Lake Charles

Buckle Your Seat Belt In Texas And Louisiana

November 30, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

The Lone Star State and Bayou State share a dubious distinction, because according to an insurance company survey, they are the two most dangerous states in the Union, in terms of motor vehicle accidents.
Texas moved from fourth to first on the list, and it is the only state among the top fifteen in all five categories, including drunk driving, speeding, and fatalities per miles driven. In fact, there has been at least one motor vehicle accident fatality on a Texas roadway every day for the last 55,000-plus consecutive days, a period covering sixteen years. Here in Louisiana, failure to obey traffic signals and distracted driving are among the primary culprits, and the Bayou State also ranks near the top (or the bottom, depending on your perspective) in terms of fatalities per miles driven.
South Carolina, North Dakota, Delaware, New Mexico, Nevada, Alabama, Arizona and Montana are the other top-ten most dangerous states. [Read more…] about Buckle Your Seat Belt In Texas And Louisiana

Drug-Related Deadly Crash In Lake Charles

October 17, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

The impaired driver who caused a fatal car crash in Lake Charles may have been under the influence of a drug cocktail, according to authorities.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office states that 31-year-old Derrick Leone, of Sulphur, crossed the center line on North Perkins Ferry Road and smacked head-on into a 2011 Jeep. The driver – 71-year-old Valery Jordan, of Ragley – was airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries; she was pronounced dead on arrival. As deputies questioned Mr. Leone, they claimed he showed signs of impairment. A subsequent vehicle search turned up a bag of methamphetamines, three Xanax bars, and twenty-one Hydrocodone pills.
He was booked into jail on various impaired driving-related charges, including vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and possession of a controlled substance.
Impaired Driving
Drugged driving is one of the three kinds of impairment, according to the Global Road Safety Partnership. They are:

Alcohol: Studies consistently show that most drivers are dangerously impaired after only one drink.
Drugs: As may have been the case in the above story, drug-induced impairment can come from illegal street drugs or the unauthorized use of prescription drugs.
Fatigue: Driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .08 BAC, which is above the legal limit in Louisiana.

Although impairment comes from diverse sources, all three types of impaired driving have similar effects. Mental symptoms typically come first, as many tortfeasors (negligent drivers) who are sleep-deprived or have recently consumed intoxicating substances have difficulty concentrating and may also be less able to make sound judgments. Sensory impairment comes next, mainly because of bloodshot eyes that make it difficult to see, especially at night. After a few extra drinks, pills, or minutes, impaired tortfeasors suffer from physical impairment. Their reactions become dangerously slow and they typically also are hard-pressed to remain awake and conscious.
Any level of impairment, no matter how slight, is generally a breach of the duty of reasonable care. In these situations, victims are entitled to compensation for their economic damages, like lost wages, as well as their noneconomic damages, like loss of consortium (companionship). Punitive damages are also available, in many cases.
Impaired driving crashes cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced Lake Charles personal injury attorney, contact Hoffoss Devall. We routinely handle matters in both Louisiana and Texas.

Car Wreck in Lake Charles Kills 1, Leaves 1 in Critical Condition

October 10, 2012 by Lee Hoffoss

Being a passenger in a car imparts a lot of responsibility on the driver, since the passenger trusts that the driver will get them to their destination safely. Unfortunately, sometimes that trust is misplaced. Other times, even when the driver does everything right, there are still things that can go wrong. The passengers involved in a recent car wreck in Lake Charles may have misplaced their trust in the driver, although that possible conclusion may have to await the results of the pending investigation.
The accident occurred while a Dodge Caliber was following behind a tow truck around 4 a.m. on Interstate 10. The Dodge ended up rear-ending the tow truck. The driver of the tow truck was not injured, and the driver of the Dodge suffered only minor injuries. But the impact of the accident killed the frontseat passenger in the car and sent the backseat passenger to the hospital. The backseat passenger is listed in critical condition.
Authorities in Lake Charles are still investigating the accident. As part of that investigation, authorities obtained blood alcohol tests on both drivers, and those results are pending. Whether any charges will be filed as a result of the investigation remains to be seen.
In the meantime, two families have been turned upside down. One family must bury a loved one, and the other faces an uncertain future as their loved one fights to survive. When the dust settles and the official investigation is complete, the families may consider whether to file civil action against the party or parties deemed to be responsible in this tragic car wreck. Medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and other expenses associated with accidents have a way of adding up quickly. A wrongful death action or a personal injury claim won’t erase the events of that day, but a successful result may help those involved prevent a personal tragedy from becoming a financial one as well.

Lake Charles 6-Vehicle Accident Injures 9

June 13, 2012 by Lee Hoffoss

Car accidents plague rush hour traffic around the country, and Louisiana is no exception. On June 6, a motor vehicle accident involving six cars delayed traffic on Interstate 210. Authorities cleared the highway and got traffic moving again despite the number of injuries and vehicles involved.
Nine people were injured in this chain-reaction car wreck. The vehicles included three 18-wheelers and three passenger cars. All nine were taken to the hospital, though none of the injuries was initially considered life-threatening.
Authorities reported that traffic was at a standstill when five of the six vehicles came to a stop. The sixth vehicle failed to stop, starting the chain-reaction mayhem. When all was said and done, all six vehicles were involved in the wreck.
We often become so comfortable on our commute to work each day that our attention can easily wander while driving. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that traffic can change from moment to moment, and we always need to remain attentive while driving. Unfortunately, accidents like this do happen. People’s lives are interrupted, medical bills need to be paid and cars need to be repaired.
Determining which driver pays for what damages in a chain-reaction accident can be tricky. Anyone involved in a multiple-vehicle accident like this one may wish to make sure of their rights and responsibilities under Louisiana law. This may include a personal injury claim for medical bills and other damages suffered due to the negligence of other parties.
Luckily, no one involved in this motor vehicle accident in Lake Charles was fatally injured. Hopefully, everyone will be able to return to normal life as quickly as possible without any serious or lingering repercussions. As for liability, the Louisiana state courts may end up sorting that out in the absence of a property and injury settlement between the parties.