his disability and disfigurement. He claims to have suffered emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. He suffered financial losses due to medical expenses and lost income.
It will be up to the court to determine whether the forklift driver was negligent in this auto accident, based upon the evidence presented. If the court rules that he was, then it will adjudicate the victim’s claims for specific items of damages. The driver’s employer may also face claims for any damages since the accident apparently occurred during the performance of his duties.
Car Accidents Continue to Rise in the Lake Charles Area
The fact that the population of the Lake Charles area is increasing would most likely not be a surprise to longtime residents of the area. With that rise in population, however, comes a rise in car accidents. A large number of the 4,000 traffic collisions in 2014 were on or in the vicinity of Interstate 210.
In the areas around the interstate where the bulk of the crashes occurred, a lack of traffic lights may make it easier for drivers to speed. A significant number of crashes also occur at intersections. Drivers are either going too fast or too slow, and the mixture can easily lead to an accident.
A Lake Charles resident who travels Interstate 210 nearly every day says that drivers fail to adjust to the weather and road conditions. People will drive at high speeds during bad weather and slow down when the roads are clear. Law enforcement officials are urging drivers to be patient now that they are not able to navigate through town as quickly as they used to before the town grew. Impatience causes accidents — some of them serious or deadly. As for 2015, accidents have already surpassed last year at this time by 12 percent.
People who suffer serious injuries or lose a loved one in an accident may file either personal injury or wrongful death suits in Louisiana’s civil courts. If the other driver’s negligence led to serious or fatal injuries, the court may order damages that are often awarded in car accidents to be paid to the victim or a deceased victim’s family. Receipt of monetary restitution could defray the expenses and other damages sustained because of the accident.