18 January 2025 - Posted by Monsour Law Firm
Car accidents in Louisiana are a high concern issue, induced by several factors that contribute to the rate at which collisions happen and the impact that occurs in the state. The Monsour Law Firm realizes that car accidents can be devastating to any person and his family members and is ready to assist you through the legal problems that result from the incident.
The leading causes of distracted driving are the use of mobile phones. Under Louisiana law, La. R.S. 32:300.5 prohibits texting while driving, but violations remain a big concern. Drivers who text or browse while operating increase their likelihood of being in an accident by a huge margin.
Eating or drinking anything while driving may seem innocuous, but removing one’s eyes from the road is not. It causes delayed reaction times and, sometimes, disastrous accidents.
Other distractions, such as adjusting the radio, communicating with passengers, or reaching for items within the vehicle, are also some of the causes of accidents. These minor actions make drivers lose focus on the road and fail to act in case of unexpected hazards.
Under Louisiana’s traffic law, it is considered illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or greater. Alcohol remains one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in Louisiana.
Driving under the influence of drugs, including prescription medications with impairment in motor functions, also leads to a number of accidents. Louisiana’s law provides very strict punishment for drivers whose impairment has been traced through substances. This type of impairment often goes underestimated but is just as deadly as alcohol impairment.
One of the most common causes of a car accident in Louisiana involves driving at speeds over the posted limit. The faster any vehicle is going, the longer the stopping time which increases collision possibilities. This action is considered more hazardous through residential districts and school zones.
This is aggravated by speeding in bad weather or on poorly maintained roads. A driver who does not comply with the elements by driving slowly increases their chance of involvement in an accident. It is difficult to control a vehicle on wet roads or uneven surfaces.
Aggressive driving behaviors include weaving between lanes, making sudden lane changes, and overtaking dangerously causing unpredictable situations on the road.
Despite the number of crashes being low in the second quarter of 2020, the LSU Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety noted that the number of fatalities attributed to aggressive driving is up. This would be an alarming trend in driver behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic-where less irresponsibility results in more severe crashes.
Following too closely behind another vehicle—or tailgating—leaves little room for error. This behavior frequently leads to rear-end collisions, especially in sudden braking scenarios. Tailgating also causes tension and anxiety for other drivers.
Drivers who run red lights or stop signs frequently create catastrophic accidents. Louisiana law at La. R.S. 32:123 requires drivers to yield to other vehicles that have the right of way. Failure to do so is one of the most common causes of intersection accidents.
This means failing to give pedestrians right of way, especially at the crosswalk and this leads to fatal injuries. This is so because, in any accident involving a pedestrian, the victim is usually vulnerable and thus incurs severe injuries.
Disregarding a red light or a stop sign signage results in cross-traffic T-bone or head-on collisions. Such accidents are extremely hazardous because the speeds involved are usually very high. Drivers who do such actions put not just their lives in danger but others as well.
Heavy rainfall, which is common in the Louisiana climate, can also create slick roads and lower traction for tires. Accidents from hydroplaning are common in those conditions. Of course, drivers should still be extra careful during storms. Weather conditions are one of the factors that account for the statistically high number of accidents and their costs in Louisiana, according to state insurance statistics.
Fog reduces visibility to a large extent that drivers cannot see vehicles, pedestrians, or road signs. Limited visibility is a significant contributor to the pileups on Louisiana’s highways. Taking measures such as driving with fog lights on and slowing down is necessary.
These accidents involving long drives, particularly with truckers, can easily be caused by road fatigue. It reduces good concentration and slower reaction time, often the cause of accidents. This is essential to decrease fatigue-related perils with rest periods.
Sleep-deprived drivers cannot judge well, and their reflexes are slower. Driving while fatigued is like driving under the influence.
Not using a turn signal when changing lanes keeps other drivers in the dark and raises the chances of a side-impact collision. Turn signals are an easy yet vital tool to help avoid accidents.
Failure to check the blind spots before changing lanes is one of the major causes of accidents, particularly on busy highways like I-20 in Shreveport. Most of these collisions can be avoided by properly using the car mirrors and being aware of one’s surroundings.
Negligence in brakes leads to fatal accidents. Careful inspection is quite crucial to make sure that brake systems perform the way they ought to. Faulty brakes are very dangerous in high-traffic areas.
Tire blowouts are most frequently brought about by worn-out or under-inflated tires. These often bring about loss of control and accidents, especially at high speeds. Proper tire maintenance includes checking air pressure and the depth of the tread, which is essential for road safety.
Here at the Monsour Law Firm, we are dedicated to assisting people and families who have been affected by car accidents across Louisiana. We would like to hear from you; you can reach us by telephone number (318) 888-3333 or you can visit our physical office at 401 Market Street, Suite 1300, Shreveport, LA 71101 for a free consultation anytime.
Douglas C. Monsour, or Doug Monsour, is a trial lawyer who handles important and significant injury cases in Texas and across the nation. He is one of a handful of trial lawyers who have successfully tried multiple pharmaceutical, medical device, and mass tort product liability cases as the lead lawyer. He also vigorously represents injured oil field workers, victims of 18-wheeler wrecks, industrial accident victims, and those that have been severely burned.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Monsour who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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