The Louisiana State Police are investing a crash in which the driver of an SUV was killed. The truck accident occurred on US 190 West. It took authorities approximately seven hours to gather evidence and clear the wreckage from the scene.
A Peterbilt tractor-trailer was traveling east on the highway as it approached a private driveway. The trucker began his turn into that private driveway as a westbound SUV was heading toward him. The SUV ended up crashing into the tractor trailer. The impact was forceful enough to trap the vehicle under the 18-wheeler. As a result, the vehicle was dragged into the private driveway as the truck came to a stop.
The driver whose vehicle became wedged under the truck died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the accident. The Louisiana State Police are not yet able to say whether the driver of the truck was impaired at the time of the accident. A toxicology sample was taken in order to make that determination. It isn’t yet known whether any charges will be filed in connection with the accident.
The victim in this fatal truck accident met an untimely death, and now his family is forced to face this fact. They will also be forced to incur expenses in connection with his death, including funeral costs. Being reimbursed for these expenses may not be the first thing the family thinks about, but it may become a concern at some point. The family retains the right to file a wrongful death action in an attempt to recover these expenses based upon proof that the trucker negligently caused the fatal accident.
Truck Accidents
A Minor Truck Accident Leads to the Death of a Louisiana Man
A minor accident between two trucks on U.S. Highway 190 in Louisiana became the scene of a horrific accident. After that truck accident, one of the drivers was struck by a third vehicle not involved in the first accident. Authorities do not suspect that anyone involved in either of the accidents was impaired at the time.
Two Freightliner tractor trailers were headed eastbound on U.S. Highway 190 early one morning on the Friday before Christmas. When the driver of the first Freightliner slowed to make a left hand, the tractor trailer that was trailing behind rear ended the first truck. This first accident caused minor damage to both trucks.
The driver of the first truck was in the process of placing warning triangles on the roadway in order to alert other vehicles to the accident. While he was doing so, a vehicle heading eastbound struck him. He suffered severe injuries and was taken to Baton Rouge General Mid-City Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel at the hospital, the driver’s injuries were too severe and caused his death.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the truck accident and the crash that followed, toxicology samples have been sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. The family of the driver that died has the right to file a wrongful death action based upon evidence of negligence that is deemed to have caused the fatality. If liability is established to the court’s satisfaction in a civil action, the court will consider claims for monetary damages sustained as a result of the tragedy.
Louisiana Truck Accident Claims the Life of an Infant
Until children reach a certain age, they rely on their parents for almost everything. Parents typically do what they can to keep their children safe, and that includes keeping them safe on the Louisiana roadways. However, even when a parent takes every precaution, the possibility of a car accident or truck accident still exists.
A Dodge Stratus containing two adults and two children was pulled over on the right shoulder of I-12 when tragedy struck recently. A delivery truck drifted off the road onto the same shoulder, causing the Freightliner to slam into the right rear of the Dodge. The impact sent the Dodge spinning across the roadway into the median.
According to the Louisiana State Police, the truck driver was not paying attention to the road when this truck drifted onto the shoulder. He has been charged with negligent homicide, among other things, due to the death of a 1-year-old that was in the Dodge at the time of the accident. A front seat passenger is in serious condition at North Oaks Medical Center. The driver and a 2-year-old boy suffered moderate injuries and were transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
There are several potential legal actions as a result of this truck accident. The surviving family of the deceased baby retains the right to pursue a wrongful death action based on proof of negligence by any party deemed at fault for the tragedy. Further the three people injured in the crash also have the right to press forward with personal injury claims, again based upon evidence of negligence. If liability is established, claims for monetary damages will be considered.
Truck Accident on I-20 in Louisiana Leaves 1 Dead
The interstates in Louisiana regularly experience traffic delays. These traffic delays can be caused by a myriad number of things, such as weather, construction, an auto accident or a truck accident. Occasionally after traffic has come to a standstill for one event, an accident occurs. Often, these accidents happen because a vehicle comes up on the stopped traffic too quickly and is unable to stop.
That scenario occurred on Interstate 20 west of Gibsland in mid July. Traffic had come to a stop due to a wreck in the eastbound lanes of I-20. A pickup truck had safely come to a stop behind an 18-wheeler when it was struck from behind by a second 18-wheeler that failed to stop in time. The impact was so violent that the pickup truck was crushed between the two tractor-trailers.
When authorities reached the pickup truck, they found the driver deceased at the scene. The Louisiana State Police are trying to identify the victim. It is unknown at this time what citations, if any, will be issued as a result of the accident.
Due to the sheer size and weight of an 18-wheeler, it is not uncommon for a truck accident to cause an incredible amount of damage to a car or pickup truck. However, property loss is only the beginning of the damage. Severe injuries and fatalities are also common when an accident occurs between a commercial trucking vehicle and a standard automobile. In this case, once the family of the victim has been notified, they will be faced with the enormity of this accident. Once the investigation is complete they may move forward with a wrongful death suit against the parties responsible for this tragic accident.
Auto Accident Claims One Life in Louisiana
Driving the highways of Louisiana can be demanding during the day, let alone at night when vision may be hindered. Not being able to see obstacles as clearly at night greatly increases the probability of an auto accident. Staying alert while driving is essential at all times during the day, and perhaps even more so at night.
Even when a driver is vigilant, accidents can happen, and the consequences of an accident can be devastating. This was the case in an accident that occurred at 12:30 a.m. on June 19. A car slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer on Highway 23 in Plaquemines Parish. The driver, a 33-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck was stopped in the highway’s right lane because the closure of Belle Chasse Bridge has resulted in traffic congestion. It is unknown whether the car driver was impaired at the time of the accident. It is also unknown whether the driver of the truck was injured, or if the truck sustained any damage.
Having an auto accident, whether during the day or at night, can wreak havoc on the lives of those involved. In this case, there is now a family grieving the loss of a loved one. In addition to having to deal with their loss and grief, they also have to deal with the aftermath of the accident itself — property damage, medical bills, and in this case, funeral costs. Getting advised of the rights and responsibilities of those involved in an accident under Louisiana law may relieve some anxiety of the parties touched by this tragic accident.
Truck Driver Negligence Leads to Fatality in Louisiana
A serious truck accident in Louisiana recently resulted in the death of a motorcycle driver. Initially, troopers were called in to assist with a report of a stray dog located west of the Whiskey Bay Bridge. Traffic was blocked while animal control and law enforcement removed the animal from the road, but an 18-wheeler driver failed to stop for the traffic. The resulting auto accident snarled traffic and caused the troopers to initiate an accident investigation to determine exactly what happened.
While the dog was being removed from the roadway and traffic was backed up, several miles back the 18-wheeler driver veered into the center of the road. His truck struck three vehicles and the back of a motorcycle. The motorcycle driver was pronounced dead on the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The 18-wheeler driver was charged with reckless operation and negligent homicide. All of the drivers voluntarily submitted breath samples, which showed no alcohol in any of their systems. For this reason, police do not believe that alcohol or any other type of impairment was involved in the auto accident.
The truck driver is facing serious criminal charges for his part in the truck accident. He may also be facing liability claims for the family of the deceased motorcycle driver for his negligent actions. Distracted drivers are a danger on the roadways and can cause serious harm to other motorists. This man’s failure to pay attention caused an extremely serious auto accident in Louisiana and shows that just a few seconds of inattention on the road can cause a lifetime of repercussions.