One Friday in March 2025, Mark Darsey was driving on Louisiana Highway 68 in Lafayette Parish just before morning rush hour. An item fell out of his truck and onto the road, so he pulled over by the side of the road and parked his vehicle. He got out of his vehicle and walked onto the road to retrieve the lost item. A 2023 Mazda CX-5 struck him; the driver remained at the scene of the accident. Darsey was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 65 years old.
The driver of the Mazda, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not injured. He took a breathalyzer test, and police determined that he was not under the influence of alcohol. In this accident, it seems that numerous things went wrong in rapid succession. Some pedestrian accidents are obviously preventable, though. If you suffered serious injuries when a car hit you while you were walking or crossing the road, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.
Pedestrians Should Cross at Safe Locations When These Are Available
According to Louisiana 32.212, pedestrians have the right of way when they cross the road at a traffic signal or designated crosswalk. They should always cross at crosswalks or at intersections, following the traffic signals about when it is their turn to cross, when these are available. Where there are bridges or tunnels specifically for pedestrians, they should use these instead of walking directly across the road where the vehicular traffic is.
Where There is No Safe Place to Cross, Drivers Should Always Be on the Lookout
Unfortunately, there are many stretches of road in Louisiana with no designated crossing points for pedestrians. In this case, drivers should always watch out for pedestrians, and pedestrians should always watch out for drivers. The law states that pedestrians should not step off the curb or otherwise attempt to cross the road when cars are approaching nearby.
To make matters worse, many of these roads do not have sidewalks or road shoulders. This means there is less room for the car and the pedestrian to get out of each other’s way when a car gets close to a pedestrian.
Some pedestrian accidents happen when the driver, the pedestrian, or both are already doing something dangerous; drunk drivers are more likely to hit pedestrians, and drunk pedestrians are more likely to get hit by cars. In other cases, multiple accidents happen at or close to the same location. This is usually a sign that the road is poorly designed or that the lighting is insufficient. This can lead to premises liability lawsuits against the city or parish where the dangerous stretch of road is located.
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 car struck you when you were crossing the road on foot. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana to set up a consultation about your case.
Fuentes
https://kqkinews.com/houma-man-killed-in-lafayette-accident/
https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/law.aspx?d=108460
(985) 313-9791
