Archive for the ‘ Personal Injury ’ Category

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9
May

Settlement Agreement In Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Approved

May 9, 2012

Families of victims of the Transocean Oil Spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico two years ago may be one step closer to being compensated. Bloomberg News reports that a U.S. District Court judge recently approved a tentative settlement of $7.8 billion between the company responsible for the spill, British Petroleum (BP), and lawyers for the victims.

The agreement will break the settlement into two separate entities for economic losses and physical injuries; however, the agreement is not set in stone. It must first go through two separate trials, one on fairness that’s scheduled to occur in early November and another that will cover liability, which was recently added to the court docket for mid-January of next year.

The agreement will only cover the private lawsuits and claims that have been made against the company and will not cover the federal and state claims that have been made by Louisiana and Alabama. It also won’t allow those who aren’t content with the settlement to pursue lawsuits against BP. The funds for the settlement will come from a $20 billion trust fund set aside by the oil company to compensate those who were affected by the spill.

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill devastated thousands of lives across the gulf region. That’s why the New Orleans Personal Injury Lawyers with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers would advise anyone who suffered because of the spill to speak with an experienced attorney.

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4
Apr

High Rates Of Skin Cancer Blamed On Increased Use Of Tanning Beds

April 4, 2012

Doctors and researchers at the Mayo Clinic recently announced that the rate at which skin cancer cases are being reported has seen a dramatic rise, especially amongst young people. According to WAFB 9 News, rates of melanoma among women in their 20s and 30s were up to eight times higher than found in previous studies.

The study examined cases from the Rochester Epidemiology Project that looked at cases of first time diagnosis of melanoma in patients between the ages of 18 and 39 from 1970 to 2009. Researchers found that a high number of tanning bed users were developing skin cancer at an alarming rate. Approximately 74 percent of those who used tanning beds on a regular basis developed melanoma.

In response, the World Health Organization has taken the stance that no person under the age of 18-years-old should be allowed to use a tanning bed.

While mortality rates for the disease have improved in recent years thanks to new methods of early detection, experts still are hoping to make young people aware of how damaging UV rays can be from tanning beds or from not using sunscreen to guard themselves from sunlight.

The New Orleans Personal Injury Lawyers with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers would like to remind the public of the dangers that tanning beds can pose and suggest using sunscreen if you’re going to be outdoors for an extended period of time.

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14
Mar

Oil Rig Worker Asks To Have Injury Suit Moved To Texas Court

March 14, 2012

A survivor of the Transocean oil rig explosion formally asked a U.S. District Court judge to free his case from tied up litigation by allowing him a separate trial in a Texas courtroom. Reports from the Bloomberg News say that the man is one of about a dozen cases that have not been settled in connection to the explosion.

The man’s case has been delayed by ongoing litigation aiming to establish fault on the companies that invested in the Deepwater Horizon rig, a case that the judge says takes precedence over injury claims. The judge stated he would examine those claims at some point after fault has been established.

The man, a rig supervisor and one of the last to settle in the case, was infuriated by this decision. The oil rig explosion blew him through a wall and burned the clothes off his body. He broke both his legs, shattered a knee, and his neck was lacerated by flying metal shrapnel.

He has since undergone nine operations, has had to relearn how to walk multiple times, and suffered permanent hearing loss as a result of the explosion.

The Louisiana Maritime Injury Lawyers with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers would like to wish the injured worker the best of luck in his recovery from the injuries he sustained in the explosion. His dedication to holding those whose negligence caused the accident responsible for their actions is an inspiration to us all.

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7
Mar

Baton Rouge Prosecutor Wins Award For Efforts Against Drunk Drivers

March 7, 2012

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana, city prosecutor was recently given the title of Prosecutor of the Year at an awards ceremony sponsored by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission for her efforts against drunk driving in the city. According to reports from WAFB 9 News, Prosecutor Lisa Freeman has helmed the battle against intoxicated drivers by establishing help programs and stringent rules for offenders during her more than 20 year tenure with the city.

Ms. Freeman helped to establish Baton Rouge’s Sobriety Court program for repeat DWI offenders. The program is a 12 month course designed to help repeat DWI offenders stay sober. Since the program’s inception just over a year ago, it has already had 11 successful graduates. Colleagues stated that fairness, accountability, and transparency in the prosecution of DWI cases have been a staple of Ms. Freeman’s time in the position.

Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Commission, added that Ms. Freeman’s work has saved many lives by taking drunk drivers off the road. In 2010, 43% of the 720 crash related deaths in Louisiana were attributed to alcohol consumption.

The Baton Rouge Drunk Driving Victim Attorneys with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers ask that we all do our part to keep the highway safe by utilizing sober, designated drivers and by encouraging others you know to do the same thing. Every effort we make to eliminate drunk driving could save a life.

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29
Feb

Alabama Man Faces Charges in Fatal Baton Rouge Crash

February 29, 2012

A 20-year-old man from Gulf Shores, Alabama, has been arrested and charged with crimes connected to a fatal Baton Rouge, Louisiana, accident that occurred this past November. Reports from WAFB 9 News indicate that the man faces charges of negligent homicide, reckless and careless operation of a motor vehicle, not wearing a seat belt, and speeding.

The accident happened at around 9:15 PM on November 10 of last year in the eastbound lanes of I-12 at O’Neal Lane. Reports of the incident from the Baton Rouge police department state that a tractor-trailer was stopped in the left-hand lane of the highway due to construction congestion. As a GMC Sierra truck slowed to a stop behind the 18-wheeler, the driver of the pickup noticed a Honda Odyssey minivan in his rear-view mirror approaching from behind at a high rate of speed.

The driver of the pickup attempted to avoid a collision by moving to the shoulder of the road, but did not have room to make the maneuver and was struck by the van.

The 55-year-old driver of a Honda Civic following the minivan was able to stop behind the crash, but was struck from behind by a Nissan Titan pickup. The driver of the civic passed away at the scene of the crash.

The Baton Rouge Auto Accident Attorneys with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers extend their condolences to the driver’s family.

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22
Feb

Louisiana Worker Reaches Injury Settlement After Gulf Oil Rig Explosion

February 22, 2012

It was announced in New Orleans, Louisiana, Monday that a settlement has been reached between a worker who was injured in the Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion that occurred in 2010 and the companies that operated the rig. According to reports from Business Week, the worker reached an amicable settlement for an undisclosed amount with BP Plc., Transocean Ltd., and other companies that were involved in the operation of the Deepwater Horizon rig.

After two previous settlements with other companies involved in the spill, the worker was originally seeking $5.5 million in damages for negligence and the rig being unseaworthy.

The companies have come under heavy judicial fire since the explosion killed 11 men, injured numerous others, and ruined the livelihoods of thousands of coastal residents. The immense pressure has forced the companies to settle many of the claims.

Injured workers and the families of the deceased have filed roughly 40 personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Residents who claim their property, businesses, and lives were destroyed by the spill have filed hundreds of other lawsuits against BP.

Possible criminal violations by the companies continue to be examined by the courts and the Justice Department.

The Louisiana Maritime Accident Attorneys with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers specialize in the laws that govern the aspects of business and safety on the water. They may be able to help you if you’ve suffered an injury on the ocean.

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15
Feb

Lawsuit Filed On Behalf Of Louisiana Child Injured By Carnival Ride

February 15, 2012

The parents of a young boy from Coushatta, Louisiana, who was left paralyzed after a tragic accident on a ride at the Louisiana State Fair, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the child. According to reports from WAFB 9 News, the accident happened on November 2, 2011, while the child was on a class field trip to the fairgrounds.

When the ride operator of the Twin-Ring Demolition Derby Ride stepped away for a moment, an unsupervised child was able to reach the controls and start the ride while the four-year-old boy stood on the loading platform. As the floor began to move, the child fell and was trapped in a six inch space between the ride and the floor. It took nearly twenty minutes for rescuers to cut the child free from the ride. During that time, the child stopped breathing and suffered brain damage.

The lawsuit claims that the child’s school, the ride’s operator, the ride’s owner, and the state of Louisiana acted negligently and allowed the accident to happen.

The family is seeking unspecified damages in the case for medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

The Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyers with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers hope that the family is able to receive the compensation they need in order to get back on their feet and continue to give the child the quality of life he deserves.

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8
Feb

Three Pedestrians Killed Within Four Days In Baton Rouge

February 8, 2012

While walking to get where you need to go may be a green and healthy mode of transportation, it can be dangerous. Reports coming from WAFB 9 News say that three pedestrians have been hit in killed over the last several days in the greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area.

Last Thursday morning, a 2005 Toyota Camry struck a 90-year-old man as he tried to cross East Boulevard just before noon. He died at a local hospital the next day. Hours later, a 56-year-old man was hit and killed by a Dodge pickup truck as he tried to cross Greenwell Springs Road.

Then, on Monday afternoon, a 55-year-old man from Walker, Louisiana, died after a hit-and-run accident. Reports from the Louisiana state police show that the man was strolling along Walker North Road near a Ford Expedition that had stopped in the southbound lanes. A pickup truck approaching from behind did not have time to stop and rear-ended the Expedition, sending the pickup towards the pedestrian. The large truck plowed over him and through an embankment before striking a house and coming to rest. The Expedition fled the scene after the collision, leaving the pedestrian to die and the pickup truck driver injured.

The Louisiana pedestrian accident attorneys with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers often handle cases for pedestrians who were hurt at no fault of their own. If you have been injured, contact an experienced attorney today.

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2
Feb

One Louisiana Teen Killed, Two Others Injured, In I-12 Crash

February 1, 2012

A Louisiana teenager was killed and two others injured they crashed on I-12 Monday evening. Reports from WAFB 9 News say that the accident happened at about 8:00 PM near the St. Tammany parish border.

Louisiana state police say that the 17-year-old driver of a yellow 2003 Ford Focus, along with her 16 and 18-year-old passengers, were heading west along the highway when the vehicle veered off of the shoulder of the highway. The young, inexperienced driver then over-corrected, causing the vehicle to spin wildly out of control. The driver was killed instantly when the vehicle traveled across both lanes of the highway and slammed into a tree on the driver’s side.

The two passengers survived and were taken to local hospitals for treatment of moderate injuries.

Although investigators are still examining the crash, they have determined that all passengers were properly restrained, and no kind of impairment seems to be a factor. This leads investigators to believe that a distraction of some kind may have been at fault for the crash.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that passengers riding in the vehicle with teen drivers make the risk of a fatal accident skyrocket. Their numbers show that the risk doubles with one passenger in the vehicle, and can be as much as five times higher with two or more passengers.

The Louisiana Car Accident Attorneys with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers may be able to help you if you have been injured in a crash caused by a distracted driver.

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25
Jan

Drunk Driver Runs Over Two Cyclists In Baton Rouge

January 25, 2012

The man responsible for running over two cyclists, killing one, and critically injuring the other, is behind bars today in lieu of more than $90,000 in bail on charges of second offense DWI and vehicular homicide. According to reports from WAFB 9 News, the 28-year-old drunk driver responsible for causing the accident hit the men at around 8:45 PM near the intersection of Quail Run and Perkins Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Both cyclists had helmets on and lights mounted to their bikes, but it wasn’t enough to keep them safe when the man with a blood alcohol level of nearly four times the legal limit rammed them from behind. The cyclists fell to the asphalt where they were then run over by the vehicle. One cyclist, a 30-year-old father, was declared dead at the scene. The other cyclist was taken to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition and faces numerous surgeries to repair the injuries to his legs and ankles.

Baton Rouge City Court records show he was booked for his first DWI on August 3, 2006, when his blood-alcohol level was .241, or more than three times the state’s legal driving limit.

The Louisiana DUI accident attorneys with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers are an experienced and compassionate team of attorneys here to help if you have been injured because of another person’s negligence. Complete a free initial consultation now.

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