Larry Curtis, APLC - 300 Rue Beauregard, Building C, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70508

Woman Dies in Vehicle Train Accident

February 28, 2016 By

On Tuesday morning, February 16, a woman was killed in a vehicle train accident near Lacassine.

According to Troop D, the accident happened shortly after 9 a.m. on Oilfield Road near Lacassine. Donna Daigle, aged 69 of Iowa was driving a 2006 Nissan Sentra south and she drove onto the railroad crossing and stopped. The vehicle was then hit by a freight train which was traveling west bound and following the collision it left the track and went into a utility pole.

Donna Daigle was pronounced dead at the scene and a passenger, 43 year old Kami Diagle, also of Iowa was taken to a hospital in Lafayette with moderate injuries.

According to authorities both women were wearing seatbelts and they confirm that the crossing is properly marked and has stop signs as well as railroad cross bucks.

A sample was taken from Donna Deagle for toxicology analysis and Troop D confirmed this is the sixth fatality on the roads this year.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Railroad Accidents

How to Use Jumper Cables

January 31, 2016 By

Firstly you need to bring both vehicles, the one with the good battery and your vehicle close to, but not touching each other, so that the jumper cables can reach the batteries. Make sure that for automatic transition the vehicle is in park and for manual the vehicle in neutral.

Open the hoods of both vehicles and locate each battery and its terminals (the + positive and – negative). Make sure that the metal ends of the jumper cables do not touch any other metal parts of the vehicle as this could cause a spark. Attach one of the positive (red) jumper cables to the positive terminal of the dead battery, make sure this is a good solid connection. At this stage DO NOT attach the black (negative) cable to anything in your vehicle and never to the negative terminal. Now attach the other red cable to the positive terminal of the vehicle with the good battery and the negative cable (black) to the negative battery terminal. Back in your vehicle attach the other black cable to an unpainted metal surface in the engine, remember NOT the negative battery terminal.

Now you are ready to start the vehicle with the good battery, let it idle for several minutes to build up the charge and then start the vehicle with the dead battery and let the two vehicles idle for a few minutes. Remove the cables starting with the negative cable in your vehicle first.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Driver safety

Ladder Safety in the Garden

December 30, 2015 By

Most of us know someone who has fallen from a ladder and in the garden a ladder can be particularly unstable so ladder safety is very important.

Before you get your ladder out, check the garden for any trip hazards. Put away any garden hoses and check for any small tools that might trip you up as you want to make sure you have a secure footing when carrying the ladder.

Next check that the rungs on the ladder you are going to use are structurally sound not damaged in any way or rusty and that they are clean and dry. Ensure that the ladder has rubber feet to stop the ladder slipping and that the ground where you are going to place the ladder is solid and even. Directly face where you are working and never work sideways, ensuring that the ladder gives you enough height to work without overstretching. Do not leave tools on the platform at the top of the ladder as these could fall off and injure someone below, or even fall on you as you are climbing down the ladder. Always keep one hand on the ladder when working and if possible have someone hold the ladder steady, they can even put their foot on the bottom rung to add some extra weight to help keep the ladder anchored. Never work on a windy day as a gust of wind can cause the ladder to shift throwing you off balance and causing serious injury.

With a little forward planning and preparation and by not taking shortcuts you will go a long way to working safely in the garden with your ladder.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Home safety

A Lafayette Man Died in Collision

November 29, 2015 By

Early on Friday morning, November 6, a Lafayette man died in a collision with an 18 wheeler.

According to state police, the accident happened shortly after 4 a.m. on the Interstate 10 in Iberville Parish, just west of the Ramah exit near mile marker 133. Two 18 wheelers were stopped in the right lane because of a previous accident when one had rear ended the other. Around 10 minutes later, 50 year old AltonOrtega approached then in his small SUV. He swerved to the left and then back to the right and rear ended one of the trailers and was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were other near misses as other vehicle who approached the scene suffered flat tires as they ran over debris and beer cans which were being carried by one of the rigs and were littered over the interstate.

Interstate 10 East was closed for around an hour so that the wreckage could be cleared.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Auto accident

When should I Deactivate an Airbag?

October 30, 2015 By

Although an airbag can be vital in saving lives, in some cases it may be dangerous to have one installed as certain groups of people can be at risk of being seriously injured.

In 1997, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) allowed auto manufacturers to cut power back in airbags by 20 to 35 percent and then in 1998, dealers were allowed to install switches in vehicles which could deactivate the airbag.

Therefore those with certain medical conditions, either the driver or the passenger can have these switches installed but only if it is more dangerous for them to have an airbag than not to.

In addition to the medical conditions, the switch can be installed for those drivers who cannot position themselves at least 10 inches from the airbag and passengers who need to put a baby in a rear facing child seat in the front seat of the car as there is no rear seat or the rear seat is too small for the car seat.

In order to have the on off switch installed you need an authorization letter from the NHTSA which has to be taken to a dealer or repair shop.

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If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Driver safety

Two People Died in a Wrong Way Crash

September 30, 2015 By

On Saturday, September 26, two people died and one was seriously injured in a wrong way crash east of Monroe.

According to Louisiana State Police the accident happened late on the Saturday night, on Interstate 20 just east of Monroe. A pickup truck which was being driven by 41 year old Jorge Benavides of Oxford, Mississippi was traveling the wrong way, going west in the eastbound lanes and he smashed into a car which was traveling eastbound being driven by 20 year old Thomas Williams of Delhi.

Williams together with one of his passengers, 19 year old Jamerro May of Monroe, was pronounced dead at the scene and a second passenger was seriously injured and transported to a hospital in Monroe.

The following day Benavides was booked on two counts of vehicular homicide and a range of other charges.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Woman Hit in Car by Hit and Run Truck

August 26, 2015 By

On Friday, August 21, a woman from Opelousas was hit in her car by a truck in a hit and run.

According to authorities, the incident happened at around 8.30 p.m. on Union Street. Rachel Reed was in her car with her two year old grandson and they were travelling north on Union street when she was rear ended by a newer model dark colored truck. Her vehicle was on the railroad tracks at the time and it flipped and skidded down the street. She was knocked unconscious and the truck did not stop.

Both Reed and her grandson were taken to hospital with minor injuries and she was left with no memory of the entire incident.

She is now asking for help to identify the truck as her car was totaled and her insurance did not cover a rental car. She now has to rely on friends for transportation and waits for the hit and run driver to come forward.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved love in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Hit and Run

Two People Died in Single Vehicle Accident

August 11, 2015 By

Early on Saturday morning, August 8, two people died in a single vehicle accident in East Feliciana Parish.

According to Louisiana State Police, the accident happened at around 4 a.m. on Louisiana Highway 19, just north of LA 956.

Tasha Whitfield, aged 26 of Jackson, Louisiana, was driving northbound on LA 19 when for reasons as yet unknown, she drifted across the center line and then ran off the left side of the road. The vehicle went on to hit a concrete abutment and it caught fire. Whitfield and a passenger, 41 year old Joyce Williams of Clinton, were trapped inside the vehicle and were later pronounced dead at the scene.

A second passenger escaped from the burning vehicle with moderate injuries and was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have lost a loved love in an accident in Louisiana, the Lake Charles accident claims attorneys of Larry Curtis Law are here to help. Please call us today at 800-836-2064 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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