A bill prohibiting the use of social media sites while driving was passed by the Louisiana Senate Wednesday. The bill by Senator Dale Erdey is designed to further prevent accidents caused by distracted drivers. Louisiana Law currently prohibits drivers from reading or sending text messages while driving. Senate Bill 147…
A recently released report indicates that Lafayette’s “red-light camera” programs have reduced crashes across the city. The report monitored intersections for three years before the cameras were installed and then for three years after the installation of the cameras. By the end of the study, they found that the presence…
In the weeks following the Triumph’s return to shore, several passengers have filed lawsuits against Carnival Corporation. In their complaints, passengers allege that Carnival “recklessly and intentionally” risked their lives on board the Triumph. The passengers further allege that Carnival “knew or should have known” that the cruise ship would…
The Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals clarified the standard of care to be used in medical malpractice cases involving hospitals and their employees. In Crockham v. Thompson, the Second Circuit ruled that hospitals should be held to a national standard of care in actions for medical malpractice. The Second…
A barge carrying more than 80,000 gallons of oil hit a railroad bridge Sunday near Vicksburg, spilling oil into the Mississippi River. A second barge was also damaged following the accident. No injuries were reported, and authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. By its very nature, maritime work…
In the weeks following the tragic New York City ferry crash, survivors and their families have filed lawsuits against the ferry’s operator under maritime law. More than 70 people were injured in the accident, and several victims remain in intensive care. A new National Transportation Safety Board report details the…
Toyota will pay $1.1 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by millions of car owners. In the suit, car owners alleged they suffered economic loss from negative publicity associated with reports of sudden unintended acceleration in their Toyota and Lexus vehicles. This lawsuit is one of the first class…
With reports of four train accidents in two months, the holiday season exposed the dangers and risks of rail travel. In Texas, a freight train tragically crashed into a Veterans Day parade, killing four veterans and injuring 16. A week later, another commercial train derailed in New Jersey when a…
A Shreveport man struck a horse on his motorcycle when the horse suddenly sprinted in front of the man’s motorcycle on a highway. Both the man and the horse died in the accident. Authorities continue to search for the identity of the horse’s owner. Animals can cause several different types…
A private plane collided into an SUV driving on an airport’s service road in Roanoke, Texas during the pilot’s first solo landing. Both the plane’s pilot and the vehicle’s driver and passenger suffered no life-threatening injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the accident. This accident is…