In any accident between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian, the latter frequently loses. Many pedestrians are injured or killed in Louisiana each year, sometimes because they fail to observe traffic signals or try to walk in areas without crosswalks. Furthermore, they sometimes occur because motorists are not paying attention and do not see them until it is too late.
In a recent accident in the New Orleans metropolitan area, a 56-year-old female pedestrian was recently hit and killed in an early morning accident involving a pickup truck.
According to Harvey Police Department investigators, the woman was trying to cross Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey when she was hit. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck driver, a 54-year-old man from Zachary, told responding officers there was nothing he could do to prevent the accident. By the time he saw the woman, it was too late for him to stop his truck.
According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the truck driver was not cited. The district attorney for the parish will review the incident and decide whether charges against the truck driver are warranted.
Whenever a pedestrian is killed, family members should ensure that authorities conduct a proper investigation to determine whether negligence played any role in the accident. Negligence can include such behaviors as texting while driving, driving under the influence and speeding. Such behavior distracts and impairs a driver and increases the chances of a vehicular crash. The results can be used in any civil action the family might choose to take.
If driver negligence was a factor, then a wrongful death lawsuit may be warranted. If successful, this type of suit will hold a driver responsible for his or her actions and potentially lead to an award for compensation or damages from the driver or his or her insurance carrier.
Understanding the cause of the accident can play a huge role in filing a cause of action. Loved ones should seek guidance in this situation in order to ensure they take the necessary steps during this difficult time.
Source: WDSU.com, “Pedestrian killed in Harvey,” Mar. 11, 2014
