Everyone in Louisiana knows that being a police officer can be a dangerous job. Every time an officer puts on a uniform and goes to work, he or she takes on a risk of being injured or killed. Most news stories about police officers being killed are when they are on the job. However, off-duty police officers are perhaps just as likely to be the victim of an accident, even a fatal accident, as the rest of the drivers on the road.
An off-duty Rosepine, Louisiana, police officer was killed in a traffic accident earlier this month. The officer was preparing to make a right-hand turn when another vehicle rear-ended him, causing the officer’s car to overturn. The officer wasn’t wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. He was taken to Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, where he later died despite the efforts of medical personnel to save his life. The driver of the vehicle that collided with the officer was also not wearing a seat belt but did not suffer any injuries as a result of the accident.
As part of their initial investigation, Louisiana authorities have cited the driver for following too closely. The accident is still under investigation, and toxicology samples were also taken to determine whether impairment was a factor in the accident. Whether any further citations or charges will be filed remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the family of the officer is left to grieve their loss. At some point, the family may wish to assess whether they want to file a wrongful death action against the driver. Making that determination involves several factors, and the family may gain from seeking advice from a personal injury attorney regarding their decision. Although it is true that nothing can bring back a loved one who has died in a fatal accident, the family may often gain some sense of justice from civil action. There are also financial considerations when a loved one dies, such as medical and funeral expenses, based on proof of negligence by another party in the accident.
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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.
Police Find Driver Involved in Fatal Accident in Louisiana
Bicycles are a regular presence on the roadways in Louisiana. When a bicyclist gets on the road, they rely on motorists to pay attention and look for obstacles. However, bicycles are still at a higher risk of being involved in a fatal accident, and the reason that is often cited by drivers is that they just didn’t see the bicyclist.
Authorities were uncertain whether that was the case with one bicyclist who was struck by a car on July 7. The driver hit the cyclist then fled the scene of the accident. The cyclist was taken to Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, where medical personnel attempted to save his life. However, despite their efforts, the cyclist died as a result of the serious injuries he suffered in the accident.
After an exhaustive investigation, Louisiana authorities were finally able to locate the driver who hit the cyclist. While they were diligently searching for the driver, the family of the cyclist was grieving. Losing a loved one is always difficult, but when they are stripped from a family through a sudden and seemingly senseless tragedy, the pain can be insurmountable. Waiting for word from authorities may have added to their frustration.
Finally knowing that the person said to be responsible for the accident that caused the death of their loved one has been identified by authorities may provide the family with some sense of comfort. Regardless of what happens with any criminal charges the driver may face, the family retains the right to file a wrongful death action against the driver to recoup the financial losses that families inevitably face in these situations. Medical and funeral expenses are just two examples of types of expenses that can be recovered in a successful wrongful death action, based upon proof of negligence by another party.
Failure to Stop Leads to Fatal Truck Accident on Louisiana Road
Hundreds, if not thousands, of 18-wheelers travel the highways of Louisiana every day. Truckers spend more time behind the wheel than the average American, and that can sometimes lead to complacency. A distracted truck driver increases the risk of being involved in a truck accident, which often leads to devastating consequences.
One trucker found this out the hard way. While exiting off of Interstate 49 onto Highway 84, the truck driver failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled in front of a Chevy Impala, which was unable to avoid hitting the 18-wheeler. According to the Louisiana State Police, the driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene. The other occupant of the Chevy was airlifted to a Shreveport hospital.
Authorities are still investigating the reason why the 27-year-old truck driver failed to stop. In the meantime, he was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign. The Louisiana State Police have also reported that the occupants of the Chevy were not wearing their seat belts.
Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the fact remains that this truck accident claimed the life of one person and seriously injured another. The families of the two occupants of the Chevy retain their right to pursue civil action should it be determined that the death and injuries were caused by the negligence of another party. Filing a wrongful death action or a personal injury lawsuit and taking it through the court process can be both time consuming and complicated. In a time of uncertainty, when the families struggle to cope with their grief and try to make sense out of what occurred, the right advice may help in assessing liability and damage issues under Louisiana law.
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.
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.