motor vehicle accidents

Fireball 18-Wheeler Wreck On I-20

October 28, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

A motorist was killed when she collided with a large truck on Interstate 20.
The truck wreck occurred near Kilgore. According to police and witnesses, 62-year-old Melvin Edwards, of Shreveport, was operating his 18-wheeler eastbound in the outside lane when 77-year-old Amando Vega, of Chicago, Ill., pulled from the improvised shoulder onto the outside lane very close to Mr. Edwards’ truck. Upon impact, Mr. Vega’s car hit the guardrail and then ping-ponged back into the outside lane, where it became wedged between the large truck’s cab and trailer. The entangled vehicles caught fire and eventually came to rest on the improvised shoulder.
Mr. Vega was declared dead at the scene; Mr. Edwards was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he is expected to survive his injuries. [Read more…] about Fireball 18-Wheeler Wreck On I-20

Survey: Drunk Drivers Abound On Area Roads

October 24, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

Lafayette ranked second on a list of the 100 cities with the most fatal alcohol-related crashes; Shreveport was no. 39, New Orleans was no. 40, and Lake Charles was no. 47.
Last year, eight of the thirteen fatal vehicle collisions in Lafayette were alcohol-related. That 61.5 percent mark was second only to Cape Coral, Florida (70 percent). Moreover, the per capita death rate in Lafayette (0.627) was more than twice as high as the rate in number three Providence, R.I.. Most of the cities on the list, like Lafayette, have populations under 200,000 and are not in urban areas. Study authors theorize that such communities have a higher number of impaired drivers, because of less-developed public transportation, as well as hospitals that are generally smaller and have fewer resources than the ones in big cities. [Read more…] about Survey: Drunk Drivers Abound On Area Roads

Three Tricks Insurance Companies Often Try

October 19, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

Although television commercials may imply otherwise, the insurance companies are not “on your side” if you suffer serious injuries in a vehicle collision. Since these firms make money by collecting premiums and not by paying claims, insurance companies will try almost anything to reduce or deny fair compensation to injury victims.
Since the facts are unclear in many vehicle collision cases, most insurance companies have a number of investigators and accident reconstruction engineers on staff who will dispute the victims’ version of events and cast their insured parties in the most favorable light possible. Yet even in those rare instances that the liability-related facts are relatively straightforward, the insurance company typically still has a few items in its bag of tricks.
No Seat Belt
Like almost all other states, Louisiana has a mandatory seat belt law. As a result, many victims assume that if they were not wearing seat belts, the insurance company can either have their cases thrown out of court or at least significantly reduce the amount of compensation they receive. But under Louisiana law, neither of those things are true. [Read more…] about Three Tricks Insurance Companies Often Try

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.

Prison Sentence Closes The Book On Area Police Chase

October 14, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

An area man was held accountable for his actions in a high-speed police chase that occurred in Lafayette last summer, but when are police officers held accountable for their conduct in similar situations?
U.S. District Judge Dee Drell sentenced 32-year-old Kevin Abshire, of Maurice, to 24 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm. In June 2015, Mr. Abshire passed very close to a Lafayette Police Department officer who was directing traffic after an accident. When officers ordered him to pull over, Mr. Abshire accelerated. Officers pursued him, and Mr. Abshire eventually crashed in the Ridge Road area. After subduing him, officers found a shotgun in Mr. Abshire’s vehicle which turned out to be unregistered.
He must serve three years of supervised release after he completes his two-year prison term. [Read more…] about Prison Sentence Closes The Book On Area Police Chase

Troopers Say Reckless Driving Leads to Fatal Accident on I-10

November 8, 2015 by Lee Hoffoss

The driver of an 18-wheeler died in a recent crash on westbound Interstate 10. The Louisiana State Police report that this fatal accident, which involved the pickup truck and two semi-trucks, was the result of reckless driving. The driver believed responsible fled the scene, but was recently located in a neighboring state.
The 26-year-old truck driver that died was traveling west on I-10, next to another semi-truck. A pickup truck attempted to pass both trucks on the shoulder. In order to avoid slamming into the guardrail, the pickup driver suddenly swerved back into the lanes of the roadway and struck the left front of the big rig in the right lane. That impact caused the truck in the right lane to hit the truck in the left lane.
The truck in the left lane was thrown through and over the concrete barrier and down into Pearl River. The driver succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the crash before emergency personnel could get to him. The 25-year-old driver of the pickup truck believed responsible for the accident did not remain at the scene. He was later apprehended in Mississippi and faces numerous felony charges, including negligent homicide, here in Louisiana.
Reports indicate that he will be extradited from Mississippi soon. Not only does the driver face criminal charges in connection with this fatal accident, but he may also face civil actions from the family of the deceased truck driver and possibly the other truck driver. If negligence is proved, the court may award damages that could supplement applicable workers’ compensation benefits.