Every Louisiana driver is responsible for the people who entrust their lives to him or her when they get into that person’s car. When a driver fails to obey the traffic laws or be mindful of the flow of traffic or other obstacles, the duty of care required of the driver may be breached. If a car wreck is the result, passengers can easily be injured or killed.
On a recent Sunday evening, an 86-year-old man was driving himself and two passengers, a 53-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman. As the driver attempted to turn out of a private driveway onto U.S. 165, he failed to yield to a charter bus heading south. The bus driver was not able to avoid colliding with the car.
The driver of the bus reportedly suffered no injuries as a result of the crash. However, all three of the car’s occupants required medical attention. The passengers are said to have suffered moderate injuries, but any further information on their current conditions was not reported. The driver suffered serious injuries, and despite the efforts of medical personnel, he died.
The two passengers could be facing a lengthy recovery depending on the nature and extent of their injuries. From the time they were taken to the hospital after the car wreck, they probably began incurring medical bills and possibly a loss of income, and those losses may continue until they are fully recovered. Both women are entitled to file personal injury claims against the estate of the driver, seeking damages such as medical costs, lost wages and any other damages allowed under Louisiana law.
car wreck
Louisiana Man Injured in Car Wreck Last August Finally Goes Home
It has been 11 long months since a former volunteer fire chief from Louisiana was seriously injured. After a car wreck last August that left him with several broken bones, he spent months in the hospital and a rehabilitation center before it was determined he was strong enough to undergo a hip replacement. The driver of the vehicle that slammed into his SUV was an on-duty sheriff’s deputy who died in the crash.
On that day, the deputy was in route to a call at a high rate of speed when a vehicle pulled out in front of him. The officer clipped that vehicle, but ended up in the opposing lane of traffic, where he hit the victim’s SUV head-on. The impact was hard enough that the sheriff’s patrol car pushed the SUV no less than 33 feet before both vehicles finally stopped moving.
Officials believe that the St. Charles Parish deputy was at fault for the collision. The Louisiana State Police concluded that he was driving recklessly and too fast, in violation of laws meant to curtail law enforcement officials from endangering the public as they respond to calls. It was also determined that the deputy failed to turn on his emergency lights until just under one second — .88 seconds — before impact.
Even though the victim was finally able to go home recently, he still has a long recovery ahead of him. Undoubtedly, he has incurred a considerable amount of medical bills and other costs that may place a significant financial burden on him and his family. He has filed a lawsuit against the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, seeking damages incurred because of the car wreck. At last report, that lawsuit was ongoing.
Louisiana Car Wreck Claims 5 of the 6 Lives Involved
Only two people survived the impact of the two vehicles involved in a recent accident on LA 13, and one of those two died later at the hospital. Unfortunately, neither that individual nor the lone survivor — who was in the other vehicle involved — can assist law enforcement officials in Louisiana with the question of what caused the driver of the vehicle responsible for the car wreck to veer out of control. If the authorities are not able to find the answer through other means, the families of the victims may never know why their loved ones died.
Authorities are hoping that toxicology samples sent to the crime lab of the Louisiana State Police can shed some light on the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that, for some reason, the driver of a car crossed the median into oncoming traffic and slammed into an oncoming SUV. That driver and two of the passengers in the car suffered fatal injuries in the impact and died at the scene.
The third passenger survived the crash and was actually able to provide emergency responders with the an emergency contact. Unfortunately, he was unable to answer any questions regarding the cause of the accident at that time, and he did not survive long enough at the hospital to be interviewed. The driver of the second vehicle suffered moderate injuries, though a passenger in that vehicle also died in the crash.
Even without knowing what specifically led to the car wreck, the families of the victims and the surviving driver retain the right to file civil actions against the estate of the deceased car driver. If it is confirmed that the driver breached the center line of the roadway, his estate could be held liable for any monetary damages arising from the tragedy. Any restitution awarded in a successfully litigated claim could help the families and the injured driver defray the costs incurred as a result of this tragedy. Of course, no amount of money can bring back the loved ones lost, but it may relieve the financial stress that often serves as a constant reminder of what happened.
Police Still Searching for Driver in Hit-And-Run Car Wreck
Finding out that a loved one has been involved in an accident is frightening, but that fear can quickly turn into anger if the person responsible failed to stay at the scene and help the victim. A recent accident in Louisiana’s Big Easy has left police searching for the vehicle and the driver responsible. The vehicle responsible for the pedestrian vs. car wreck is believed to be a gray 2002 Toyota compact or perhaps an SUV with four doors.
Police report that the victim’s car was parked. The driver’s side door of his vehicle was open and the 43-year-old man was standing inside it. That is when the unidentified vehicle slammed into him and his truck. That was bad enough, but when the suspect vehicle drove off, it dragged the man with it.
The vehicle dragged the victim approximately 100 feet. The injuries to his limbs, torso and head were severe. His current condition is unknown. New Orleans police do have the front license plate of the vehicle, which appears to be registered in Texas. Reportedly, the vehicle will also have damage across the front passenger side.
Hopefully, the police will locate the vehicle and its driver soon. They are usually successful in doing so. As the victim struggles to recover from the injuries he suffered in the car wreck, medical bills and lost wages add up quickly. This could put substantial financial strain on the victim and his family, in addition to the trauma he has already suffered. Presenting a persuasive personal injury claim before a Louisiana court against the party deemed responsible could result in an award of damages that may help with the financial burdens this horrible incident has produced.
Louisiana State Police Investigate Deadly Car Wreck
Even experienced drivers in Louisiana need to pay attention to the road in order to minimize the possibility of causing an accident. When a driver fails to have complete control of the vehicle he or she is driving, a car wreck can occur. Young drivers in particular often lack the experience required to maintain control of a vehicle if they do not give the task 100 percent of their attention.
Louisiana State Police troopers are still investigating what caused a 16-year-old to lose control of his vehicle recently. As he headed north on a Louisiana road, he somehow ended up veering into the southbound lane directly into the path of another vehicle. The resulting head-on collision took the life of the southbound driver.
The teenage driver managed to escape the crash with only minor injuries. However, he could end up facing charges in connection with the death of the other driver, depending on the outcome of the Louisiana State Police investigation into the deadly incident. So far, authorities cited him with driving left of center, but that could change as the investigation progresses.
In the meantime, the family of the 34-year-old driver of the SUV the teen hit is forced to prematurely bury their loved one. As time goes on, the financial impact of his death may only add to the burdens placed on his family because of his untimely demise. Under state law, the family may file a wrongful death claim against the teen and the owner of the vehicle he was driving in an attempt to receive monetary restitution for those financial losses. An award for damages in a successfully litigated civil claim will not bring back their loved one or stem their grief, but it could reduce the stress placed on the family because of the car wreck.
Witness to Deadly Car Wreck Sought by Louisiana State Police
The Louisiana State Police are investigating a head-on collision that occurred on Nov. 27. As part of that investigation, troopers are searching for a woman believed to have witnessed the deadly car wreck. Bystanders at the scene told troopers that the woman made statements to them that could be of interest to police.
Troopers fear that the woman does not live in Louisiana. They hope she shared her observations with someone before departing the area, if she left. Reportedly, the woman was behind one of the two vehicles involved in the crash when it occurred. She stopped for a brief time after the accident, then left the area before the authorities arrived.
Apparently, one of the vehicles involved in the crash drifted into oncoming traffic into the path of the vehicle ahead of the woman troopers are seeking. The drivers of both vehicles suffered serious injuries and were transported to hospitals. The driver of the vehicle in front of the witness succumbed to her injuries despite the efforts of medical personnel. The driver believed to have caused the crash remains in the hospital.
As the investigation into this fatal car wreck continues, the family of the victim may also be interested in whether the unknown witness can shed light on the crash. Bystanders say she made statements regarding the accident’s cause. Those facts could affect any conclusions authorities reach and may also play a vital part in any civil litigation that results from the tragedy. Eyewitness testimony can be valuable in both civil and criminal litigation. If the family files a wrongful death claim, it may help their claim if the woman testifies regarding what she saw that day.