Many Louisiana drivers suddenly realize at the last second that they are about to miss their turn. Most of the time, a driver is able to make a quick maneuver to make the turn without incident. However, there are times when this could lead to a serious or fatal accident when the driver fails to ensure that the path is clear.
The driver of a pickup truck sought to make a left turn, but did so from the right lane. This might have only been considered a minor traffic infraction had it not been for the fact that the pickup driver failed to see that a motorcycle was coming up in the left lane. The motorcycle rider was not able to avoid colliding with the truck.
When the motorcycle hit the truck, its rider was thrown off it. He suffered fatal injuries to which he succumbed before emergency medical personnel could try to save him. No report was given as to whether the driver of the pickup suffered any injuries.
However, he did submit to a breath test. It was determined that he was not intoxicated at the time of the crash, but blood samples were sent for analysis as part of the ongoing investigation. No indication was given as to why the driver made the turn from the right lane.
As the family of the victim struggles to cope with his premature death, the are most likely incurring significant expenses related to his loss. His family has the right to file a wrongful death claim in connection with the fatal accident that took his life. If negligence on the part of the pickup truck driver is established to the satisfaction of the court, damages allowed under Louisiana law may be awarded.
Investigation
Fatal Accident Happens Outside Louisiana State Police Office
Louisiana State Police recently responded to a crash that took place just outside the station of Troop L. Troopers with that location made a point to mention that the impact of the fatal accident was loud enough to be heard in their office. Therefore, it may be of no surprise that two people lost their lives.
The accident took place on the northbound side of Highway 190 near Highway 22. Preliminary reports of the Louisiana State Police indicate that a vehicle in the southbound lanes of the highway somehow lost control and slammed into the side of another vehicle. That impact sent the out-of-control vehicle careening into the oncoming lanes on the north side of the highway.
It was then that the vehicle crashed head-on into a northbound car. The northbound car was hit so hard it actually left the ground and hit yet another vehicle. The drivers of both vehicles suffered fatal injuries. It is not known if anyone in the other two vehicles involved in this accident was injured.
Alcohol and drugs are not considered to be factors at this time. However, toxicology samples were taken as part of the investigation, which is ongoing. The Tammany Parish Coroner reported that the driver from the vehicle that crossed into oncoming traffic had a serious case of heart disease, which could have contributed to the crash.
Even if that driver had a cardiac event that led to the fatal accident, that does not preclude the family of the other deceased victim from filing a wrongful death claim against his estate. If the court is satisfied that the family proved that negligence on the part of the driver caused or contributed to the fatal wreck, an award for damages could be ordered. Any financial restitution received as a result could help the family with the inevitable financial expenses that typically accompany such horrific events.
Update: Driver Charged in Fatal Accident Involving Cyclists
We first brought you the story of two bicycle riders struck by a vehicle on April 14, 2014 (“Ironman training cut short by fatal accident for 2 Louisiana men”). The two men were out cycling that morning to train for the Ochsner Ironman triathlon. The driver of the vehicle that hit them has now been charged in connection with the fatal accident that caused the death of one of the bicycle riders and the injury of the other.
The cyclist who died was a firefighter in a neighboring state, and the injured driver was his brother-in-law. The impact caused both men to become airborne when they were struck. The force with which they were struck contradicts the driver’s story that he was only traveling between 40 and 45 mph at the time. He also told police that the two bicycle riders moved into his path.
Based on the results of their investigation, authorities charged the driver with negligent injuring and negligent homicide. The information gathered in the investigation and by the family of the deceased firefighter and his brother-in-law may be of use in any related civil litigation. Further, if prosecutors are able to secure a criminal conviction against the man, proof of that may be presented in civil court as evidence of the driver’s negligence.
If negligence can be proved, a Louisiana civil court may award damages to the parties that are permissible under our state laws. Those damages include items such as medical expenses, burial and funeral costs and pain and suffering — among other specified financial losses. Any monetary relief received could defray the inevitable costs associated with a fatal accident.
Family Loses 6-Year-Old in Fatal Accident Involving School Bus
The sight of children getting off school buses at the end of the day is a familiar one in many neighborhoods across Louisiana and the country during the school year. Many parents do not think twice about the possibility of one of the children being involved in a serious or fatal accident. Sadly, a 6-year-old boy died recently after getting off the bus with a group of children.
According to reports, the boy must have wandered from the group of children, but the driver claims she did not see him. As she attempted to make a turn, she somehow struck the boy. Emergency responders found the boy suffering from critical injuries and rushed him to an area hospital. Regrettably, the boy’s injuries were too severe for him to survive.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, the 59-year-old driver of the bus was taken to have a blood sample drawn to test for impairment. Police in Shreveport, which is where the accident took place, do not believe the driver was impaired. They are conducting the test in accordance with standard procedures regarding fatal accidents. Investigators are working to reconstruct the crash. Video from the school bus is also being reviewed.
Even if the investigation determines that this tragedy was nothing more than a horrific fatal accident, the surviving family of the Louisiana boy retains the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver and her employer. Any award of damages received after proving negligence before the court will never fill the now vacant spot in this family. However, it may help with the monetary losses the family sustained because of the family’s loss of this little boy.
Racing Commission Chairman Jeremy Meaux in Fatal Accident
Louisiana horse racing fans may recall that Jerry Meaux was the chairman of the state’s racing commission. The longtime horseman was appointed as chairman in 2008. He served in that capacity until recently when he was involved in a fatal accident.
As Meaux traveled on Louisiana Highway 342, another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction veered out of his lane and into Meaux’s lane. With no time to react, the two vehicles collided head-on. Meaux, age 74, suffered severe injuries and did not survive long enough to be taken to a hospital.
The 22-year-old driving the vehicle that hit Meaux’s pickup truck was taken into custody. He is currently charged with vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and failing to maintain his lane. The investigation is ongoing.
If it turns out that the driver was intoxicated, this case may serve as a reminder to others not to drink and drive. With all of the information available regarding the dangers of driving under the influence, people still often get behind the wheel of a car after they have consumed alcohol. Each year, drunk drivers kill thousands of people. Sadly, Meaux is now part of those statistics.
The wife he left behind may struggle with adjusting to life without her husband. Fortunately, it appears that she has plenty of family to rally around her in her time of grief. It will not bring her husband back, but she may exercise her right to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible driver. Proving his negligence could result in her receiving an award for the damages she incurred as a result of the fatal accident that left her a widow.
Louisiana State Police Say Passenger Lied About Fatal Accident
Back on Dec. 20 of last year, the Louisiana State Police responded to an accident involving a single vehicle occupied by three people. Troopers had their doubts about how the accident occurred, and they recently confirmed those doubts. One of the men that survived the accident claimed to be a passenger in the vehicle, but the authorities now believe that he was actually the driver in this fatal accident.
At first glance, it appeared that the 14-year-old occupant of the vehicle was driving when he lost control and caused the vehicle to roll. All three occupants were thrown out of the vehicle during the crash. The young teen died because of the injuries he suffered in the crash. The two alleged passengers, a 21-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, suffered moderate to serious injuries and were taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Further investigation into the incident revealed that the two survivors may have manipulated the scene and even removed evidence that would have told the real story behind the crash. Louisiana State Police troopers now believe that the older man was driving. They also believe that he was driving while impaired and — along with the help of the other survivor — attempted to cover up these facts by blaming the crash on the deceased teen. Authorities filed charges against the two men, reflecting these new facts.
It is unfortunate that the family of the young boy that lost his life in this crash had to spend time believing he had caused his own death and injured two others. Knowing the truth does not bring back the victim, but it may give the family some peace of mind. Further, the family may file a wrongful death claim seeking damages sustained because of this fatal accident. Any monetary award received will never make right what happened, but a successfully presented claim may help with the financial burdens that accompany such tragedies.