Off-duty Louisiana police officer dies in motorcycle accident

Motorcycle accidents often occur when drivers of larger vehicles fail to stop for motorcycles with the right of way or fail to see motorcycles when the vehicle drivers are making maneuvers with their cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles. These common mistakes often result in significant injuries to the motorcyclists who were unfortunate enough to be in the vicinities of negligent drivers. In some cases motorcyclists and their passengers are killed due to the dangerous driving practices of others.

A very sad situation recently occurred in Slidell when a loved member of that community’s local law enforcement family was killed while riding his motorcycle. The deceased officer was off duty and traveling on Brownswitch Road in Slidell at around 10:30 in the evening. As he was riding, a vehicle driven by a 29-year-old woman made an improper turn in front of him. The victim was not able to stop his motorcycle in time and crashed into the passenger side of the negligent driver’s car.

The deceased victim had taken precautions to protect himself in the event of a crash. At the time of the fatal accident he was wearing a DOTD-approved helmet; due to the severity of the collision, his safety gear was insufficient to save his life and the officer died at University Medical Center.

The driver of the car involved in the crash was cited for making an improper turn and may face additional charges as prosecutors review the case. She may also face a variety of personal injury and wrongful death-based civil claims from the family members of the victim. When an individual dies at the hands of a reckless or negligent party those loved ones who survive the victim can have rights to seek compensation for their losses from the party that caused their harm.

Source: wwltv.com, “Slidell police officer remembered as selfless hero for the community,” Ashley Rodriegue, Sept. 21, 2017