As everyone who has ever had to take the road test more than once to get a driver’s license knows, it takes as much caution and skill to park a car safely as it does to drive safely. Parking lots have as many obstacles and hazards as the open road, sometimes more, because so many vehicles are in a small space at the same time, and people are getting in and out of their cars, so pedestrians are also present. In busy parking lots, there is commotion on so many sides of the vehicle at the same time, that it can be a challenge for drivers to keep track of every possible obstacle nearby.
Many of us who have never collided with another car in traffic have gotten into fender benders in parking lots, when we were backing out of a parking space, or when someone else backed out of a space when we were driving past. In school parking lots, though, the traffic flow should be well controlled, and there should be plenty of school employees keeping an eye on the situation when students arrive or at dismissal. If you got injured in a traffic accident in a school parking lot, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.
Jury Awards $129 Million to Family of Girl Hit by Truck in School Parking Lot
In February 2022, a tragic accident in the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Slidell claimed the life of a six-year-old student. After school, some of the students were participating in the running club and running laps on school grounds. One of the youngest participants was six-year-old Emma Savoie. She fell behind the group and was running to catch up with her older brother, cutting across a parking lot at the school to catch the group. A truck struck her as she crossed the parking lot. She died of her injuries later that day at Slidell Memorial Hospital.
Savoie’s parents, Amy and Brent Savoie, filed a lawsuit against the school and its insurers; they did not name the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a defendant, even though the school is part of the archdiocese. The case went to trial, and in November 2024, a jury voted to award the plaintiffs $129 million in damages. The defendants may appeal the ruling to modify the amount, but Emma’s parents say that, no matter how much money they get, they will put the money toward advocacy to make streets and parking lots safer for children. They founded the Emma Bell Foundation in honor of their daughter. The foundation promotes initiatives, including but not limited to legislative ones, to ensure safe passage in areas where children walk and run. It also provides scholarships for students studying dance, which was one of Emma’s passions.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Car Accident Cases
A car accident lawyer can help you get the money you need after an accident where a car hit you while you were in a parking lot. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana to set up a consultation about your case.
Sources
https://emmabellfoundation.org/
(985) 313-9791
