Articles Posted in Auto Accidents

The school year is now in full swing and it is important as drivers to continue to practicing safe driving, especially when children are involved.

On Thursday, September 29, a tow truck crashed into a school bus carrying 27 children in St. Landry Parish, causing two children to be airlifted to the hospital and two others taken by ambulance. Children were exiting the bus when the tow truck crashed into the rear of the bus. In order to prevent incidents like this from happening again, it is crucial to remember Louisiana’s laws and procedures when driving near a school bus.

In Louisiana, the law states the driver of a vehicle coming upon a stopped school bus and red lights are flashing must stop no less than 30 feet away from the school bus and shall not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer activated.

In June, Governor John Bel Edwards signed SB435 into law, which provided that safety measures, including camera safety devices, will be installed on the Basin Bridge as a measure to reduce safety risks.

The new law went into effect on August 1, 2022 and will be implemented in three phases:

  1. Phase one began with crews installing “Higher Fines” and “Safety Corridor” signs to warn drivers of the changes. Also, as of August 1, 2022, fines are doubled for those speeding. This means those speeding may face fines as high as $350.

National Traffic Awareness Month in August draws awareness to traffic safety, not only for those behind the wheel, but for those riding as passengers and pedestrians as well. This month is used to shed light on the safety rules that help prevent major and minor accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 42,915 people died in car crashes in 2021. This is a 10.5% increase from 2020. The National Safety Council reported that approximately 4.8 million people were seriously injured in automobile collusions and estimated a total cost of car crashes of $474 billion in 2020. In light of these statistics, it is important to go back to basics and remember safe driving can save lives.

Louisiana is taking is a major step toward safety by installing speed cameras on the Atchafalaya bridge. In 2021 alone there were 269 accidents, resulting in 89 injures and two deaths. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson stated: “What this will ultimately do is save lives.”

A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle on Thursday night on LA-98 and LA-93.

Authorities reported that a 67-year-old male was hit by an SUV and thrown off of his bicycle. He was stopped in the westward lane on LA-98 facing east when a 2010 GMC Terrain SUV hit the cyclist while traveling west on LA-98.

The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The GMC SUV driver was not injured and showed no signs of impairment. The crash remains under investigation.

On Friday morning, Deputy Lonnie Thacker of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office responded to a two vehicle car accident on I-49 northbound. While sitting in the right lane with the emergency lights on, Deputy Thacker’s patrol vehicle was struck from behind by a Kia Sorento, causing both vehicles to veer off the road. Deputy Thacker was inside the vehicle at the time and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Sorento was taken to Oschner Hospital and reported only minor injuries.

The Caddo Sheriff’s office has turned over the investigation to the Louisiana State Police. Impairments are not expected to a contributing factor, but the State Police believe distraction to the driver is the cause of the accident.

Broussard, David & Moroux extends their condolences to Deputy Thacker’s family and friends as well as the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office.

On July 6, 2021, Interstate 10 was the location of two fatal car crashes, which occurred about thirty miles from each other. For approximately two hours, I-10 experienced closures in both the east and west bound lanes.

The first occurred earlier in the day around 8:00am. Near mile marker 92 near Duson, an 18-wheeler truck going westbound crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a truck pulling a livestock trailer head on, causing the 18-wheeler to overturn into the median. This multi-car crash resulted in two fatalities and five injuries- the identities of the victims have not been reported at this time. All westbound lanes on I-10 near miler marker 92 were closed until about 4:00 that afternoon.

The second accident occurred around noon at mile marker 69 between Jennings and Egan. Though information of the crash has not been released, Louisiana State Police has reported that the interstate-closing crash in the eastbound lanes was fatal. After about two hours, the eastbound lanes were cleared.

A single car crash in Lafayette parish claimed the young life of Juan Carlos Hernandez of San Antonio, Texas. On June 1, 2021, the driver of a pickup truck with four passengers lost control of the vehicle following a sudden tire failure. The truck exited towards the median and overturned near mile marker 99 on Interstate 10, coming to rest on its side.

The driver and front seat passengers wore their seatbelts and experienced moderate injuries. The two backseat passengers also experienced moderate injuries, though, they were unrestrained by seatbelts. The 29-year-old Hernandez was not restrained and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Though officers took standard toxicology samples, Louisiana State Police do not suspect impairment to have caused the accident.

According to U.S. Dept. of Transportation, seatbelts saved approximately 15,000 lives in 2017. Wearing a seatbelt is one of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make. Here are a few reasons why it is so important to wear your seatbelt:

  • Air bags are not enough – just because your vehicle has air bags does not mean you can skip the seatbelt, still wear it.
  • It can reduce injuries – wearing your seatbelt reduces your risk of sustaining injuries like whiplash and other head injuries.

An afternoon crash claimed the life of a 6-year-old child in Calcasieu Parish. A vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with an SUV cause the SUV to flip several time before landing in a ditch. The 6-year-old child was unrestrained in the SUV and was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Drivers of both vehicles sustained minor injuries with the additional minor passengers in the SUV sustaining no injuries. Impairment is not suspected in this crash.

Broussard, David & Moroux offer their condolences and sympathy to the family and friends during this difficult time.

The attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux have the knowledge and experience necessary to handle cases of this nature and will fight to obtain fair compensation for your injuries. If you, or a loved one has suffered harm because of the fault of another, contact the attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux to discuss your legal rights at (337) 233-2323 (local) or (888) 337-2323 (toll-free).

Bicycling is a great form of exercise, and as the weather warms up you will begin to see more cyclists on the road. Bicyclists face a higher risk of crash-related injuries and deaths than occupants in motor vehicles. To ensure your safety, whether you are a cyclist or a driver, here are a few things to remember regarding bike safety.

 For Cyclists:

  • Inspect your bike – adjust the seat, check the tires, and ensure your bike is safe to operate before going out for a ride;
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