Recently, police were called to the scene of an accident involving a 7-year-old girl. She was struck by a vehicle driven by a Louisiana man suspected of driving under the influence. The girl initially survived the ordeal but later succumbed to her injuries. The fatal accident occurred in Shreveport shortly after 2 p.m. on the last day of January.
Apparently, the little girl was on her bicycle, waiting for traffic to clear so that she could cross the street. A vehicle driven by a 46-year-old man careened off the road, struck a light pole and flipped over. The out-of-control vehicle struck the victim.
It was determined that the girl suffered severe injuries. She was rushed to a hospital. Investigators were quickly dispatched to begin interviewing potential witnesses, gather evidence and take measurements.
With the information gathered at the scene, the driver was arrested. Among other things, he was originally booked on a charge of vehicular negligent injury in the first degree. However, that charge has since been upgraded to vehicular homicide in the first degree because just days after the accident, the girl passed away.
Along with the criminal charges he faces, he might face a wrongful death claim from the victim’s family. Any conviction secured by Louisiana prosecutors in connection with this fatal accident could be offered as evidence as the family seeks to document before a civil court that she died as a result of the man’s negligence. An award of damages could be ordered by the court if it is satisfied that the driver was negligent in causing or materially contributing to the fatal accident.
Wrongful Death
Fatal Accident Takes 3 Lives on U.S. Highway 71 in Louisiana
A double-yellow line serves as the only division of numerous highways that crisscross the country. This puts those who travel these highways at risk of being involved in a fatal accident if a driver crosses that line into the oncoming lanes of traffic. One such highway that runs north and south through Louisiana is designated as U.S. Highway 71.
Recently, a northbound vehicle on the highway veered across the double-yellow line directly into the path of a southbound vehicle. The northbound car slammed into the other vehicle at approximately 5 p.m. The drivers of both vehicles suffered fatal injuries, along with a passenger in the vehicle that had crossed the line.
The other three occupants of that vehicle suffered injuries ranging in severity from minor to serious. The passenger in the other vehicle suffered injuries described as moderate. All of the injured passengers from both vehicles were taken for medical treatment. Their current conditions had not been reported.
In Louisiana, it is routine to take toxicology samples in all accidents involving a fatality, to determine whether a driver was impaired by either drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. The results of the samples taken in this crash are pending. This information is needed regardless of the fact that both drivers lost their lives, and thus, no criminal charges will be filed.
However, the results could have an impact on any civil actions filed as a result of this fatal accident. Establishing negligence is integral to a successful claim, and if the driver considered to be at fault in the crash was impaired, that information could be used to bolster a claim of negligence. Once the court is satisfied, it may consider an award of damages typically seen in car accidents.
Impairment Suspected in Fatal Accident on Louisiana Hwy 2
Accidents caused by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are some of the most preventable on the road. By deciding to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while suffering from diminished capacity, impaired drivers put the lives of anyone on or near the roadway at risk. One driver appears to have found this out the hard way in a fatal accident that occurred recently on Louisiana Highway 2.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police believe he was impaired as he headed east on the highway. As he attempted to negotiate a curve, he reportedly veered into the oncoming lane of traffic. A vehicle already in the westbound lane was not able to get out of the way of the man’s pickup truck. The two vehicles slammed into each other head-on.
The 22-year-old driver of the westbound car survived the crash. However, his 32-year-old passenger suffered fatal injuries in the crash and died at the scene. It is not known what injuries either driver suffered, if any. The 43-year-old pickup truck driver was arrested and taken in for booking. He could face charges of driving left of center, negligent injury (two counts) and homicide by vehicle.
Apart from any criminal proceedings, the injured survivors and the family of the deceased passenger may pursue civil lawsuits against the allegedly impaired driver of the pickup truck in connection with the fatal accident. Any conviction secured by Louisiana prosecutors could be presented as evidence of his negligence in a related civil proceeding. A successfully litigated claim could result in an award of damages that may defray the financial losses that can accompany such adversity.
Fatal Car Accident on U.S. Hwy 171 Takes 3 Lives
Nearly everyone in Louisiana knows that consuming alcohol can affect the decisions people make. The first mistake that many intoxicated individuals often make is getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, which can lead to a serious or fatal car accident. Some alcohol-related crashes occur because an impaired driver is unaware that he or she is traveling down the wrong side of a highway.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police believe the driver of a vehicle traveling the wrong way on U.S. Highway 171 recently was impaired at the time of a crash. The vehicle was heading south on the northbound side of the highway, which is divided. A vehicle traveling northbound was unfortunate enough to be in the path of the wrong-way driver.
The two vehicles collided head-on. The driver and passenger in the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction both suffered lethal injuries to which they succumbed at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle also perished and was declared deceased at the scene of the accident as well.
It could take some time for authorities to confirm whether impairment was a factor in this fatal car accident, as is suspected. In the meantime, the families of the passenger and second driver are not required to await the conclusion of the official investigation before filing wrongful death claims against the estate of the wrong-way driver. As long as they have enough evidence to demonstrate negligence, the court may consider an award of damages permissible under state law.
Fatal Pedestrian Accident Mars Family's Thanksgiving
A tragedy on Thanksgiving day has most likely changed how one Louisiana family will view the holiday forever. A fatal pedestrian accident took the life of a woman that day. Police are still searching for the vehicle and driver responsible.
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police say that it was approximately 2 a.m. when a friend dropped the woman off in front of her home. It was then that a vehicle that failed to remain at the scene struck her. Her mother reportedly believes the woman was hit more than once. Emergency responders transported her to an area hospital. Sadly, her injuries were too severe, and medical personnel were unable to save her life.
The next day, troopers returned to the scene to see if they could find any evidence there and talk to residents who might be able to provide clues to the vehicle that had struck and killed the mother of two little girls. Her death has rekindled a concern that something needs to be done about the traffic in this particular neighborhood. A resident reported that speeding cars are a problem for the area. Authorities are awaiting the results of a toxicology sample taken from the woman as part of their investigation. No information was provided as to whether the woman was struck by more than one vehicle, or if any evidence that could lead to the vehicle and its driver was found.
While her family waits for police to locate the negligent party or parties found to be responsible for this fatal pedestrian accident, they must bury their loved one. Once the responsible is found, her family may file a wrongful death claim, seeking damages permitted by state law. If they prevail in proving negligence, any monetary restitution received could help provide for the two girls the victim left behind.
Speed Most Likely A Factor in Fatal Car Accident on Louisiana 24
When vehicles move at high rates of speed, how they will respond depends largely on the driver. If a Louisiana driver is unable to adequately control the vehicle, he or she could easily lose control. The result might be a serious or fatal car accident.
The Louisiana State Police believe that speed was a contributing factor in a crash on LA 24 recently. The driver was heading north on the highway. As the driver attempted to traverse an S-curve, he lost control of the vehicle. It flipped into the oncoming lane where it was struck by another pickup truck occupied by the driver and a passenger.
Authorities reported that a fire broke out following the crash. All three of the people involved — the 19-year-old driver of the first vehicle, the 30-year-old driver of the second vehicle and the 54-year-old passenger in the second vehicle — suffered fatal injuries at the scene. The damage the fire caused to the vehicles did not allow troopers to ascertain whether the occupants were properly restrained at the time of the crash. Toxicology samples were obtained as part of the ongoing investigation.
As the investigation progresses, the victims’ families may exercise their right to file wrongful death claims against the driver of the first pickup truck. If the claims are successful in establishing negligence, the court may consider an award of damages typically sought after a fatal car accident such as this tragedy. If any monetary restitution is awarded, it could help with the financial losses sustained by the families.