Those in Louisiana who are avid cyclists all share one fear — being hit by a car while cycling. Unless they have the option of a dedicated bike path, cyclists are usually forced to ride on the roadway, where they are more vulnerable since many roads have no shoulder to give them a cushion from traffic. This vulnerability can cause a cyclist to be involved in an accident with a car or truck.
This is what happened to one Moss Bluff, Louisiana, physician on July 14. While out for a ride early that morning, he was struck from behind by a pickup truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have said that the driver of the pickup truck was not impaired, and they are completing their investigation before deciding whether any charges will be filed.
To honor the life of the physician, more than 50 cyclists took part in an approximately 15-mile memorial ride. Even cyclists who didn’t know the physician turned out for the event. Cyclists are passionate about their sport and their safety, and one cyclist took the opportunity to remind motorists that it is now Louisiana law for motorists to give cyclists a minimum of 3 feet of room when passing.
Safety on Louisiana roadways is the responsibility of everyone on them — whether in a car, a motorcycle or bicycle, or even as a pedestrian. Unfortunately, being careful doesn’t always prevent an auto accident from happening. Nothing can erase the events of that morning, for anyone involved. While the family members of the physician grieve and await the outcome of the official investigation, they may also seek advice on whether to file a wrongful death action against the driver of the pickup truck. Of course, doing so won’t bring back their loved one, but it may provide an opportunity for closure for the family.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Louisiana Woman Gets 5 Years for Fatal Car Accident
Most families in Louisiana won’t ever have to know how it feels to wait two and a half years for some sense of closure after the death of a loved one. That’s how long it has taken for one family to see the sentencing of a woman who caused a fatal car wreck in December 2009. In late June, the Point Coupee Parish criminal court sentenced the woman to five years in prison, with two of them suspended, along with two years of felony probation.
The sentence was the result of a plea bargain for vehicular manslaughter charges following an accident that took the life of a 23-year-old woman and seriously injured another individual. The “no contest” plea deal was accepted by the victims’ families. The convicted driver also received a three-year prison term for first-degree negligent injury, to run concurrently with the partially suspended five-year sentence.
It is unknown whether the families of the deceased woman or the other seriously injured victim have filed cival lawsuits as a result of the car wreck. Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, the conviction may be offered as evidence of liability in the civil actions, which have a less stringent burden of proof than in criminal court. Further, a full investigation may indicate other potentially negligent parties, particularly if the convicted woman, who was driving drunk at the time of the crash, was served alcohol at a bar or restaurant beforehand.
Having a loved one taken from you in a car wreck is tragic and many say that the pain never truly goes away. The parties have waited nearly three years for the criminal proceedings to work their way through the Louisiana court system. Now they face the question of whether to pursue claims for monetary damages in the state’s civil court system. In doing so, they would likely seek reimbursement for the damages they have suffered, while also striving to hold negligent parties fully accountable for their actions that caused or contributed to the fatality and injuries suffered.
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.
Lake Charles 6-Vehicle Accident Injures 9
Car accidents plague rush hour traffic around the country, and Louisiana is no exception. On June 6, a motor vehicle accident involving six cars delayed traffic on Interstate 210. Authorities cleared the highway and got traffic moving again despite the number of injuries and vehicles involved.
Nine people were injured in this chain-reaction car wreck. The vehicles included three 18-wheelers and three passenger cars. All nine were taken to the hospital, though none of the injuries was initially considered life-threatening.
Authorities reported that traffic was at a standstill when five of the six vehicles came to a stop. The sixth vehicle failed to stop, starting the chain-reaction mayhem. When all was said and done, all six vehicles were involved in the wreck.
We often become so comfortable on our commute to work each day that our attention can easily wander while driving. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that traffic can change from moment to moment, and we always need to remain attentive while driving. Unfortunately, accidents like this do happen. People’s lives are interrupted, medical bills need to be paid and cars need to be repaired.
Determining which driver pays for what damages in a chain-reaction accident can be tricky. Anyone involved in a multiple-vehicle accident like this one may wish to make sure of their rights and responsibilities under Louisiana law. This may include a personal injury claim for medical bills and other damages suffered due to the negligence of other parties.
Luckily, no one involved in this motor vehicle accident in Lake Charles was fatally injured. Hopefully, everyone will be able to return to normal life as quickly as possible without any serious or lingering repercussions. As for liability, the Louisiana state courts may end up sorting that out in the absence of a property and injury settlement between the parties.
An Auto Accident on Interstate 59 Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Injured
Everyone knows that accidents happen. Milk gets spilt and toes get stubbed, but when accidents happen on Louisiana roadways, the repercussions can be disastrous. An auto accident can have fatal results, such as a recent crash on Interstate 59 that left one 42-year-old Louisiana woman dead and could land another woman behind bars for some time.
The head-on collision occurred early on the morning of May 20 in St. Tammany Parish. According to reports, the Louisiana woman was driving her SUV north down I-59 when a pickup truck swerved from the southbound lane into the northbound lane before colliding head on with the SUV. The 51-year-old woman who was driving the pickup was suspected of being impaired at the time of the accident.
Both of the women were taken to a New Orleans hospital. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the driver of the pickup sustained moderate injuries. It was reported that, upon being released from the hospital, the pickup truck driver will be booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail to answer to charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving. At the time that the Times-Picayune released an article reporting the accident, toxicology results were still pending.
An auto accident like this one illustrates just how serious the results of a bad decision can be. For Louisiana drivers, obeying traffic laws and driving responsibly can mean the difference between life and death when behind the wheel.
Four People Injured in Recent Louisiana Crash
Car wrecks in Louisiana can be quite serious and may leave multiple people injured, suffering or even dead. A recentĀ motor vehicle accident left four people injured.
According to authorities, the accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when a silver Ford Taurus entered the westbound lane of a road from an off-ramp. The vehicle hit a westbound gold Mazda.
Authorities are still investigating the car accident and its cause. According to reports, two individuals were in each car, all of whom sustained injuries in the crash. They were taken to area hospitals where their injuries reportedly ranged from minor to critical.
The most severely injured was the front-seat passenger in the Ford Taurus. The other occupants reportedly suffered moderate injuries. The passengers in the other vehicle were said to have suffered injuries initially characterized as minor to moderate.
Car accidents like this one can understandably result in a great deal of emotional and physical damage, not just to the owners of the vehicles, but their passengers as well. When people get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in Louisiana, they are expected to show reasonable care to others in or near the roadway. Practicing safe driving and obeying traffic laws, as well as being cautious and aware of drivers who may not be driving as safely, can help keep people out of harm’s way.
One can only hope that those involved in this collision recover quickly and completely from their injuries. As with all car accidents, they may turn to Louisiana state courts to seek reimbursement for damages caused by the negligence of another person.