New Orleans Personal Injury Law Blog

When you approach a big commercial truck on a New Orleans road, it is natural to be a little concerned about getting close to such a large vehicle. Many motorists try to stay away from big trucks for fear that the truck may swerve into their lane. However, ExtremeTech explains that in recent years technology has offered trucks or any vehicle the ability to help keep vehicles in their lanes if they should drift out of them. These systems have proven to be helpful, but they are not completely perfect in practice.

Lane detection systems have been evolving for some time. Originally, a lane departure system would send a warning to the driver that the vehicle was passing out of a lane. Upgraded systems would automatically steer the vehicle back into a lane. More recent systems proactively attempt to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane, working like an automatic steering system. With the use of mounted cameras, the lane detection system judges the vehicle’s position on the road and acts accordingly.

If you need to travel in a taxi, Uber or Lyft in Louisiana and you have a child with you, you may be wondering what the laws are and how you transport them. Although there are specific laws that dictate you need to use the proper safety restraint in your own vehicle, the rules are less clear in other types of vehicles. If you are traveling with children, it is important to keep them safe even if it is inconvenient for you.

According to kidsridesafe.org, the laws regarding child restraints in a rideshare vehicle in Louisiana are not clear. While the law states that the driver of a vehicle is responsible for ensuring the safety of a child passenger, it does not specify if this extends to rideshare drivers as well. It also does not say if the driver needs to supply the right restraint system. As a parent, however, you should do your best to carry your own car seat or booster, or request a vehicle that has what you need.

Sharing the road with large commercial trucks is an inevitable part of life in Louisiana, but studies show that many of the people driving those trucks are engaging in highly dangerous behaviors before or while behind the wheel. While anyone who drinks or abuses drugs before driving endangers everyone who crosses his or her path, commercial truck drivers who do so pose a particularly serious threat to the public due to the sheer size and weight of their vehicles.

According to the American Addiction Centers, truck drivers often have several factors at play that contribute to their decision to use drugs or alcohol on the job. For example, the trucking lifestyle is often a lonely one, and some truckers try to combat their feelings of isolation by turning to liquor or drugs. In other cases, truck drivers are turning to certain types of drugs, among them amphetamines, because they believe they can improve their performance.

If you were recently involved in a work-related accident that occurred while you were driving, our law firm is fully aware of the different challenges you may be going through. An inability to pay bills due to lost wages, medical costs, serious and debilitating injuries and mental trauma are just some of the hardships that those who are involved in job-related traffic crashes may face. However, it is important for you to stay focused on your recovery, and part of this involves having mental strength. The consequences of these accidents can be mentally draining but taking the right approach afterward (and having the right mindset) could be very beneficial.

It is important to stay committed to seeking justice if a reckless driver caused the accident, or you were involved in the crash because of someone else’s wrongdoing. You should be aware of every legal option you have, from workers’ comp to filing suit, and you should not hesitate to stand up for your rights. It can be difficult to stay positive after such a terrible accident, but you should not lose hope or give up. Unfortunately, some people have failed to secure all the benefits that they were entitled to because they felt like they could not handle the situation anymore.