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Posted in Car Accidents,Our Blog on June 13, 2013
Turning left into oncoming traffic: it’s a common and often deadly mistake Louisiana drivers make on a weekly basis. Motorcyclists are especially susceptible to serious injuries in this sort of crash, and unfortunately that was the case recently in Livingston Parish.
The accident took the life of a 36-year-old motorcyclist, and authorities were still investigating the crash at the time of a June 8 report. The family of the deceased man will undoubtedly want to see the results of that investigation.
According to state troopers, the motorcyclist was heading west on Louisiana Highway 63 when the 35-year-old driver of another vehicle coming in the opposite direction tried to turn left. The larger vehicle reportedly crossed into the motorcyclist’s lane.
The rider tried to avoid a collision by laying down his bike, but at that point a crash was unavoidable. He ran into the passenger side of the other vehicle.
Police say the motorcyclist was helmeted, but after he was thrown from the bike, his injuries were still severe. He was taken to a hospital, where sadly he died of his injuries.
At this point, police do not suspect that either driver was impaired, though the investigation continues.
As they try to cope with the devastating loss of their loved one, the family of the motorcyclist may be inclined to explore the available legal options for achieving justice through a claim of wrongful death. This kind of civil claim occurs separately from any criminal charges a negligent driver may face, and wrongful death claims can lead to monetary compensation for damages such as funeral costs, lost wages, medical bills and other non-monetary damages such as pain and suffering.