One of the first safety rules you learn as a child is to look both ways before crossing the street. In those days, you usually only crossed streets in residential neighborhoods, where there was not much traffic. Later on, you learn to cross at crosswalks and, if you are at an intersection with a traffic light, to wait for the “walk” sign. Even when people are walking where drivers do not expect them to be, drivers still have a responsibility to look for pedestrians and to avoid hitting them.
Some areas of road are notoriously dangerous for pedestrians; outside the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana lives up to its reputation as a pedestrian-unfriendly state. In an insurance claim arising from a car striking a pedestrian, the insurance company might apportion part of the fault to the pedestrian if the pedestrian was not taking the safest possible walking route, such as if the pedestrian crossed through traffic instead of at a crosswalk when there was a crosswalk nearby. The injuries arising from pedestrian accidents are often severe, so if the court leaves you responsible for only 20% of your accident-related medical bills, this can still represent a significant financial burden. If you are struggling with medical bills after a pedestrian accident, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.
Drunk Driver Faces Criminal Charges After Striking Pedestrian on I-20
In April 2025, Eugenia Bates was walking by the side of the road on I-20 in Ouachita Parish when a car struck her. Bates died after reaching the hospital. She was 38 years old. The driver of the car that struck her belonged to Mecca King, who remained at the scene of the accident. When police asked King if she was under the influence of alcohol, she said that she had drunk two alcoholic beverages before driving. News reports did not indicate whether she took a breathalyzer test and, if she did, what her blood alcohol content (BAC) was.
King, 26, was arrested at the scene of the accident on suspicion of vehicular homicide and careless operation of a motor vehicle. News reports did not indicate which criminal charges she eventually faced or which plea she entered.
Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, Bates’s family has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against King or any other parties responsible for the accident. For example, if the family and their lawyers discover that King drank alcohol at a bar before driving, they might be able to file a premises liability claim against the bar. The fact that Bates took a known risk by walking on interstate highways, which is illegal in Louisiana, may reduce the amount of compensation they can get, but it will not take away their right to sue.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Personal Injury Cases
A personal injury lawyer can help you get the money you need after an accident where a drunk driver struck a pedestrian. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana, to set up a consultation about your case.
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