Being a passenger in a car imparts a lot of responsibility on the driver, since the passenger trusts that the driver will get them to their destination safely. Unfortunately, sometimes that trust is misplaced. Other times, even when the driver does everything right, there are still things that can go wrong. The passengers involved in a recent car wreck in Lake Charles may have misplaced their trust in the driver, although that possible conclusion may have to await the results of the pending investigation.
The accident occurred while a Dodge Caliber was following behind a tow truck around 4 a.m. on Interstate 10. The Dodge ended up rear-ending the tow truck. The driver of the tow truck was not injured, and the driver of the Dodge suffered only minor injuries. But the impact of the accident killed the frontseat passenger in the car and sent the backseat passenger to the hospital. The backseat passenger is listed in critical condition.
Authorities in Lake Charles are still investigating the accident. As part of that investigation, authorities obtained blood alcohol tests on both drivers, and those results are pending. Whether any charges will be filed as a result of the investigation remains to be seen.
In the meantime, two families have been turned upside down. One family must bury a loved one, and the other faces an uncertain future as their loved one fights to survive. When the dust settles and the official investigation is complete, the families may consider whether to file civil action against the party or parties deemed to be responsible in this tragic car wreck. Medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and other expenses associated with accidents have a way of adding up quickly. A wrongful death action or a personal injury claim won’t erase the events of that day, but a successful result may help those involved prevent a personal tragedy from becoming a financial one as well.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
2 Louisiana Residents Killed in Car Wreck on US 61
Driving on the highways of Louisiana can be treacherous. There are always things to watch out for and obstacles to avoid. Even if a driver manages to avoid a car wreck by being attentive and vigilant, sometimes unexpected things happen that are simply unavoidable. Recently, a flying pickup truck altered the lives of three people in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The driver and passenger in a Mercury Grand Marquis traveling down US 61 became the unfortunate victims of the airborne pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck had lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median, became airborne and flipped over. As it flipped, it hit the top of the Grand Marquis killing the 84-year-old driver and 81-year-old passenger. The driver of the pickup truck was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital. A third vehicle was hit by debris from the accident, but, thankfully, no one in that vehicle was injured.
The Louisiana State Police are still investigating the accident. They do not believe that impairment was a cause of the accident, but have sent blood samples to the state crime lab for confirmation. They do say that speed may have been a factor in the crash.
Tragically, the victims of this fatal car wreck were in the wrong place at the wrong time. But knowing that may not give their families any solace. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether any criminal charges are going to be filed against the driver of the pickup truck, though authorities have indicated that charges are pending the outcome. A criminal conviction against the pickup driver, if obtained, may be offered as evidence of liability in any wrongful death action filed in Louisiana courts by the surviving family members of the victims. If liability is established, the families may demand financial remuneration for damages suffered as a result of the fatal accident.
2 Louisiana Men Dead After Motorcycle Versus Car Wreck
As many Louisiana residents know, being involved in an accident can be devastating. When the same accident is a motorcycle vs. car wreck, the results can be fatal and completely devastate a family. The vulnerability of motorcycle riders makes any accident they are involved in potentially that much worse.
For instance, a head on collision between two cars is sometimes survivable, but the probability of the accident being fatal increases dramatically when one of the vehicles is a motorcycle. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office knows this all too well. They are currently investigating a head on collision between a car and motorcycle that left the driver and passenger of the motorcycle dead.
The accident occurred when a motorcycle headed west on Quarter Pole Road in Acadia Parish was hit head on by a car going east. One of the motorcycle riders was pronounced dead at the scene while the other succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The driver of the car suffered non-life threatening injuries. Louisiana authorities say that no charges have as yet been filed, but they are pending the results of the investigation.
While the families of the victims await the results of the investigation, they are left to bury their loved ones. When a life is cut short in a car wreck, families are never prepared for such a sudden, violent loss. As they struggle to come to terms with what occurred, they retain the right to file a wrongful death action against the driver of the car if the evidence confirms the deaths were caused by the negligence of the other driver. Filing a wrongful death claim won’t bring back their loved one, but it may help the family recover the inevitable financial loss associated with a fatal car accident if they prevail in proving that the driver was negligent in causing the death of the victims.
Louisiana Family Mourns Death After Hit-and-Run Auto Accident
Even when a loved one dies of natural causes, it leaves a hole in the family’s life. Losing a loved one in an auto accident adds another dimension of grief since the loss is so sudden. One Louisiana family must deal with the sudden loss of a woman who was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
The woman and her fiancé were leaving the Gueydan Duck Festival on foot when they were both struck by a car. Both victims were taken to a local Louisiana hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the woman later died as a result of her injuries. Her fiancé is still in the hospital and has already had to undergo three separate surgeries to repair damage to his legs.
There is still no news of the vehicle that hit them. The woman’s fiancé is assuming that there should be significant damage to the vehicle after hitting two people. Authorities are asking for anyone to come forward who may have information about this tragic accident.
The family knows that finding the person who hit the woman and her fiancé won’t bring the woman back or heal her fiancé’s injuries, but it may provide them with a sense of closure. The family may want to be advised of their rights in connection with this auto accident so that when authorities find the driver, they have the information they need to file civil actions if they choose to do so. Any civil action they file may also be affected by the outcome of criminal charges, if any, and any conviction may be offered as evidence of liability in a related civil proceeding.
Louisiana Teen Passenger Killed in One Vehicle Car Wreck
What starts out as a night of fun can quickly become a nightmare when drinking and driving. Thousands of people around the country, including in Louisiana, lose their lives every day because of drunk drivers. Accidents can happen at any time, but when drinking is involved, the possibility of a car wreck increases exponentially.
Police suspect that alcohol may have played a part in an accident that killed one 19-year-old and injured another. The 19-year-old driver was heading south on Louisiana 363 in the Grand Prairie area when he lost control on a curve, crossed the center line, careened into two cement culverts, flipped, and finally came to rest in a ditch. Even though the driver wasn’t wearing a seat belt, he was only injured. His passenger was not as lucky–he died at the scene of the accident.
Police have indicated that when the teenage driver is released from the hospital, he will be arrested on charges of vehicular homicide, reckless operation of a vehicle, no seat belt and open alcoholic beverage container. Apparently because of drinking and driving, two lives were forever altered that night. While the police complete their investigation and the driver recovers from his injuries, the family of the young man that died has to begin the excruciating process of trying to come to grips with the breadth of the tragedy.
While the driver faces the criminal proceedings against him, he will also have to deal with the possibility of a wrongful death claim from the family of his young passenger. Louisiana law permits such a civil claim when a fatality occurs through the negligent or intentional conduct of another. Whether the family chooses to pursue this avenue of relief remains to be seen, though they will likely look to the official report of the accident investigation as they consider their rights under state law in connection with this tragic car wreck.
Car Wreck on Louisiana Highway 378 Leaves 1 Dead
Most people on Louisiana highways strive to be attentive while driving. However, that obviously doesn’t stop accidents from happening. Drivers often become too comfortable with their ability to drive and sometimes their attention is diverted. When drivers are distracted, they are not giving their full attention to the road, and the potential for a car wreck increases.
A Longville man may have been distracted when he pulled onto Louisiana Highway 378 from a stop sign right into the path of a Ford F-350 on July 6. As a result, the Ford slammed into the driver’s side of the Longville man’s Mazda 626. Even though both drivers were wearing their seat belts, the Longville man’s injuries were fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Authorities are still investigating what caused the accident and are looking into whether either driver was impaired at the time of the accident. Whether one of the drivers was impaired could give an explanation for this accident and help authorities determine which driver was ultimately responsible. The outcome of the investigation won’t bring back the Longville man, but it may at least give the families affected by this accident some answers.
Both families now have to pick up the pieces this fatal car wreck has left behind. There are expenses such as property damage, medical bills, funeral expenses, and the like that have to be dealt with even while grieving. The uncertainty of the outcome of this investigation only adds to the stress these families may feel. While it is too early to assess whether a wrongful death action based on a claim of negligence is appropriate, the other driver — as well as the family of the deceased victim — may benefit from taking the time to be advised of their rights and responsibilities under Louisiana law.