Posted on July 29, 2016
Many motorists on Louisiana roads are often threatened by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. Because the actions of a drunk driver are so unpredictable, it is often difficult to avoid collisions. While such a driver in a car poses huge risks to other road users, an intoxicated driver behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler can cause devastation in a truck accident.
A 27-year-old driver of an 18-wheeler was recently arrested at the scene of an accident that involved several cars. The Louisiana State Police reported that the driver of the truck failed to slow down when he was approaching a red light. He apparently crashed into the rears of two stationary vehicles at the red traffic light, and then collided head-on with a third car.
One of the cars was forced across the opposite lanes of Highway 90 and landed in a ditch. This driver suffered several fractured bones, while the injuries suffered by the other two drivers were minor. The truck driver was detained in a correctional center on a bond of $22,500. The charges filed against him included DWI, reckless driving and vehicular negligence causing bodily injuries.
While fatalities in a truck accident are not uncommon, the victims of this truck driver’s alleged negligence were fortunate to survive. Louisiana residents who have suffered injuries in any road accidents that resulted from the negligent actions of other parties may pursue personal injury claims in a civil court. Here, both the trucker and the trucker’s employer could face civil claims for financial damages. Successful presentation may lead to an award of compensation to cover medical expenses, along with other documented financial losses.
Source: heraldguide.com, “Truck driver crashes into three vehicles in Boutte, charged with DWI“, Thomas M. Baker, March 20, 2015