Less than one week after a 40 car pileup killed two people and sent dozens more to the hospital, another multi-car accident closed the same portion of Interstate 10 in eastern New Orleans. The three car accident occurred at approximately 8 am Wednesday morning and injured one person. Following the crash, New Orleans police closed all lanes of I-10 for about an hour during the busiest part of the early morning commute due to smoke from a smoldering marsh fire which apparently caused poor visibility for drivers. Although the previous 40 car pileup was blamed on dense fog, Wednesday's accident was not the first time this stretch of road has seen heavy smoke. New Orleans officials stated they believe the current fire is in the same location as one that created heavy smog which lasted for several days in August. Because the city believes any attempts to extinguish the fire on the wooded former wetlands will only create more smoke, the fire will merely be monitored from both the ground and the air for the time being. According to officials, the fire has the potential to smolder indefinitely. The City of New Orleans has taken heavy criticism because nearby street lights installed in the center of I-10 were not operational at the time of either accident. Although the city claims it repaired the lights as recently as last July, a local tow-truck driver stated the area has been in the dark since last summer. He and others believe the darkness contributed to both of the recent multi-vehicle crashes. In October, all efforts to repair broken street lights in New Orleans were temporarily suspended over purported funding issues. According to a representative from the Mayor's office, street light repairs in the area of the accident are now completed. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has also recently installed smoke and fog driver warning signs. A large majority of personal injury lawsuits filed each year are the result of motor vehicle collisions. Common causes for car accidents include hazardous road conditions, inattentive or impaired drivers, and vehicle defects. The injuries which result from an auto accident can be minor, exceedingly debilitating, or worse. Individuals injured in a motor vehicle collision may be entitled to receive compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, loss of income, medical bills, and wrongful death. Recovering from an auto accident you didn't cause can be an extremely stressful time. An experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help you file your case. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an automobile accident due to someone else's negligence, a skilled Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer can help you seek the compensation you deserve. J. Price McNamara, a New Orleans car accident attorney, will provide you with a free comprehensive case review. He handles cases throughout Louisiana including Orleans, Ascension, Jefferson, Kenner, Lafayette, Lafourche, St. John, Mandeville, Terrebonne, East Baton Rouge, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident, call J. Price McNamara at (866) 248-0580 to schedule a free initial consultation. You may also contact him through his website.
J. Price McNamara
Attorney
Losing my own brother, then my father and sister after long, disabling illnesses just a few months apart drove a career change for me. Before that experience, I never truly understood the place you’re in. I never understood the dramatic impact that receiving (or not receiving) the disability and life insurance benefits you paid for and counted on can have on your life especially when you need to focus on family and healing. What I experienced with my own family now drives the way I view my clients and my work, and I will never forget it!
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