A 1-year-old girl died in a car crash last week in Louisiana when the driver of the car she was in veered from the road and hit a tree. According to thenewsstar.com, the fatal car wreck happened in Union Parish at around 12:45 in the morning. Tragically, the 21-year old driver did not place the toddler in a child restraint, said a spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police.
Even worse, police suspect that the driver was impaired at the time of the one-car accident. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, and rescue workers transported her to a local hospital with mild injuries. A second passenger in the car also suffered mild injuries, and investigators said he was not wearing a seatbelt.
Authorities charged the driver with careless operation of a motor vehicle, no driver’s license and no child restraint. Police expect more charges after results of the toxicology test. Louisiana law requires a forward-facing child safety seat for children ages 1 to 3-years-old. The maximum fine for a first offense is $100.00.
This tragedy did not have to happen. The young victim would likely be alive if the car had a child safety seat. You should routinely examine child safety seats for worn straps and loose buckles. In addition, experts say you should never throw out an old or worn child safety seat. Instead, destroy the seat or make it obviously un-usable to prevent someone else from using it.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans accident attorneys