Losing a loved one is never easy, and it can be made more difficult when the loss is sudden — such as in an accident — and leaves unanswered questions. Law enforcement officials can often determine how the accident occurred, but the reason why can sometimes be elusive. One family who recently lost a loved one may never know why the Louisiana man died since the only other person who may be able to answer that question also died in the same car wreck.
The 61-year-old man was traveling north on U.S. Highway 65 around 12:25 a.m. on a Friday. Preliminary reports from the Louisiana State Police indicate that as he traveled the highway, a 60-year-old driver was headed toward him from the opposite direction. For a reason troopers may never discover, that man’s vehicle veered into the northbound lane directly into the path of the other man’s vehicle.
The two vehicles collided head-on. A third vehicle, driven by a 58-year-old woman, then struck the Louisiana man’s pickup truck. Fortunately, the woman did not suffer any injuries in the crash. However, both men died at the scene.
While the Louisiana State Police continue to investigate the crash, the family of the innocent victim is undoubtedly grieving and searching for answers. Filing a wrongful death claim against the estate of the driver believed to have been responsible for the car wreck may not give them all of the answers they seek, but it might give them some peace and closure. If a civil court is determines that the family has sufficiently established negligence on the part of the other driver, damages may be awarded to them that could help with the financial burdens incurred due to their loss.
car wreck
Lawsuit Filed After Car Wreck Involving Louisiana Deputy Sherriff
State, local and parish law enforcement officials are all required to follow the traffic laws just as anyone else on the road, with notable exceptions, during the course of their duties. Officers who fail to obey the same rules of the road as other drivers can become involved in accidents. A Louisiana woman recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against a deputy sheriff and the department he works for, claiming that he caused the car wreck in which she was injured.
The details regarding the crash were not reported except to say that the deputy sheriff’s cruiser collided with the woman’s vehicle. According to the woman, she suffered injuries to her neck and back, among other injuries. She accuses the deputy of failing to maintain control of his vehicle, to properly brake and to yield the right-of-way to her.
She is seeking damages for the medical expenses she incurred and the wages she lost and/or is losing during her recovery. In addition, she is asking the court for damages relating to her pain and suffering, mental anguish and for emotional trauma. It will be up to a Louisiana court to determine whether she should receive an award of all or some of the damages requested in her lawsuit.
Should the court determine that the deputy was negligent and caused the injuries suffered by the woman, an award will be considered by the court. Even though the deputy was the driver involved in the car wreck, if it is shown that it occurred during the performance of his duties, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office may also be held liable for damages incurred. A judgment will then be entered against the party or parties deemed responsible.
Train Vs. Car Wreck Claims the Life of Third Louisiana Man
Many of the railroad crossings throughout Louisiana do not have gates, flashing lights or bells. This makes these crossings particularly dangerous, especially if the only warning drivers receive is a crossing sign and/or a stop sign. Failure to exercise extra caution at these crossings could result in a catastrophic car wreck.
Just off Louisiana 5, a private lease road is crossed by train tracks. There is only a stop sign and crossing sign at this location, and it was recently the site of an accident involving a Union Pacific freight train and a pickup truck. The freight train was heading south as the pickup truck was heading east. The pickup somehow failed to yield the right-of-way to the train and was struck by it.
The impact shoved the pickup off the tracks. When troopers with the Louisiana State Police arrived at the scene, they discovered the driver and one passenger in the truck dead. The third occupant was taken to an area hospital, where he was in critical condition until he succumbed to his injuries early the next morning. Troopers do not believe that the pickup driver was impaired, but a toxicology sample is being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The families of the victims involved in this train vs. car wreck may file wrongful death claims against the party or parties thought to be responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. It remains to be seen if a claim against the railroad is appropriate under the circumstances of the accident, though it would appear that the estates of the two deceased passengers have a separate right to seek financial accountability fro the estate of the pickup driver. Documenting for the court that the negligence of another led to their deaths could result in an award of damages. Any financial restitution received could defray the costs associated with the sudden death of a family member.
Troopers Unsure What Caused New Year's Eve Car Wreck
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police are attempting to determine what caused a driver to lose control of his vehicle around 8:15 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. It has not yet been determined whether the driver was impaired when his vehicle slammed into an SUV. Three people lost their lives in that car wreck, including the driver believed to be at-fault.
Preliminary reports from the Louisiana State Police indicate that a 24-year-old driver lost control on a curve. This caused his vehicle to drift into the oncoming lane of traffic where it slammed head-on into another vehicle. A married couple and their two daughters occupied that vehicle.
The 38-year-old husband was driving at the time of the crash. He suffered moderate injuries in the crash, as did his 14-year-old daughter. The latest report regarding their conditions indicates that they are expected to recover. The man’s 37-year-old wife died in the crash. The couple’s 11-year-old daughter also suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The investigation continues, and toxicology samples are being analyzed by the crime lab. Of course, no charges will be filed against the other driver since he also perished in the car wreck. However, that does not preclude the man who lost half of his family from filing wrongful death and personal injury claims against the deceased driver’s estate. Undoubtedly, the now single father would prefer to have his wife and other child back, but any monetary restitution received from successfully proving his losses and injuries resulted from the negligence of the other driver could help with the financial losses he may incur.
Parents File Suit After Daughters Injured in Car Wreck
Two teenage girls went for a ride with a friend back on Aug. 15 of this year. At some point, the trip went horribly wrong, and the three were involved in a car wreck. The girls suffered numerous injuries according to the court documents recently filed in a Louisiana court by each of their parents.
Reportedly, as the three headed down the street, the man behind the wheel of the vehicle began driving erratically. His actions were serious enough for the girls to ask him to stop, but he supposedly refused. He told them he had everything under control, but that proved to be incorrect.
The driver lost control of the vehicle and slammed head-on into a tree. It is claimed that after the crash, the driver left the injured girls at the scene with the wreckage and fled. Police say he filed a false report that the vehicle involved in the accident was stolen, supposedly to intimate that he was not behind the wheel when the crash occurred. Police ultimately arrested him for filing a false report.
Each of the parents contends that his or her daughter suffered injuries to the head, back and knees in the car wreck. It is alleged that these injuries have caused the girls and their families to incur significant damages. In order for the Louisiana court to consider an award for damages such as medical expenses, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life, each family must first provide the court with evidence that proves the driver’s negligence caused or materially contributed to the accident and injuries that resulted.
Louisiana State Police Investigate Motorcycle Vs. Car Wreck
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police are reminding motorists to be on the lookout for motorcycles as they travel the state’s roadways. The reminder comes in the aftermath of a motorcycle vs. car wreck that occurred recently. The rider was killed, and the car driver submitted to a breath test and a blood sample for testing.
At around 7 p.m. on the day of crash, the driver of the pickup truck was traveling on LA 14 westbound. At the same time, the motorcycle rider was heading east. As the two vehicles approached each other, the pickup began to turn left. Unfortunately, it did so directly in front of the motorcycle. The rider was unable to avoid colliding with the pickup.
He was thrown off his motorcycle onto the roadway. The injuries he suffered as a result of the crash were too severe, and he died at the scene. The investigation is still ongoing — in part because the results of the toxicology tests being conducted by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab were not yet available at last report.
Regardless of whether criminal charges are pursued, the family of the motorcycle rider who died in this car wreck retains the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver of the pickup truck. Sometimes, an individual’s conduct may not rise to the level of being considered criminal, but that does not mean he or she could not be held financially liable in civil court. If the family can prove that their loved one was killed due to the negligence of the pickup driver, the court may make an award of damages that could alleviate the inevitable financial burdens that accompany such a tragedy.