Louisiana State Police responded to a crash in Lake Charles on Highway 14 on the evening of May 4 in which a pedestrian was reported to have been struck by a vehicle. The victim was a 45-year-old local man who later died from injuries he sustained in the fatal accident. He was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle as he worked to flag traffic after dark for a broken-down truck.
A truck pulling a camper was headed westbound on Hwy 14 when it stalled and pulled onto the road shoulder. A second vehicle stopped to assist and pulled to the front of the disabled truck to try and jump-start the engine. The passenger from the assisting truck exited his vehicle and walked to the rear of the camper to direct traffic. While flagging traffic he was struck by a car driven by a 91-year-old Lake Charles man.
After running into the pedestrian, the car also struck the parked camper. The elderly driver was taken to a Lake Charles hospital and treated for minor injuries. Police reports indicate that he was wearing his seat belt. Investigators are awaiting the results of routine toxicology samples that were submitted for analysis. The wreck is still under investigation, and no charges have yet been filed.
Studies show that 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur after dark. To help prevent a fatal accident of this nature, Louisiana law enforcement encourages pedestrians to always wear light-colored clothing. Reflective materials and flashlights can also help ensure that pedestrians are visible to drivers. Drivers are also asked to adhere to traffic laws, be alert and keep an eye out for pedestrians at all times. Hopefully the victim’s family is able to find comfort in one another during this time of grief.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Hit-and-Run Crash Leaves Lake Charles Man Dead
Pedestrian accidents rarely end well. Cars are powerful machines, and often a human body is no match. Sadly, a Louisiana family is now grieving after a pedestrian was hit by a car and killed on Saturday.
Police say the fatal accident occurred in the early morning hours of May 5. For reasons unknown, a 35-year-old Lake Charles man was apparently lying on Louisiana Highway 3112 when he was struck by an oncoming car. Unfortunately, the driver of the car did not stay behind to attend to the injured pedestrian. Sadly, the pedestrian died from injuries sustained in the car accident.
Although police are not sure why the Lake Charles man was in the road at the time of the accident, drivers still have a responsibility to remain at a crash scene, should they ever be involved in one. While we don’t know the exact circumstances of this incident, it’s not unfathomable that this man could have received treatment and possibly lived had the driver stopped and called authorities. Now, however, this man’s family is left to wonder if something could have been done to save his life.
When faced with tragedy of this nature, it is important for Louisiana residents to know that they have legal rights. When death or serious injuries occur due to someone else’s negligence, it may be possible to seek compensation. While it may seem insensitive to talk about money at such a difficult time, a death in the family shouldn’t bring with it major economic hardships as well. Seeking compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death claim could result in monetary awards that can go toward hospital costs and funeral expenses, allowing families of victims to focus less on the financial aspect and more on helping one another through such a difficult time.
Louisiana Car Wreck in Reserve Ends in Death and Injury
A three-car accident ended in injuries and death for several Louisiana residents recently. The April 17 car wreck occurred shortly after 6 a.m. on River Road in Reserve. The site of the collision was near the road’s intersection with West 22nd Street.
Police say that a 31-year-old man from Lutcher was driving a car on the roadway when he inexplicably struck the back end of another vehicle. The impact of the collision caused the vehicle to veer into the oncoming lane of traffic before coming to a rest. Authorities say the man began to get out of his car, and as he did, the car was struck by a pickup truck operated by another Lutcher resident.
As a result of the collision, both drivers were taken to local hospitals. Sadly, the 31-year-old driver later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the pickup was said to have suffered injuries characterized as moderate and remained hospitalized for further medical care.
Louisiana police are continuing to investigate the cause of this fatal car wreck. Reports indicate that they do not suspect alcohol or impairment of the drivers, but toxicology test results are pending. Once the investigation concludes, a cause for the accident will likely be determined. The report may also address which party or parties are deemed to have been at fault in causing or contributing to the fatal collision.
In any Louisiana car accident, if one of the drivers is found to have been the cause of the accident, any victims may have the right to file civil claims. In a case in which a deceased driver is determined to have been negligent, any liability would potentially result in a claim against his estate. If, however, another party is determined to have negligently caused the death, the victim’s surviving family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim in Louisiana courts.
Shreveport Car Wreck Leaves 1 Dead, 2 Children Injured
A car accident involving three vehicles reportedly backed up traffic on LA 3132 on April 12 in Shreveport. The car wreck occurred at the intersection of the highway and Line Avenue. Authorities indicated the accident may have been caused in part by an earlier collision on the same road.
An SUV was hit by a pickup truck then pushed into the path of an 18-wheeler. Three occupants of the SUV, a male driver and two children, were seriously injured.
They were taken to LSU Health Shreveport. Though the man was said to be in critical condition and the children in serious condition, the man subsequently died. No other injuries to those involved in the car wreck were reported.
As the police investigation continues, there will likely be a causal determination for this tragic car wreck. In the event one or more parties are found to have acted negligently in a manner that caused or contributed to the fatal accident, civil liability for injuries and other legal consequences could follow.
The injured children may suffer more than the physical injuries that have left them in the hospital. They may now be facing a long road to recovery. And the family of the deceased male driver must not only cope with his loss of life, but may also have expenses occasioned by the crash. In situations like this, damages may be able to be recovered through personal injury claims under Louisiana law should the accident be attributable to the negligence of another party. In the case of a fatality, the claim would be made in the form of a wrongful death action by the victim’s surviving family. While such a claim could never replace a life lost, it can help a victim’s family worry less about finances so they can focus on comforting one another during such a difficult time.
Car Wreck Claims Life of 15-Year-Old Boy From Greenwood
Navigating busy Louisiana roads can be a challenge for even experienced drivers. Distractions such as cellphones and weather conditions often add to the chance that a person will be involved in a car wreck. And when the person injured is a passenger, they often are helpless to do much more than watch as catastrophe unfolds. Unfortunately, a similar scenario happened recently on Louisiana roads.
A 15-year-old boy died on April 7 after a two-car wreck in Greenwood, and the young teenager was later pronounced dead at LSU Hospital. Reportedly, he was a passenger in a car attempting to make a left-hand turn at the intersection of Greenwood Road and West 70th Street. As the car turned, it collided with an SUV that was turning onto the road, resulting in the fatal car wreck. There were no reports of injuries to other drivers or passengers, though police are likely continuing to investigate the cause of the car wreck.
The family of the deceased teen has surely suffered an immense loss. No compensation by any court could even begin to make them truly whole again. However, Louisiana law does permit surviving family to pursue a claim for wrongful death when it appears a fatality was caused by the negligent act of another.
While it is too early to know precisely what caused this car wreck, official accident reports can be useful in determining if someone was at fault in a crash. This review can offer them the opportunity to determine whether or not a wrongful death claim is appropriate.
Louisiana Woman Sustains Head Injury in 2-Car Crash
A two-vehicle accident in Lake Charles, Louisiana, left one woman with injuries to her head after the collision caused her to hit a fire hydrant. The auto accident happened at an intersection that at least one resident labeled as “dangerous.” No information was available as to whether or not anyone received a citation in connection with the incident.
The collision happened during the evening hours at the intersection of two local streets. After her vehicle hurtled into the fire hydrant, the woman was reportedly bleeding from her head. Moreover, since the woman suffered a blow to her head, there may be concerns about a traumatic brain injury or even permanent brain damage.
In any accident there may be concerns about damage to the body that could lead to a disability for months or even years to come. In some cases, that disability may be permanent and require ongoing medical expenses. This is a particular concern with regard to head injuries as some damage done to the brain may never heal.
In this case, it may be necessary to reconstruct the auto accident in order to determine the circumstances that led up to it and to assess liability. Whoever is deemed to be the at-fault driver may eventually be held responsible for the medical and other expenses of the victim. This can be done by filing a suit with the appropriate Louisiana court. When a person is injured through no fault of their own and as the result of the carelessness of another party, they do not deserve to have their bodily injury compounded by becoming a financial injury as well.