Baton Rouge Personal Injury Law Blog

Spate of motorcycle accident deaths sparks focus on safety

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

Most drivers are aware of motorcyclists and make certain to share the road with them so everyone remains safe. Behaviors that improve safety include keeping an eye on them when they are in the vicinity, making sure to yield when it is required and giving them room on the road. However, motorcycle accidents still happen, in part because drivers of conventional vehicles are guilty of motorcycle unawareness, distracted driving recklessness and more.

Because motorcyclists are so vulnerable, serious injuries can happen with long-term consequences. In the worst cases, there is a fatality. There has been a recent run of motorcycle crashes in the area and a group is trying to bring these issues to light to improve safety. Their actions came about because of four fatalities in the previous two weeks before their efforts became public.

There is a lot to know about drowsy driving

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

Even if you feel good when you first get behind the wheel, it's possible to become drowsy at some point. This is particularly true if you're on the road for an extended period of time.

Fortunately, the more you learn about drowsy driving, the easier it is to avoid trouble. While you can't control what other drivers do in regard to their level of alertness, you can make changes to your driving style.

School bus crash sends driver of other vehicle to hospital

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Commercial Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

When coming across a school bus in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana, there is an expectation that the vehicle will be driven with caution and the driver will operate it safely. However, accidents can happen with any vehicle and they are often attributed to mistakes on the part of a driver. If the mistake happened with the bus driver, the size of the vehicle and the circumstances of the crash can cause serious injuries and death. Those who have been injured in a bus crash should be cognizant of the issues they will face and take the necessary steps to file a claim to receive compensation.

According to a recent report, an accident between a school bus and a car sent the car's driver to the hospital. The accident occurred in the morning at approximately 8:15. The investigation says that the bus did not yield at a stop sign as it should have. It went into the path of the vehicle and there was a crash. The vehicle subsequently flipped over onto its roof. Children were on the bus, but none were hurt. The driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. The bus driver is expected to receive a citation for failing to yield. The investigation is ongoing.

Study shows a link in rise of Lyft and Uber fatal car accidents

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

For Louisiana residents, there are obvious dangers on the road. They will be aware of them and keep a close watch for these risks when out and about as drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. That includes distracted drivers, drunk drivers, negligent drivers and more. There are other risks people will face and, frequently, they will not even realize that it is impacting their safety. They can cause a car accident with catastrophic injuries just as easily as the above-listed, known issues. The common denominator in any crash is that there can be injuries and fatalities, and those who were impacted must remember their rights to attempt to seek compensation in a lawsuit.

The University of Chicago and Rice University combined on a study that indicates ride-sharing services are playing a role in the increase of fatal car accidents in the past few years. In 2010, the U.S. saw a reduction in deaths in traffic accidents that reached levels of safety not seen since 1949. This was just prior to the widespread expansion of ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft. After that, the fatality numbers began to increase. According to one of the researchers, there was a rise of 2 to 3 percent in fatalities.

Motorcyclist dies when driver fails to yield and causes crash

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, October 25, 2018.

Motorcycle unawareness is one of the most common causes of an automobile-motorcycle accident in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana. Since motorcyclists are vulnerable and can face serious injuries and death when they are in a crash with a conventional motor vehicle, it is imperative that they are cautious and aware of the vehicles with which they are sharing the road. In some unfortunate situations, all the caution in the world will not prevent a crash. These can quickly turn into fatalities. People who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident will need to know their legal options.

According to a recent reports, a 40-year-old woman died when her motorcycle was hit by a driver who turned into her path. The accident happened in the morning at around 6 a.m. The rider was going west when the 27-year-old male driver heading east committed a failure to yield and made a left as she approached the intersection. The vehicles collided. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle. When emergency personnel arrived, they declared her dead at the site of the crash. As law enforcement officials investigate, they do not believe that the driver was under the influence, but they are continuing their investigation.

Bus accident statistics show an increase in fatalities

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Commercial Vehicle Accidents on Sunday, October 21, 2018.

Riding a bus can be a convenient method of transportation in Louisiana and across the U.S. It saves people from needing to drive on their own, allows them the freedom to relax and get to their destination and it can be a money saver. However, what many do not consider when they get on a bus is that there are inherent risks. A rider is placing his or her trust in the bus driver and the owner of the fleet. Issues such as inexperience, operating under the influence, recklessness and more can cause a bus crash. Those who are involved in these accidents should be cognizant of the frequency with which they happen and take the necessary steps after the fact to consider a legal filing for compensation.

The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that there was an increase in fatal bus and coach accidents in 2017. It says that there was a total of 234 such accidents in which there was a fatality. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, this was a rise of seven from 2016. While there has not been a full assessment of school bus fatalities, research into news reports indicate that, in 2017, there were five student deaths - this is consistent with the average on an annual basis.

Traffic crashes and the 5 steps to take next

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC on Friday, October 19, 2018.

When you're in a collision, you know that the steps you take next could be the difference between life and death. You may have seriously hurt people in your vehicle or see that the other driver or their passengers are hurt.

For this reason, it's important to know what steps to take following a crash. Here's a little more about what to do.

Emergency hazards and evacuation dangers

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

Louisiana is no stranger to heavy rains and storms, and most drivers have learned when it's safe to be on the roads. When hurricanes strike or heavy rains pose a threat, it's generally safer to stay off the roads, but that's not always possible.

For people in a position where they have to drive regardless of the outside conditions, it's necessary to know what to do to stay safe. Here are a few tips about remaining safe when driving during a natural disaster or heavy storm.

Bicycle accident fatality statistics show Louisiana near the top

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

When there is a car accident in Louisiana, it can result in injuries and fatalities. Fortunately for many, they are protected by being in a vehicle and can be shielded from the worst kind of damage. Bicyclists cannot say the same. Many people in the state use a bicycle to get around. It is a great way to stay in shape, save money on transportation costs, and be environmentally friendly. When there is a crash between a motor vehicle and a bicycle, however, the rider will inevitably suffer serious injuries and death - far more often than an accident between motor vehicles. Part of seeking compensation in a legal filing after a car-bicycle accident is understanding the statistics of these accidents. A legal professional is key to all aspects of a case.

A Wall Street Journal study says that Louisiana has the second highest risk for bicyclists. Two of the most commonly cited causes are excessive traffic and distracted drivers. The study focuses on 2007 to 2016 and in that time-frame, Louisiana had the second highest number of fatal bicycle accidents trailing Florida. Since 1991, the number of those fatalities has risen by 35 percent. Males who are in their late-50s are the most common victims of these bicycle accidents.

Woman, 55, dies in head-on auto accident

On behalf of The Lucky Law Firm, PLC posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, October 4, 2018.

When a vehicle drives over the center line and into the opposite lanes of a Louisiana roadway, it is one of the most dangerous situations a driver who is going in the proper direction can face. There is literally nowhere for the driver to go to avoid the crash, and the best that can be hoped for is that the driver will somehow correct the path and go back into the applicable lanes or that the crash will somehow be mitigated and not end up as a head-on collision. After a head-on collision, there can be catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Those who have been harmed by this kind of auto accident must demand a full investigation and have help from a law firm experienced in car crashes.

A head-on car accident led to the death of a 55-year-old woman. According to the investigation, a 59-year-old man in a pickup truck was heading east at around 10 p.m. when his vehicle went into the lanes heading west. He crashed into the woman's vehicle. It is not known why he drifted into the opposite lanes and nothing, including possible intoxication, has been ruled out. The man was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not believed to be serious. The woman was critically hurt and died. A toxicology test was given to the man and the results are not yet known. The investigation into the auto accident is continuing.