On Sept. 25, a 54-year-old man died as a result of a motorcycle accident on Highway 343. According to Louisiana State Police, the Acadia Parish accident occurred when a northbound Mitsubishi Montero, attempting to turn left, entered the path of a southbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by the 54-year-old man.
The motorcycle made contact with the passenger side of the Montero, reportedly. This caused the motorcycle to carom off of the roadway and into a ditch. Consequently, the 54-year-old man was propelled from the motorcycle, officials said. Emergency personnel transported the 54-year-old motorcyclist to a hospital, where he ultimately died on account of his accident-related injuries. The driver of the Montero did not report suffering any injuries in the wreck.
Police cited the driver of the Montero for making an improper turn. While the event remains under investigation, police do not suspect that impairment was a factor in the accident.
If, hypothetically, further investigation into this case were to yield substantial evidence demonstrating that negligent driving was the main factor contributing to the crash, then the at-fault party might be susceptible to a civil lawsuit. Family members of people who die in motorcycle accidents attributed to a negligent driver may be entitled to wrongful death compensation, and so deceased accident victims’ families often retain a wrongful death attorney following the accident and file suit.
If successful, bereaved family members might be awarded compensation for the economic losses they suffered in connection with the fatal incident. These losses may include but are not limited to funeral bills, burial costs, estate administration expenses and even lost earnings if the decedent had contributed income to dependents while alive.
Source: KATC, “Scott man killed in motorcycle crash”, September 26, 2014
