When a tragedy occurs in a small city, it tends to touch the lives of a large number of its residents. Under these circumstances, the community often pulls together to help each other, the victims and their families through their grief. This is what is reportedly happening in a small Louisiana city after one teen was lost and three others were injured in a fatal car accident.
Four local students — two age 17, one age 12 and one age 16 — were traveling east on a roadway in the area near a school when the driver lost control of the vehicle. It then careened off the roadway and slammed into an embankment, which caused the vehicle to roll and crash into a tree. The 16-year-old, who was a passenger, died because of the injuries he suffered in the impact. The other three teens survived, but suffered a variety of moderate injuries, including broken bones and lacerations. Authorities report that their injuries were not life threatening.
When word of the crash spread, one student left the school and ran to the scene. Other students waited until the bell rang, and rushed to the Shreveport hospital where the three injured victims were taken. At last report, officials were still conducting the investigation into the accident to determine exactly what happened.
As hard as this tragic fatal car accident is on the community at large, the families of the victims are undoubtedly suffering even more. For the family of the deceased passenger and the injured juveniles, expenses are also mounting with each passing day. They retain the right to file civil actions against in a Louisiana court in an attempt to receive restitution for those financial losses. Successfully establishing negligence on the part of the driver could lead to an award of damages that could help defray these unexpected losses.
Investigation
Fatal Car Accident on U.S. Hwy 171 Takes 3 Lives
Nearly everyone in Louisiana knows that consuming alcohol can affect the decisions people make. The first mistake that many intoxicated individuals often make is getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, which can lead to a serious or fatal car accident. Some alcohol-related crashes occur because an impaired driver is unaware that he or she is traveling down the wrong side of a highway.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police believe the driver of a vehicle traveling the wrong way on U.S. Highway 171 recently was impaired at the time of a crash. The vehicle was heading south on the northbound side of the highway, which is divided. A vehicle traveling northbound was unfortunate enough to be in the path of the wrong-way driver.
The two vehicles collided head-on. The driver and passenger in the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction both suffered lethal injuries to which they succumbed at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle also perished and was declared deceased at the scene of the accident as well.
It could take some time for authorities to confirm whether impairment was a factor in this fatal car accident, as is suspected. In the meantime, the families of the passenger and second driver are not required to await the conclusion of the official investigation before filing wrongful death claims against the estate of the wrong-way driver. As long as they have enough evidence to demonstrate negligence, the court may consider an award of damages permissible under state law.
Fatal Pedestrian Accident Mars Family's Thanksgiving
A tragedy on Thanksgiving day has most likely changed how one Louisiana family will view the holiday forever. A fatal pedestrian accident took the life of a woman that day. Police are still searching for the vehicle and driver responsible.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police say that it was approximately 2 a.m. when a friend dropped the woman off in front of her home. It was then that a vehicle that failed to remain at the scene struck her. Her mother reportedly believes the woman was hit more than once. Emergency responders transported her to an area hospital. Sadly, her injuries were too severe, and medical personnel were unable to save her life.
The next day, troopers returned to the scene to see if they could find any evidence there and talk to residents who might be able to provide clues to the vehicle that had struck and killed the mother of two little girls. Her death has rekindled a concern that something needs to be done about the traffic in this particular neighborhood. A resident reported that speeding cars are a problem for the area. Authorities are awaiting the results of a toxicology sample taken from the woman as part of their investigation. No information was provided as to whether the woman was struck by more than one vehicle, or if any evidence that could lead to the vehicle and its driver was found.
While her family waits for police to locate the negligent party or parties found to be responsible for this fatal pedestrian accident, they must bury their loved one. Once the responsible is found, her family may file a wrongful death claim, seeking damages permitted by state law. If they prevail in proving negligence, any monetary restitution received could help provide for the two girls the victim left behind.
Speed Most Likely A Factor in Fatal Car Accident on Louisiana 24
When vehicles move at high rates of speed, how they will respond depends largely on the driver. If a Louisiana driver is unable to adequately control the vehicle, he or she could easily lose control. The result might be a serious or fatal car accident.
The Louisiana State Police believe that speed was a contributing factor in a crash on LA 24 recently. The driver was heading north on the highway. As the driver attempted to traverse an S-curve, he lost control of the vehicle. It flipped into the oncoming lane where it was struck by another pickup truck occupied by the driver and a passenger.
Authorities reported that a fire broke out following the crash. All three of the people involved — the 19-year-old driver of the first vehicle, the 30-year-old driver of the second vehicle and the 54-year-old passenger in the second vehicle — suffered fatal injuries at the scene. The damage the fire caused to the vehicles did not allow troopers to ascertain whether the occupants were properly restrained at the time of the crash. Toxicology samples were obtained as part of the ongoing investigation.
As the investigation progresses, the victims’ families may exercise their right to file wrongful death claims against the driver of the first pickup truck. If the claims are successful in establishing negligence, the court may consider an award of damages typically sought after a fatal car accident such as this tragedy. If any monetary restitution is awarded, it could help with the financial losses sustained by the families.
Neighbors Restrain Driver for Police After Fatal Accident
Three Louisiana teenagers were on their way to school recently when a pickup truck ran them down. Two of them died and one suffered serious injuries. Reports indicate that video footage shot right after the fatal accident may confirm the identity of the driver believed to have been responsible.
The footage shows a man on the ground in the ditch where the pickup truck struck the three teenage girls came to rest. The man in the video repeatedly denies being the driver, but witnesses at the scene say they did not see anyone else in or around the truck at the time of the accident. He also appears to be confused and disoriented.
Apparently, he attempted to walk away from the scene despite the fact that police ordered him to come back. According to witnesses, people in the neighborhood grabbed the man and forcibly restrained him until police arrived. Authorities have released no further details regarding the investigation.
The two girls that died were 14 and 15 years of age. The other girl — who was still hospitalized at last report — is only 13. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the crash and believe the driver may have been impaired. Toxicology samples were taken to determine whether the man had any alcohol or drugs in his system.
While the investigation into the fatal accident continues, the families of the two deceased girls and the family of the injured victim may file civil claims against the driver. If their claims are successful, a Louisiana court may award damages commonly seen in these types of tragedies. Of course, no amount of financial restitution could bring these girls back to their families or heal the injuries suffered by the third.
Did Speed and Bad Weather Cause Fatal Car Accident?
Most Louisiana drivers know that inclement weather can change the way a car reacts while driving. For this reason, most people obey the speed limit or even slow down in order to avoid losing control of their vehicle. Otherwise, a driver could inadvertently cause a serious or fatal car accident.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police believe that a driver failed to take the weather and the condition of the road into consideration as he traveled west on Interstate 10 around 8:30 a.m. on a recent Friday. At some point, he lost control of the vehicle, which careened off the roadway and slammed into a tree. Neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a seat belt.
Both the 21-year-old driver and his 20-year-old passenger suffered fatal injuries in the crash. By the time emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they were both deceased. The Louisiana State Police do not believe that the driver was impaired, but that has not yet been confirmed. Other than the fact that they believe the driver was speeding, troopers were not able to provide any further details regarding the cause of the crash at this time.
If the investigation proves that the driver was going too fast for the road conditions at the time of this fatal car accident, that information may help the passenger’s family prove negligence on the part of the driver. When an individual is killed due to the negligence of another, his or her family may file a wrongful death claim seeking damages from the party or parties deemed responsible for his or her death. If they are successful in doing so, the court may consider an award of damages allowable under state laws.