One Sulphur man's carelessness and negligence were readily apparent after he was arrested twice in one day for DWI and child endangerment. Not only was he driving drunk with children in the car, but the second arrest happened after he seems to have caused an accident on U.S. Highway 171 near Louisiana Highway 378. Luckily he didn't cause any injuries in his apparent inebriated state, but someone that is willing to drive while drunk twice in one day may be likely to do so again and this time cause a serious accident.
]]> The 23-year-old was first arrested by Sulphur police after 2:00 a.m. with children in the back seat of his vehicle. Officers were able to deduce that he had been drinking and they charged him with DWI, improper lane use, careless operation and child endangerment. Much later, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the man was drunk again and this time it seems he crashed into another car.As before, police say there were children in the car, as well as a 24-year-old woman who initially claimed that she had been driving. For a second time in one day, the man was charged with DWI, careless operation and child endangerment. He was also charged with driving under suspension in the second arrest.
Drunk driving is extremely dangerous and of the 20 traffic deaths investigated by Louisiana State Police, half were caused by drunk drivers. Whenever someone is injured by someone who was drinking and driving, it is important to get the medical care necessary to recover. After that, however, it is also important to find an attorney that can help explain your rights after a crash.
Source: 9 WAFB, "Sulphur man arrested for DWI and child endangerment, twice in same day," Kristian Claus, Feb. 20, 2012
]]>Arsenic is a chemical that can lead to developmental defects, serious medical conditions and cancer, and this chemical is appearing in many different foods with organic brown rice syrup. Of the 17 infant formulas that researchers tested, two had arsenic levels that were 20 times higher than those made without the sweetener. One of the formulas made with soy had arsenic levels that were two times higher than the limits the federal Environmental Protection Agency has set for water.
]]> While some scientists say it is unclear what these high levels of arsenic will do, many are concerned about what effects it will have on infants and young children. Because food and infant formula are so important, it would make sense for manufacturers to test the products to ensure they are not contaminated or could make people sick. Much like other food manufacturers that will check for potentially harmful substances like salmonella or E. coli, the companies that produce organic rice syrup have a duty to provide safe products to consumers.It seems that rice, and especially brown rice, will absorb arsenic from the soil because the plant mistakes it for silica. Regardless of whether the arsenic is naturally appearing or artificially added, however, manufacturers can often be held accountable for any injuries or illnesses resulting from tainted food.
Source: Health on Today, "High arsenic levels found in organic foods, baby formula," Linda Carroll, Feb. 16, 2012
]]>A recent accident in Louisiana has left four men dead and exemplifies how dangerous wrong-way, head-on collisions can be. The accident happened in the early-morning hours as a Jeep Grand Cherokee drove east on Interstate 10 West near LaPlace, Louisiana. Police had just received word of a wrong-way driver when the motorist smashed into a car with four people in it.
]]> It is unknown how fast the two cars were going, but the collision was severe enough that the driver and all three passengers were killed instantly. In the moments following the initial crash, a semitrailer then slammed into the vehicles and another driver then hit the truck. Luckily, both the trucker and the driver of the fourth vehicle escaped with relatively minor injuries.Police are still investigating the accident, including where the wrong-way driver entered the interstate. Once police are able to identify the driver and complete an autopsy, the families of the four men killed can file wrongful death lawsuits against the wrong-way driver's estate. While the lawsuits won't bring back their dead loved ones, they may help the families heal from such a devastating accident.
Source: The Washington Post, "Trooper: 5 killed in wrong0way crash on Interstate 10 in Louisiana outside New Orleans," Feb. 10, 2012
]]>A defective product can be extremely dangerous, especially when the product is widely used. The manufacturer of the coffee maker has recently issued a recall of 1.7 million coffee makers after it started receiving complaints that the machine would spray hot tea, coffee, and coffee grounds and tea leaves at operators. The small plastic disc that holds the individual coffee or tea capsules in place has been bursting while it brewed, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
]]> One of the most frightening injuries was that of a 10-year-old girl. She had been at home with her grandmother when the coffee maker started to make a peculiar sound. As the young girl went to investigate, the machine sprayed her with super-heated coffee grounds along her neck and face. The burns were so severe that physicians had to graft synthetic skin over the affected areas. The girl was also not allowed outside or in school for several months for risk of infection.While the 10-year-old's family is not looking for compensation from the manufacturer of the dangerous coffee maker, anyone who is injured by this machine can file a products liability lawsuit with the help of an attorney. The lawsuit would hold the manufacturer responsible for the injuries, pain and suffering, and the financial costs associated with the injuries. There is no reason that a coffee maker should explode and burn innocent bystanders.
Source: Star Tribune, "Minn. Girl endured pain, nightmares, isolation after burns from recalled coffee brewer," Paul Walsh, Feb. 9, 2012
]]>The two passengers were injured in the accident and immediately taken to the hospital. As the two teenage girls recover from such a horrific accident, they should be able to hold the driver's estate responsible for their pain and suffering. If the 17-year-old had kept her eyes on the road, the car would not have hurtled toward the tree line.
]]> The accident happened on Interstate 12 near Tangipahoa Parish, says Louisiana State Police. Investigators believe the woman had turned around to grab something in the backseat and as she started to drift to the left, she overcorrected to the right. The teenager then lost control of her car and she smashed into a tree.The 16- and 18-year-old passengers were taken to two different hospitals in Covington and were admitted with moderate injuries. It is unknown how long it will be before the teenagers will be released or until they are able to resume normal activities.
This story reminds us that even the smallest distraction can lead to serious injuries.
Source: The Times-Picayune, "St. Tammany car crash killed promising Ponchatoula High student, ROTC cadet," Ramon Antonio Vargas, Jan. 31, 2012
]]>The accident occurred when a 28-year-old man crossed the roadway's center line while driving a Ford Focus on Louisiana Highway 1256 near Red Rose Drive, just outside of Lake Charles. Neither the officer, nor the driver of the Focus, was wearing a seat belt, according to police. The deputy was critically injured in the accident and was transported to a local hospital. He later died from his severe injuries.
]]> The accident also snared two additional cars -- a Dodge Stratus and Dodge pick-up truck. The 44- and 42-year-old drivers sustained minor injuries at the scene. According to reports, after the Focus' collision with the deputy's Ford Taurus, the Stratus rear-ended the deputy's vehicle and traveled into the southbound lane. It then collided with the Dodge pick-up.Currently, toxicology reports are being analyzed and police are continuing to investigate this tragic accident. It is unknown what caused the 28-year-old to travel into oncoming traffic, but police may charge the driver with more than just driving left of center and not wearing a seat belt at the conclusion of the investigation.
It is certainly difficult for any family to lose someone, but one of the most important things a family can do is to speak with a lawyer about how to file a wrongful death lawsuit. While taking legal action against the person who is responsible for a family member's death may seem out of place during such a sad time, a lawyer can start the legal proceedings while the family has time to mourn.
Source: KPLC TV 7, "'Heats heavy' after deputy killed in crash," Theresa Schmidt, Jan. 18, 2012
]]>These lunch boxes which have been recalled are reported to have leaking freezer gel packs in the insulation. If the pack breaks, a gel containing ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol will leak into the lunch box and potentially contaminate a person's food. The gel is extremely poisonous and there have currently been reports of two dogs becoming ill from eating the gel. One of the dogs was unable to recover and subsequently died.
]]> Although there have not been any reports of human injuries or deaths, it is possible that Lake Charles and other Louisiana residents may not hear about the recall and could unknowingly ingest the gel. The lunch boxes have been sold at a variety of stores across the country.Manufacturers cannot be responsible for every injury ever caused by their products, but when something has a design flaw or the product cannot be used safely, manufacturers can and should be held accountable for any injuries that result. If the manufacturer has made a product that will injure or harm a customer, even if he or she is using the device how the manufacturer intended, it is not the consumer's fault if he or she is injured.
Source: Reuters, "Lunch boxes recalled over leaking freezer gel," Jan. 24, 2012
]]>The lawsuit accuses the owner of the burning marshland for letting the fire burn and failing to bring the fire under control. The city, state and property owner should have been aware of the problems the smoke causes, as the burning marsh has already been the subject of previous lawsuits. Others have filed suit because the smoke was apparently causing hazardous conditions, including making people sick, in addition to obstructing view of the traffic.
]]> The lawsuit states that the fatal accident could have been avoided if state and local officials warned drivers about the low visibility on the highway that day. It also alleges that there was improper lighting. The man claims that the city did not provide traffic control and did not put the fire out, as it should have.In the accident, the man broke his foot when he crashed into the back of a truck that he was unable to see. His pickup truck was caught in the middle of the massive accident. The moment the man saw the fog he slowed down, but he couldn't avoid hitting the truck in front of him.
Source: WWLTV Eyewitness News, "Lawsuits filed in 40-vehicle fatal accident," Paul Murphy, Jan. 17, 2012
]]>Recently, a Louisiana man lost his life after the Robinson R44 Helicopter he was riding in crashed in southern Louisiana. The helicopter had left the Houma-Terrebonne airport approximately one hour before it inexplicably crashed, but the Federal Aviation Administration and Coast Guard are investigating the accident.
]]> Sadly, the helicopter passenger, who had worked for the company that owned the helicopter for many years, died in the accident. The company insists that the man was not on a work trip, but it may be that the company wants to distance itself from the accident. Since no one claims to know why the employee was traveling or where he was going in a company helicopter, it is possible that he was on a business-related trip.While this accident remains somewhat of a mystery, someone is to blame for this 42-year-old Louisiana man's death. It may take the Coast Guard and the FAA some time to determine whether it was the pilot's error or some kind of mechanical malfunction, but this man's family has a right to hold whoever failed to care for the helicopter or follow proper safety procedures accountable for his untimely death.
Source: Upstream Online, "Louisiana helicopter crash kills two," Kathrine Schmidt, Jan. 19, 2012
]]>In this story, the relatives of a 19-year-old Lake Charles man may be considering a wrongful death lawsuit after the young man was tragically killed in a car accident. He had been riding in his friend's car along Interstate 10 outside of Lake Charles in Sulphur. The Sulphur Police Department is continuing to investigate the accident, but it seems that the friend drove the car off the freeway, crashing into a clump of trees.
]]> Emergency medical responders and members of the police department were on the scene at about 11 p.m. earlier this month after receiving information about an accident. The Sulphur Daily News reports that when law enforcement arrived, the 19-year-old friend's vehicle was flipped over in the shoulder. Sadly, police were not able to revive the passenger and he died at the scene of the accident.Police believe that the driver started to drift off the interstate at mile marker 21 and when he hit the tree line, the car overturned. The officers do not suspect alcohol played a role in the crash.
While the investigation is ongoing, it seems that the driver played some role in the fatal accident. The family of the deceased passenger may not be thinking about filing a lawsuit right now, but it is important that anyone who has lost a family member in car crash speak with an attorney as soon as possible to preserve their legal rights.
Source: Sulphur Daily News, "Sulphur Police investigate fatal crash on I-10," Jan. 8, 2012
]]>The claim states that the federal agencies failed to properly maintain the severe weather and flood warning system at the campground. This led to communication problems that prevented campers from seeking higher ground because they had no idea of the imminent danger of flash flooding.
]]> Also included in the claim was the fact that the campground had a history of flooding that dated back to the 1940s. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service reportedly failed to post flood hazard warning signs to inform campers of the dangers of camping in a potential flood zone.Adding to the notion that once one thing goes wrong, everything else does, the campground also had no ranger on site, no cell-phone service, no emergency warning sirens and the closest sheriff's department was at least an hour away. These combined circumstances made for a tragic situation.
Casualties of the flood were seven children and 13 adults from Louisiana and surrounding states. They died after heavy rains flooded the valley in the Ouachita Mountains and sent the Little Missouri River out of its banks.
The families of these victims realize that seeking compensation will not undo the negligence that had taken place, but these families are entitled to financial support, which can also send a message to prevent similar tragedies from happening.
As a result of this these deadly circumstances, workers at the Albert Pike Recreation Area installed a new transmitter, so weather-alert radio signals can reach the campground and avoid any future tragedies.
Source: Claims Journal, "3 Texans File Tort Claim Over Deadly Arkansas Flood," Jan. 6, 2012
]]>Although the pharmaceutical firm has not released any reports of adverse drug reactions, it is possible that consumers could sustain serious injuries from the manufacturing errors. The company recently admitted that it had been mixing medications together in the same bottle, which may result in individuals taking the wrong pill or tablet. There have also been reports that some of the pills packaged in one of their American plants have been chipped or broken.
]]> While there have not yet been any reported problems associated with the Novartis' manufacturing mistake, the defective medications could lead to several problems. With the possible mixing of medications or cross-contamination, anyone with a medical allergy to one or several different types of medicines could experience a serious allergic reaction. It is also possible that someone could either get too much or too little of the drug they intended to take. Finally, an unwitting consumer could potentially take medicines that will interfere with or cause an adverse interaction with medicines he or she is already taking.Novartis has taken responsibility for its defective manufacturing by publically admitting their mistakes and issuing a recall of four popular medicines, but if a consumer is injured from these medicines the company can still be held responsible. No one should have to worry that he or she will develop medical complications for taking a simple over-the-counter medicine according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Source: Pioneer Press, "Novartis recalls Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin, Gas-X Prevention over reports of plant malfunction," Jan. 9, 2012
]]>Tragically, two people have lost their lives outside of Enterprise, Louisiana, after they were trapped in their mobile home as it burned to the ground. The Louisiana Fire Marshal has said that he believes the family's space heathers caused the fire, but he is continuing to investigate the fire. It may be difficult to completely confirm the space heaters caused the fire, however, because most of the evidence was destroyed in the fire, as well.
]]> In addition to the horrific deaths of the two family members, a third family member was badly injured as he or she tried to save the two trapped inside their mobile home. Other family members who lived nearby called the fire department and vehicles from Enterprise and the not-too-distant Jonesville arrived on the scene. It was only after they were able to extinguish the fire that they discovered the bodies.Although the Louisiana Fire Marshal's Office is continuing to investigate this Christmas Day fire, a sheriff's deputy with the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office has ruled out foul play. He has said that it does not appear that there were any "suspicious circumstances" involved in the fire.
Source: The Town Talk, "Space heaters possible cause of fatal Catahoula fire," Bret H. McCormick, Dec. 29, 2011
]]>The family of a 30-year-old man may be wishing that a Louisiana man with a suspended license had stayed off the road; instead, he caused an accident that claimed the life of the 30-year-old pedestrian. The car accident victim had been walking in the far right lane of Interstate 190 east of Port Barre, Louisiana, when the driver hit him.
]]> It is unclear why the driver was unable to see the pedestrian and why he did not try to avoid the man walking along the side of the interstate. The crash happened in the early morning, but it was not reported that the driver was unable to see because it was too dark. It is unknown if there were street lights at the scene of the accident.Tragically, the pedestrian died at the scene of the accident. The driver was submitted to toxicology screenings, but it is unknown if the laboratory has determined whether the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident. The Louisiana State Police are continuing to investigate the cause of this fatal pedestrian accident.
Source: KATC 3, "Pedestrian Dies In Fatal Crash," AE Stevenson, Dec. 17, 2011
]]>During the crash, the 18-wheeler's load of pipes spilled into the roadway directly in front of oncoming traffic, resulting in a 7-car accident. Between the seven cars, six people suffered injuries in the crash. Luckily, all of the injuries were non-life threatening.
]]> The crash reportedly occurred in a construction zone, and a Louisiana trooper believes that the construction zone contributed to the crash. The trooper also claims that the driver should have known to slow down and been more alert in the area.A citation was issued to the driver of the 18-wheeler
Not only were six people injured in this horrific accident, but road closures caused major delays, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
As a professional driver, a trucker should know how to negotiate a construction zone while still maintaining control of his or her vehicle and its load. When a driver causes a serious accident, however, it calls into question the trucker's driving leading up to the accident. For this driver, it seems that Louisiana law enforcement believes his careless driving was a major cause of the accident.
Source: 33 News, "18-wheeler causes 7 car crash, major delays," David D'Aquin, Dec. 13, 2011
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