Reckless Driving

Distracted Driver Kills Teenager

December 7, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

Even though she was properly restrained, a 14-year-old girl is dead after a tortfeasor (negligent driver) ran off the road and smashed into a tree.
The wreck occurred on westbound Louisiana Route 422 near the intersection of Louisiana Route 19. According to police, 24-year-old Shannon Sessions “became distracted by a bug that flew into her vehicle.” She then drove her Jeep Wrangler off the road, and it plummeted down a steep embankment before crashing into a tree and overturning. Backseat passenger 14-year-old Emily Sessions, of Woodville, Miss., was declared dead at the scene; Shannon Sessions and a frontseat passenger were both seriously injured. [Read more…] about Distracted Driver Kills Teenager

Runaway Car In Youngsville

September 7, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

Four people were seriously injured after a possibly reckless driver crashed through the front doors of the Post Office in downtown Youngsville.
The driver – whose name was not released – apparently hopped a curve, smashed through the doors, barreled through the lobby, and eventually came to rest against the front counter. One victim was pinned between the car and the counter for quite some time before first responders arrived. Authorities believe that the other three victims were all postal workers or post office patrons.
The crash is still under investigation. [Read more…] about Runaway Car In Youngsville

Louisiana State Police Are Investigating Deadly Car Wreck

April 18, 2013 by Lee Hoffoss

The Louisiana State Police are investigating a deadly crash. The car wreck occurred on a portion of a road in Bossier Parish that locals say is dangerous and drivers are always speeding down. The speed limit on the road is posted as 50 mph. However, there is a sharp curve in the road that many people fail to slow down for even though there are signs telling drivers to reduce their speed to 30 mph.
Some locals have expressed the opinion that a more visible police presence may deter drivers from speeding down this stretch of the road. The Louisiana State Police indicate that there is no statistical evidence that this curve is more dangerous than any other on the road. At the same time, troopers believe that dangerously fast speeds may have been a factor in the crash.
The accident occurred when a 17-year-old driver lost control on the curve in the road and slammed head-on into a pickup truck. The 43-year-old driver of that pickup truck was killed in the accident. The extent and nature of the teen’s injuries, if any, is not known. It is not known whether any charges will be filed as a result of the official investigation.
The family of the driver that was killed in this accident has the right to file a wrongful death claim in connection with this deadly car wreck. If his family is able to show the court that the young driver was negligent and that her negligence contributed to or caused the victim’s death, the court may award the family the costs and other damages sustained as a result of his death. Monetary compensation aside, the family may also be able to achieve a sense of closure and peace in knowing they obtained a bit of justice on their loved one’s behalf.

Car Wreck East of Lake Charles Leaves 1 Dead

March 21, 2013 by Lee Hoffoss

Louisiana State Police were called to an accident on Interstate 10 east of Lake Charles recently. The investigation of the two car wreck has resulted in one driver being charged. The passenger in that driver’s vehicle died at the scene.
The accident occurred when a Mazda heading east on Interstate 10 near Lake Charles sideswiped a second vehicle. That impact threw the Mazda into a guardrail. The passenger in that vehicle was thrown out of the vehicle during the crash; and emergency personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
The driver of the Mazda was taken to an area hospital and treated for what have been described as minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle he sideswiped was lucky enough to escape uninjured. The driver believed to have caused the accident has been charged with careless operation, DWI and vehicular homicide.
Families of car accident victims may find themselves feeling helpless and at the mercy of the criminal justice system to give them the peace of mind they may be looking for after losing a loved one. According to our state laws, families that have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another party retain the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver responsible for the accident. Outside of the emotional impact of their loss, this victim’s family may also be feeling the financial impact of their loved one’s death. If they are able to demonstrate to a Louisiana court that the driver police say is responsible for the car wreck was negligent and that his actions caused or contributed to the death of their family member, they may be able to achieve their own sense of justice along with an award of the costs and damages sustained as a result of the victim’s death.