Lafayette Personal Injury, Criminal Law And Family Law Blog

What does negligent entrustment mean?

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

If your car was recently involved in an accident but you were not in the car at the time, you may be surprised to hear that you may still have to pay for the damages that occurred. This will probably seem unfair to you, and you may wonder why this is the case. If you have questions about what the consequences will be after your car was involved in a collision, you must understand when you will likely be personally liable.

There are several situations in which you will likely be liable when your car was involved in an accident. Many of them involve negligent entrustment. Negligent entrustment is a common law theory that makes the car owner liable if they trust an incompetent driver to use their car. The following are some of the most common examples of this.

Car accidents: Road rage suspected in fatal crash

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in car accidents on Sunday, February 9, 2020.

Anger can have a significant influence on the actions and decisions of drivers and those who operate a vehicle while under similar effects run the risk of creating hazardous scenarios. Road rage continues to be one of the most common causes of car accidents and such incidents have the unfortunate chance of leaving those involved with serious injuries or worse. A recent accident involving the suspected presence of road rage has reportedly claimed the lives of a 22-year-old woman and her unborn child in Louisiana.

According to reports, law enforcement agents responded to the scene of the crash at around 12:30 p.m. on a recent Thursday. They say that the impact of the two-vehicle crash forced one of the vehicles to veer off the road and strike a nearby utility pole. Police have advised that the driver of this vehicle was pregnant at the time and say that her and her unborn child were both pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Suspects nabbed in sting operation entitled to criminal defense

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in criminal defense on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

Louisiana police officers make use of varied methods in an attempt to reduce the amount of available drugs on area streets. One method used is known as a sting operation. During such an operation officers might pretend to be drug buyers, for instance, in order to catch someone in the commission of a crime. There are laws and procedures that govern these operations and suspects arrested in sting operations have a right to a criminal defense, just like anyone else accused of a crime.

In a recent operation, officers approached a vehicle they suspected was involved in illegal drug activity. As the officers approached, the suspects reportedly attempted to flee and crashed into a police vehicle. Officers then proceeded to search the suspect's vehicle.

Family law professional can provide knowledge regarding finances

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in family law on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

Divorce is a painful process that can lead to a new normal for both Louisiana parties involved. That new normal will most likely involve two households where once there was only one. Maintaining two households is typically more costly than maintaining one. Indeed, one of the biggest stressors involved in divorce can involve the financial ramifications of dividing assets. A family law attorney can provide insight on the different options available for regarding asset division.

There are steps individuals can take in order to better understand the financial situation going into divorce proceedings, and this can better prepare one to comprehend what the post-divorce financial scenario may look like. It's important to have a clear understanding of total net worth, and this should include a current appraisal on any real estate as the value may have changed since the property was purchased. Art collections and businesses should also have a current appraisal.

Fatal car accidents create a hole that is hard to fill

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in car accidents on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

Every time a person gets behind the wheel of a car he or she runs the risk of becoming involved in an accident. Seldom do drivers give much thought to the risk of serious car accidents but that makes them no less real. On a recent evening near Slidell, a multiple car accident resulted in the deaths of two people and at least two others were seriously injured.

The Louisiana accident was apparently caused when a car driving westbound on Interstate 12 came to a sudden and unexpected stop. This caused a chain reaction rear-end crash involving four other vehicles. The driver of the stopped car was found unconscious in the driver's seat. A 77-year-old woman and her 55-year-old passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Two occupants of a third car were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.

Car accidents are increasing across the state

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in car accidents on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

Most drivers in Louisiana are well aware that roadways across the state are becoming increasingly crowded. As a result, car accidents are happening more and more these days. Unfortunately, the majority of drivers will be involved in a crash at some point in their lives. When a crash ends in death or injury, the experience can be absolutely devastating.

A recent crash in St. Tammany Parish killed one driver and injured another. The accident happened during the evening hours along Interstate 12 near Highway 11. Reports said the driver of a westbound sedan was traveling in the right lane and, for unknown reasons, drifted onto the right shoulder of the roadway.

What you need to know about cocaine laws in Louisiana

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer on Friday, January 10, 2020.

If you are concerned about being accused of drug crimes in Louisiana, it is important that you take the time to understand the laws in place that could affect you. When it comes to drug crimes, you need to pay attention to the state in which you reside and the drug in question. This is because the law will be dependent on these two factors.

Louisiana authorities take both cocaine and crack possession, sale and trafficking very seriously. The state is committed to tackling it in order to curb addiction and to make communities safer. If you are worried about getting in trouble with the law regarding cocaine use and trafficking, the following is everything you need to know.

January known as divorce month among family law professionals

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in family law on Monday, January 6, 2020.

Another new year and another January have arrived. With this comes the season of resolutions, contemplating new beginnings and considerations of divorce in Louisiana. January has become known as divorce month among some family law professionals because of the preponderance of filings they see in the first month of the year.

Reasons for the surge in divorce filings in January are many, but the desire for new beginnings in the new year is considered one of the largest. The pressure of the holidays can expose cracks that may have existed in a relationship prior to the holiday season and can result in the decision to seek a divorce. A person facing a divorce or separation can take steps to prepare for what may be to come.

Family law and divorce differ vastly from days of yore

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in family law on Monday, December 30, 2019.

The Christmas holiday is past and the new year is upon us. With the advent of the new year will also come a bevy of divorce filings in Louisiana and elsewhere as people considering new beginnings may see divorce as an opportunity for a fresh start. Statistics show that as many as one in five couples consider divorce following the holiday season. Divorce and family law have changed considerably in recent years.

While divorce can be contentious and bitter, more couples are looking for ways to keep proceedings civil and reduce the stress, acrimony and cost that can be incurred. The ability to file a no-fault divorce has certainly simplified the process in that neither party has to place blame on the other. The divorce rate is particularly high for those who have been married for a number of years and who may have accumulated significant assets.

Death while in jail can result in a personal injury case

On behalf of Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer posted in personal injury on Tuesday, December 24, 2019.

In the event that a person is found guilty of committing a crime, part of that person's sentence may include jail time. In a recent case, a person serving a jail sentence in Louisiana died of an apparent drug overdose. The deceased's family are citing a personal injury in the loss of their son and are filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the jail where the man was being held.

In the days before he died, the man was transported to a hospital after he was seen behaving erratically. Prior to the erratic behavior, he had been seen smoking something that did not appear to be tobacco-related. Upon his return from the hospital, he was returned to the same unit where he had apparently obtained illegal drugs.