On July 26, a 31-year-old Louisiana man was killed when a pickup truck struck the bicycle he was riding. The accident occurred in Acadia Parish.
According to the Louisiana State Police, the victim was riding his bike west on Louisiana Highway 100, east of Louisiana Highway 3070, around 5:30 a.m. when he was hit by an eastbound Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The driver of the truck, an 18-year-old man from Crowley, was passing other eastbound vehicles in a legal passing zone when the crash occurred.
The victim, an Iota resident, was transported to Acadia General Hospital for treatment of critical injuries. However, he later died. The pickup truck driver was not injured and voluntarily submitted to drug and alcohol tests. He was determined to be sober at the time of the crash. Police also took a routine toxicology sample from the victim and sent it to a crime lab for testing. The accident investigation is ongoing.
Bicyclists involved in motor vehicle accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries that could cause them to have serious health problems for the rest of their lives, leaving them unable to support themselves or their families. In order to recover compensation for their losses, victims of bicycle accidents may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who struck them. If the suit is successful, the victim may be awarded a financial settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. If a victim is killed in a bicycle crash, his or her family have the right to pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. An attorney can often be of assistance in this regard.
Source: KADN, “Iota cyclist killed in early morning crash,” July 26, 2018