UTV Accidents in Louisiana

In Louisiana, the weather is almost always right for riding in open-air vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and utility task vehicles (UTVs). The bad news is that the less structure a vehicle has, the less protection it provides to a rider in the event of an accident, which means that there is a greater risk of serious injury, even if the vehicle was not traveling at an excessively high speed. Things are even worse when a small, less structured vehicle collides with a passenger car or truck made for city and highway driving. No matter the vehicles involved, the risk of serious injury or death is always greater if one of the drivers involved is under the influence of alcohol. If you have been involved in a traffic accident where one of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.

Louisiana UTV Laws

Utility task vehicles (UTVs) are similar to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), except that, whereas ATVs are designed for recreation, the primary purpose of UTVs is to haul equipment to and from locations where parts of the route do not have paved roads. When UTVs have two seats, they are known as side by sides. It is legal for UTVs to drive on roads with speed limits below 35 miles per hour, but before you do this, you must register your UTV with the Office of Motor Vehicles.  All occupants of UTVs must wear seatbelts.

St. Martin Parish Teacher Dies in UTV Accident

In April 2024, Ryan Lormand was driving a UTV on Louisiana Highway 737 in St. Martin Parish, and Summer Le was riding in the UTV as a passenger. A Ford F-150 pickup truck struck the UTV from behind, causing both occupants of the UTV to be ejected. Lormand was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. Le, a teacher at Port Barre High School, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  She was 39 years old.

The driver of the pickup truck, Joseph Davis, 60, was not injured. State police administered a breathalyzer test, and Davis’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was nearly three times the legal limit.  He was arrested and taken to St. Martin Parish jail.

The accident is still under investigation, and at the time of publication of news reports, they did not indicate which charges Davis was facing. News reports also said that it was unclear whether Lormand was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Regardless of whether any criminal convictions result from the accident, Le’s family has the right to seek compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court.

Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Car Accident Cases

A car accident lawyer can help you if you have been injured when a car struck your UTV or off-road vehicle.  Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana, to set up a consultation about your case.