Car accidents can cause serious harm to people in Louisiana. Unfortunately, many of those crashes are caused by negligent drivers. Negligence has a specific legal definition that can be particularly important when pursuing compensation for damages caused in a car crash. In order for a driver to be found negligent, they must have violated their required duty of care for another driver. In general, motorists have a responsibility to drive safely and to protect other drivers and pedestrians.
Failing to understand autonomy could make cars less safe
Many new cars sold in Louisiana boast futuristic safety technology that can supposedly eliminate many traffic hazards. While these semi-autonomous systems do reduce the risk of fatal accidents, many drivers have trouble understanding the technology. This lack of understanding can actually lead to new roadway dangers.
NIH: teen drivers more dangerous with a license than with permit
A study from the National Institutes for Health shows that teen drivers become more dangerous in the first three months of being licensed when compared to the last three months of having a learner's permit. In fact, the risk for a crash or near-miss increases eight times from one period to the other. Louisiana motorists and parents may want to know why this is the case.
Opioid use means higher risk of fatal car crashes
Louisiana residents should be aware that, according to the CDC, every year in the US, 214 million prescriptions for opioids are issued. However, the rate at which opioids are being prescribed per 100 people has gone down from 72.4% in 2006 to 66.5% in 2016. Most opioids warn users on their labels that they should not drive or operate machinery while taking the medication, yet opioid use among drivers is growing.
