Broussard, David & Moroux, Author at Louisiana Lawyer Blog

In St. Martin Parish Numerous Students were taken to the Hospital after Swimming in Over-Chlorinated Pool

November 6, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Students swimming at an on-campus pool at a St. Martin Parish school were transported to the hospital after a large surge of chlorine was released in the water and air surrounding the pool. The school’s swim coach noticed poor circulation of chlorine in the water’s pool and turned on a system that was intended to fix the problem. Instead, a large burst of chlorine consumed the area, causing an evacuation of the area and sending many of the swimmers to the hospital. Roughly 25 students, aged 12 to 15, were swimming in the pool at the time and many complained of throat irritation and breathing problems.

Impaired Motorist Drives the Wrong Way on the Bonnet Carre Spillway and Strikes Two 18-Wheelers

October 31, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

18-wheelers on the Bonnet Carre Spillway, causing both trucks to overturn. The first accident occurred when the truck driver swerved out of the motorist’s way to avoid a head-on collision. The second accident occurred only a few miles later when the impaired driver’s SUV struck the other 18-wheeler head-on. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but all drivers involved in the accidents suffered minor injuries. The impaired SUV driver was charged with DWI and other offenses.

Lafayette Man Killed in Workplace Accident

October 21, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A worker at the Home Furniture Distribution Center in Lafayette was killed after he was struck by a piece of heavy equipment. The man was standing on a loading platform when the equipment fell on him, causing major injuries. He was transported to the Lafayette General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this is the twenty-first death resulting from a workplace accident this year and the third to occur in the Lafayette area. An investigation of the accident is underway.

Employers are obligated to maintain a safe working environment to prevent injuries or deaths from occurring in the workplace. This includes making sure that equipment is safe and secure, employees are properly trained, and hazard-free work conditions are maintained at every hour of the day. These safety standards are heightened when the work environment involves the constant use of heavy equipment or machinery. An employer’s negligence to preserve safe working conditions could lead to liability for damages resulting from a workplace accident. If you have suffered an injury in the workplace, you should immediately consult with a skilled personal injury attorney who can adequately assess your situation and protect your rights.

Multi-Vehicle Accident in Duson Left Ten Passengers Injured

October 10, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A multi-vehicle crash in Duson sent ten hospital patients back to the hospital when the van they were occupying was rear-ended by another vehicle, causing the van to collide with a truck stopped in front of it. The ten passengers were treated at a nearby hospital for minor injuries and the motorist that caused the multi-vehicle accident was cited for careless operation.

Westbank Car Accident Leaves an 8-Year-Old Boy in Serious Condition

September 24, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A five-car accident on the Westbank Expressway in Marrero has sent three people to the hospital with injuries, including an eight-year-old boy, who the police say is in serious condition. A pick-up truck struck two vehicles before careening down an exit ramp at a high rate of speed before colliding with two more vehicles as it came to a stop. A driver of one of the first vehicles to be hit estimated the truck’s speed to be “95 to 100 miles an hour.” The eight-year-old boy was wearing his seat belt in the front seat of a Hyundai Sonata when the pick-up truck t-boned the vehicle. The boy was unconscious when the paramedics arrived and was transported to the hospital in serious condition. It is speculated that the driver of the pick-up truck may have suffered a medical emergency that caused the accident, although the crash is currently under investigation pending toxicology tests.

Louisiana School Bus Accidents Injure Many Children

September 15, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Ten children riding in a school bus suffered minor injuries when an SUV collided with the vehicle. The SUV driver, who was cited for improper starting, was attempting to cross South Broad Street in New Orleans when it struck the school bus, which was transporting the children home from Lafayette Academy. The school bus driver suffered a neck injury and was transported to the hospital in moderate condition.

Only a day later, a motorist speeding on a one-way street in New Orleans struck a school bus carrying eight high school students. The drivers and the students were transported to the hospital after complaining of non-threatening neck and back injuries. The motorist was cited for traveling on a one-way street and reckless operation.

Henderson Traffic Ticket Class Action

September 7, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A class action suit seeking over $2 million in damages alleges that Henderson police officers were paid to ticket motorists along I-10 under an illegal ticket quote system. The suit alleges that these police officers were paid $15 for every ticket issued to drivers on I-10 and that some of these officers were issuing tickets on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, which is outside of their jurisdiction. Criminal charges of public payroll fraud, filing false public records, and malfeasance were filed against the town’s police chief and his assistant. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Gulf Platform Explosion Kills Three: $180 Million Sought

August 30, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

An explosion at an offshore oil platform on the Gulf of Mexico in November 2012 killed three workers and severely injured two others. A consultant who carefully reviewed the deadly accident concluded that the explosion was the fault of unsafe welding practices by a subcontractor of Grand Isle Shipyards, Inc. The report alleges that the subcontractor, DNR Offshore and Crewing Services, and Grand Isle Shipyards did not properly carry out welding processes and failed to stop work when unexpected conditions arose. The two injured workers and their spouses filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in New Orleans, seeking $80 million in compensatory damages in addition to $100 million in punitive damages.

Workplace accidents commonly occur in places such as offshore oil rigs and chemical plants due to the heavy machinery involved and the presence of flammable chemicals. Employers must take every possible precaution to ensure a safe working environment for their employees to avoid tragedy. Workplace fires and explosions can lead to death or catastrophic injuries, such as limb-loss or severe burns.

$5.1 Million Verdict Awarded to Cow Island Residents

August 23, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A Vermillion Parish jury awarded $5.1 million to Cow Island residents to help pay for the cleanup of soil and groundwater heavily contaminated with arsenic. The case arose after a Cow Island resident was diagnosed with cancer, making him the second in his rectory to be diagnosed with the deadly disease. A quick test of the water wells in the area found a level of arsenic that grossly exceeded the maximum levels allowed in drinking water. Richard Broussard, an attorney from Broussard, David & Moroux and one of the lead attorneys in this case, stated that the contamination was a result of cattle dipping vats being poured on the ground for decades.

New Orleans Accident: Workers injured in scaffold collapse

August 15, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Two construction workers suffered injuries when the scaffolding they were working on at the Drury Inn on Poydras Street collapsed, trapping both under the wreckage until the fire department arrived. Both men had just exited the structure when the collapse occurred, knocking one worker “twenty yards over” when a board slid off the structure and struck the man. Police blocked off the surrounding area until an inspector ensured that the scaffolding was secured. Both men were transported to the hospital with injuries, although none critical or fatal.