Three people died in two car crashes in one day in St. Landry Parish.
The first wreck occurred in the overnight hours on Interstate 49 outside of Opelousas. Authorities state that 34-year-old Josie Robertson was northbound when she crossed over to the southbound side and struck 24-year-old Tyler Compton nearly head-on. Ms. Robertson was pronounced dead at the scene; Ms. Compton was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, but doctors couldn’t save her. Neither woman was wearing a seat belt.
The next fatal crash occurred several hours later near the intersection of State Highway 93 and Roy Road in rural St. Landry Parish. Aaron Guidry was apparently walking in the middle of southbound SH 93 while wearing a light-colored top and black shorts. A motorist, whose name was not released, hit him and killed him. [Read more…] about Deadly Day On Lafayette-Area Roads
Medical Expenses
Regional Athlete Wins Olympic Gold
Houston native Simone Manuel now shares the world record for the fastest time in the 100-meter freestyle, and she is also the first black American athlete to win a gold medal in any swimming or diving event.
Her victory roughly coincides with the release of a university study which concludes that 70 percent of black children cannot swim. Furthermore, black children between ages 11 and 12 suffer from an accidental swimming pool drowning rate that’s ten times greater than white children of a similar age. To explain the discrepancy, some scholars blame the residual effects of racial segregation. Many municipal pools were not legally integrated until the 1960s or 1970s, and informal discrimination remained at some locations for decades afterwards. As a result, swimming was not part of the black experience for many children who grew up in the latter part of the 20th century, and some parents may pass their preferences onto their children. [Read more…] about Regional Athlete Wins Olympic Gold
Bankruptcy Court Confiscates Personal Injury Settlement
A federal judge recently ruled that people in bankruptcy cannot receive any personal injury settlement money until their creditors are paid in full.
Three years after his Chapter 13 creditor repayment plan was confirmed, Clyde Wilson sustained serious injuries in a car crash and received a $197,000 settlement. In determining that the money belonged to the bankruptcy trustee for the benefit of the creditors and not Mr. Wilson personally, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Kolwe, in the Western District of Louisiana, applied the “estate-replenishment test” and ordered Mr. Wilson to turn over the money. [Read more…] about Bankruptcy Court Confiscates Personal Injury Settlement
State Senator Faces Multiple Assault Charges
Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Camille Buras refused to raise the bail of a state senator who may be suffering from the lingering effects of a brain injury.
Prosecutors wanted to increase 44-year-old Troy Brown’s bail from $5,000 to $25,000 as he awaits trial on charges stemming from a November fight with a woman characterized as Senator Brown’s “side friend.” Eight months later, authorities arrested Senator Brown again, this time after he allegedly bit his wife’s forearm during an argument. He says he is “not able to recall” the details of either incident, because of memory loss issues that began when he sustained a head injury in 1991.
Louisiana Senate President John Alario (R-Westwego) said that the chamber would remove Senator Brown (D-Ascension) from all his current committee assignments; Senator Alario also suggested that Senator Brown consider resigning.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Even though over 1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI every year, these injures are frequently misdiagnosed, and as a result, often not properly treated. Many TBIs occur in motor vehicle crashes, and the disorientation and nausea/vomiting that are frequently associated with brain injuries are often dismissed as shock from the car crash. Often, victims only seek treatment for TBIs when their symptoms persist for several days and they develop new ones, like headaches, memory loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and moodswings or personality changes. In time, victims eventually develop dementia-like symptoms and even die.
Motor vehicle crashes cause so many TBIs because when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop, people and objects inside the car keep moving at the same speed. It’s like being in a roller coaster: when the roller coaster suddenly swerves, the occupants keep going forward for a fraction of a second. That effect is multiplied at freeway speeds.
Crash-related TBIs, and all other brain injuries, require prompt diagnosis, aggressive medical treatment, and extended physical therapy, so victims are often entitled to significant compensation. This compensation includes money for economic damages, like medical bills, and noneconomic damages, like loss of consortium (companionship and contribution to household management).
TBIs often have life-altering consequences for victims, as well as their families and friends. For a free consultation with a diligent personal injury lawyer in Lake Charles, contact Hoffhoss Devall. Our attorneys are licensed in both Texas and Louisiana.
In Louisiana, 'Stop' Means 'Stop'
A motorist who apparently either coasted through a stop sign, or failed to see it entirely, caused a severe car crash in Log Cabin.
According to officials in Morehouse Parish, 56-year-old Richard Lindeman Jr. of Bastrop, was westbound on Highway 140 when, for reasons that are still unclear, he failed to stop and yield the right-of-way at the U.S. Highway 425 intersection. He collided with 24-year-old Jessica Eppinette, of Bastrop, who was northbound on U.S. 425. [Read more…] about In Louisiana, 'Stop' Means 'Stop'
Driver in 2-auto Accident Files Lawsuit for Personal Injury
Here in Louisiana and around the country, a lot of attention is paid to driving under the influence and texting while driving. However, tired drivers can pose just as much danger to themselves and those around them. The more tired a driver is behind the wheel, the greater the likelihood that an auto accident could occur.
A man who was involved in a two-car accident in June 2014 claims that the driver of the other vehicle was fatigued when it occurred. Documents recently filed in a Louisiana federal court indicate that as the plaintiff headed west on U.S. 190, another vehicle made a right hand turn and slammed into his car. The victim was tossed around the cabin of his car, which caused him to suffer injuries.
The lawsuit claims that the other driver failed to pay attention to the traffic pattern before attempting to make the turn. Moreover, he failed to yield the right-of-way to the victim and made an improper turn across the lane of travel. The victim says that the injuries he suffered left him disabled. He has incurred, and most likely will continue to incur, medical expenses. He also lost income, at least some of his ability to enjoy and function in his day-to-day life.
These and other damages are allowable under state law. They may be awarded if it is proved that the injuries suffered were caused by the negligence of another. A monetary judgment could provide the restitution needed in order to alleviate at least some of the financial burdens that arise in the aftermath of an auto accident.