Companies in Louisiana are responsible for ensuring that their employees receive the proper training needed to safely use all equipment, including any large commercial vehicles that workers are required to drive in the course of their employment. When an employee is involved in an accident while driving one of the company’s commercial vehicles, one of the questions that will need answering is whether the driver received the proper training. In fact, this is one of the questions presented in a lawsuit filed by the victim of a cement truck accident.
Documents reveal that, on Oct. 24, 2014, the victim was traveling on Jefferson Davis Parkway in the southern part of Louisiana. Allegedly, the driver of a cement truck broadsided the plaintiff’s vehicle. The driver of the truck reportedly failed to maintain control of the vehicle. The accident occurred when the truck failed to remain in its lane. The lawsuit alleges that the driver’s employer did not provide the proper training needed to safely maneuver the cement truck on the state’s roadways.
The victim suffered injuries serious enough to require a surgical procedure. It is claimed that the victim suffered permanent injury and is disfigured as a result. Further, the injured driver sustained — and may continue to sustain — medical expenses, lost wages and a diminished earning capacity, among other damages. The court will be responsible for determining whether damages should be awarded to the plaintiff.
First, however, the court will ascertain whether the truck driver was negligent and caused or contributed to the injuries suffered by the plaintiff in this cement truck accident. A determination will also need to be made regarding whether the employer provided the driver with the appropriate training, as is alleged in the pleadings — even though an employer can be held liable for the actions of its employees without being negligent itself. If negligence is successfully established, the driver and the company by which the driver was employed may both be held liable for any damages awarded to the victim.
Medical Expenses
Lawsuit Filed After Car Wreck Involving Louisiana Deputy Sherriff
State, local and parish law enforcement officials are all required to follow the traffic laws just as anyone else on the road, with notable exceptions, during the course of their duties. Officers who fail to obey the same rules of the road as other drivers can become involved in accidents. A Louisiana woman recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against a deputy sheriff and the department he works for, claiming that he caused the car wreck in which she was injured.
The details regarding the crash were not reported except to say that the deputy sheriff’s cruiser collided with the woman’s vehicle. According to the woman, she suffered injuries to her neck and back, among other injuries. She accuses the deputy of failing to maintain control of his vehicle, to properly brake and to yield the right-of-way to her.
She is seeking damages for the medical expenses she incurred and the wages she lost and/or is losing during her recovery. In addition, she is asking the court for damages relating to her pain and suffering, mental anguish and for emotional trauma. It will be up to a Louisiana court to determine whether she should receive an award of all or some of the damages requested in her lawsuit.
Should the court determine that the deputy was negligent and caused the injuries suffered by the woman, an award will be considered by the court. Even though the deputy was the driver involved in the car wreck, if it is shown that it occurred during the performance of his duties, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office may also be held liable for damages incurred. A judgment will then be entered against the party or parties deemed responsible.
Parents File Suit After Daughters Injured in Car Wreck
Two teenage girls went for a ride with a friend back on Aug. 15 of this year. At some point, the trip went horribly wrong, and the three were involved in a car wreck. The girls suffered numerous injuries according to the court documents recently filed in a Louisiana court by each of their parents.
Reportedly, as the three headed down the street, the man behind the wheel of the vehicle began driving erratically. His actions were serious enough for the girls to ask him to stop, but he supposedly refused. He told them he had everything under control, but that proved to be incorrect.
The driver lost control of the vehicle and slammed head-on into a tree. It is claimed that after the crash, the driver left the injured girls at the scene with the wreckage and fled. Police say he filed a false report that the vehicle involved in the accident was stolen, supposedly to intimate that he was not behind the wheel when the crash occurred. Police ultimately arrested him for filing a false report.
Each of the parents contends that his or her daughter suffered injuries to the head, back and knees in the car wreck. It is alleged that these injuries have caused the girls and their families to incur significant damages. In order for the Louisiana court to consider an award for damages such as medical expenses, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life, each family must first provide the court with evidence that proves the driver’s negligence caused or materially contributed to the accident and injuries that resulted.
Cause of Motorcycle Vs. Auto Accident Still Under Investigation
One of the most dangerous maneuvers any driver faces on an Interstate is merging with traffic. If a driver does not properly time the entrance onto the highway, the consequences could be disastrous. Over the years, many Louisiana auto accident victims suffered serious injury or death during such a collision.
Police in northern Louisiana recently responded to a collision between a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle at the interchange between Interstate 20 and Interstate 49. The southbound motorcycle was in the process of merging from Interstate 20 onto Interstate 49 when it somehow struck the back of the passenger car. The collision threw the driver and passenger of the motorcycle onto the roadway.
Both the motorcycle driver and his passenger suffered significant injuries. When officers with the Shreveport Police Department arrived, they discovered that the 50-year-old driver was deceased. His passenger, also 50, was still alive and is currently in an area hospital in critical condition. She has a different last name that the motorcycle driver, though no further details were divulged.
The driver of the passenger car did not suffer any injuries in the crash. A blood sample was taken from the 47-year-old woman to determine whether she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time. The accident is still under investigation since the cause of the wreck was not readily discernible from the scene.
As the official investigation continues, the Louisiana woman seriously injured in this motorcycle vs. auto accident is undoubtedly incurring considerable medical expenses and may be sustaining a substantial loss of income. The monetary damages she is incurring could only increase as she struggles to recover from her injuries. Fortunately, she retains the right to file a personal injury claim against the party or parties deemed responsible for her injuries. A successful claim could result in an award of financial damages that may help alleviate the economic burdens she faces.
Whereabouts of Driver in Hit-and-Run Car Wreck Still Unknown
By simply walking anywhere near asphalt, a pedestrian is put into danger. Regardless of how diligent a pedestrian is as he or she attempts to keep out of harm’s way, accidents will happen. If a pedestrian vs. car wreck does occur, the driver is bound by Louisiana law to remain at the scene. Unfortunately, some people decide to drive away and leave the victims to fend for themselves, which can sometimes lead to the death of a pedestrian.
Recently, a pedestrian was struck on Louisiana’s Ole Highway 15. The driver did not stay at the scene, and police are searching for the vehicle and its driver. The vehicle is an extended cab pickup truck believed to be manufactured around the year 2000 by General Motors. The color of the vehicle is believed to be either gold or tan.
It may also be missing the mirror on the passenger side of the vehicle, as a mirror was found at the scene. The pickup would also have sustained damage to its front quarter panel on the passenger’s side. A handicap placard was seen in the rear view mirror of the vehicle and it has a handicap license plate. The driver may be around the age of 65 with white hair and a white beard.
The extent of the injuries suffered by the pedestrian were not reported. Depending on how badly the pedestrian was hurt in this car wreck, he or she may take a significant amount of time to recover — if a full recovery is even possible. Injuries do not have to be life-threatening to cause serious and permanent damage to an individual. Medical expenses and lost wages can quickly become a burden. Filing a personal injury claim against the driver once he is found could help alleviate that burden, if the pedestrian prevails in proving negligence on the part of the driver.
Police Find Car Involved in Louisiana Hit-And-Run Auto Accident
A bicycle rider was run down and left for dead by the driver of the vehicle that hit her. Police knew they were looking for a 2013 Toyota Camry thanks to a witness. The vehicle was located in the parking lot of a Louisiana hotel, just days after the hit-and-run auto accident.
At approximately 12:45 a.m., on Oct. 7, the 34-year-old bicycle rider was struck by the Toyota. The preliminary investigation suggests that the driver of the vehicle ran a red light prior to hitting the cyclist. According to a witness, the man driving the Camry initially stopped and got out of the vehicle, but then left the scene shortly thereafter. The witness was able to get photographs of both the vehicle and the driver before he fled.
The bicycle rider survived the accident and was taken to an area hospital. She is said to be in stable condition at this time. The nature and extent of her injuries is not known, however.
The vehicle is reportedly registered to a 77-year-old woman who lives in Oregon. She does not appear to be involved in this incident. Police are still attempting to locate the man from the witness photographs, who is believed to have been driving the car at the time of the accident. Law enforcement officials are seeking any information regarding the man’s whereabouts.
When he is found, not only is it likely that he will face criminal charges, but the injured woman may file a personal injury claim against him as well. Under Louisiana law, she may be able to recover damages associated with this auto accident, such as pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages. The official report and witness statements in this case may be used by the woman as evidence of the driver’s negligence, which must be proved for her to recover any damages.