Lafayette Louisiana Personal Injury Law blog

Louisiana residents see their fair share of commercial trucks on their roads every single day. They also see the drivers of these trucks using their cellphones. If such behavior results in truck accidents, the victims of these events or -- in the event of fatality -- their surviving family members may seek relief for their losses through legal means.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set guidelines regarding cellphone use for commercial drivers. While they are allowed to use their phones, they have to do it in a certain way. According to the FMCSA, in order for a truck driver to use his or her cellphone:

• It must be mounted within reach or in an easily accessible place in the vehicle.
• It must have hands-free capability or single-button answer/call capabilities.
• It cannot be held while driving.

Another New Year's Eve has come and gone, and with it came a number of car accidents caused by drunk drivers. While it has not yet been reported how many drunk driving-related motor vehicle accidents happened between Dec. 30, 2018  and Jan. 1, 2019 in the entire state of Louisiana, it is safe to say there were quite a few. In the Lake Charles area, there were only two. 

A recent news article talked about the penalties associated with a driving while impaired conviction. It talked about the thousands of dollars one might pay in penalties and legal fees to fight a DWI charge. It talked about the time one might spend in substance abuse classes. Yes, the consequences associated with a DWI conviction can be severe.

When pregnant and preparing to bring a child into the world, the medical care a woman receives during her pregnancy and during labor and delivery matters. Not all women want the full hospital birthing experience. Some prefer home births or a least prefer to have a midwife rather than a doctor at the delivery. In Louisiana, can midwives be held responsible if their actions contribute to birth injury or infant death?

It was recently reported that a midwife in another state is facing civil claims for her alleged role in the injury and death of an infant. On Feb. 8, she was assisting a mother during a home birth that turned out to be more complicated than expected because the baby presented in a frank breech position. Instead of taking the mother to the hospital, they proceeded with the home delivery. The child suffered significant brain injuries during the delivery process and died days later. This case is just getting started and there is no information about what level of compensation the parents are seeking.

Longshoremen and harbor workers work long hours, often in grueling conditions. There are so many potential hazards at their places of work that injuries happen quite frequently. In Louisiana, injured maritime workers may seek compensation for their losses through legal means.

Maritime workers often suffer injuries due to equipment failure or environmentally related illnesses. Commonly seen injuries often result from slip-and-fall accidents, excessive heavy lifting, falls and accidents involving heavy machinery. Fatalities in this line of work are also fairly common. Deaths occur following electrocutions, fires, explosions, drowning and equipment-related accidents -- among other events.