Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog
A news story from late May, as reported by the New Orleans Advocate, described a tragic scene arising from a scenario that occurs all too often. Whether due to sleepiness, distractions, controlled substance use, or defective vehicles, too many truck drivers operate under less-than-ideal driving conditions, leading them to do things like failing to notice obviously slowed or stopped traffic ahead of them and crashing into those stopped or nearly stopped vehicles. Because of the sheer force that commercial trucks moving at 55, 65, or 70 mph have, their crash impacts are often massive. The harm inflicted can be life-altering or life-ending. If you have been injured (or a loved one killed) due to the negligence of a truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation from the driver, his employer, or both. It is important to reach out promptly to a knowledgeable New Orleans truck accident attorney to make sure that the proper steps are taken in a timely manner.
- Read more about Louisiana personal injury truck accidents.
In the crash from May, the eastbound traffic on Interstate 12 was stopped or slowing to a stop near the La. 21 overpass due to congestion. According to the Advocate report, one semi truck (hauling a load of avocados) did not stop, however. The 18-wheeler proceeded ahead at full speed, crashing into the stopped traffic and triggering a chain-reaction accident that involved nine vehicles, in addition to the truck itself. The semi jackknifed and caught fire. Three other vehicles caught fire too.
In the first impact, the commercial truck slammed into a Lexus sedan. Both people inside the Lexus, a mother-and-son pair from Baton Rouge, died at the scene. The semi also went on to hit a Toyota SUV. The driver of the Toyota, a grandmother of six from Mandeville, died at a hospital. The truck driver was the fourth fatality in the crash. The accident also injured several other people.
When a truck crash leaves fatalities, the damage is obviously enormous. Families lose siblings, children, parents, and grandparents. They lose their companionship and emotional support, and they lose the benefit of their life wisdom. While no amount of money can ever truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, that does not change the fact that a fatal accident can cause dramatic financial harm to the loved ones left behind. The pair inside the Lexus were a 44-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man. Each person’s family may have depended on them for, among other things, providing support to their family through their incomes. That loss has the potential to create a massive financial crisis for the loved ones left behind, especially if the deceased was a primary breadwinner.
There are also other ways that the death of a loved one may harm a family financially, even if the deceased loved one didn’t earn a traditional paycheck. Imagine if, for example, the 64-year-old grandmother who died was retired but provided in-home care to a close relative, who will now have to pay thousands of dollars per month to reside in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. Certainly, that loss would create a major financial hardship for the family in that hypothetical situation.
That’s why it is so important to make sure that you take prompt action and have skilled legal counsel on your side. Your family has emotional challenges that you will need to manage. Let your knowledgeable attorney handle the legal challenges that go with your case. For your legal needs related to your wrongful death or personal injury case, talk to the Cardone Law Firm, where our experienced Louisiana truck accident lawyers have spent many years providing our clients with the determined and diligent representation their cases deserve.
For your confidential consultation, contact us online or phone Cardone at 504-522-3333.
More Blog Posts:
How to Get Your Accident Report in Louisiana Following Your Truck Accident, Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog, April 1, 2018
Five Large Truck Failures That Lead to Accidents, Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog, Feb. 8, 2018