Are you using a center turn lane wrong
CENTER TURN LANE
Some two-way streets have a center turn lane, which makes it easier for vehicles to either turn or move into one of the travel lanes. The center turn lane is located between lanes of opposing traffic and is bounded on each side by one solid yellow line and sometimes times by a broken yellow line. These lines mean that the center lane is not a travel lane. A motorist may turn into it briefly while looking to either merge with the traffic or turn left onto another street.
The Louisiana Driver’s Guide “D” and “E” states, in part, that “There is something called two-way left turn channelization markings, and they are combinations of solid yellow and dashed yellow lines that are in the center of the roadway. The designated center lane, a center lane that is designated in this way may be used by vehicles traveling in either direction for left turn maneuvers only and this lane must never be used for passing.”
A motorist who wants to turn left from the center lane must activate the vehicle’s left turn signal and then wait until there is a large enough gap between the vehicle and oncoming traffic before turning left or merging into a regular lane. If a motorist wants to merge into traffic on the right, a right turn signal must be activated and, when there is an adequate gap in the traffic, only then can the motorist move.
A motorist may not drive a vehicle in the center turn lane for more than 200 feet while waiting to turn left or merge into the adjacent travel lanes or to reach a dedicated left-turn lane at an intersection. A vehicle in a dedicated left-turn lane at an intersection shall turn at the intersection only as designated by posted pavement marking, signing, or traffic signal indication.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, an accident victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the accident victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
4-Way Intersections: Who Goes First?
Do you know what to do when you get to a 4-way intersection? Generally, they are marked with a Stop Sign for each approaching vehicle. The Stop Signs take the place of an electric control light. Motorists often get confused at these intersections. BEWARE! Many motorists don’t know the simple rules that apply to 4-way intersections or they just disobey them. Motorists often get confused at these intersections, but the rules are really quite simple.
Here are FOUR SIMPLE RULES:
Rule 1: First to arrive, first to drive. When you’re approaching a 4-way stop, drivers who stopped before you have the right of way. If two or more vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on your right.
Rule 2: Right-of-way goes to the right, so if two vehicles arrive at the same time, stop, and the car on the right has the right-of-way.
Rule 3: Straight doesn’t have to wait. If 2 vehicles arrive at the same time and are across from each other, stop and watch in which direction the other vehicle is going. If it goes straight, it’s safe for you to go straight because you won’t cross each other’s path. If you are turning, then the car that is going straight has the right-of-way.
Rule 4: Left turn yields to the right. If two vehicles arrive directly across from each other at the same time and both are turning, then the vehicle that is turning left yields to the one that is turning right. These are COMMON SENSE rules. Know them, follow them, and you’ll be safe.
What do you need to know about school buses?
Every day across the country, nearly 500,000 buses carry more than 25 million students to and from school and school-related activities.
School buses are the safest vehicles on the road, and one of the safest modes of transportation overall. In fact, children are much safer traveling in school buses than in any other vehicle, whether they’re going to and from school, a field trip, or a sporting event. They are even safer riding in a school bus than in a car with their parents or caregivers.
Louisiana School-Bus Laws
Motorists must stop at least thirty feet from a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children. All 50 states have a law that makes it illegal to pass a school bus that is loading or unloading children. Always be prepared to stop when lights are flashing. Bus drivers will activate the flashing yellow lights of the bus at least 100 feet but no more than 500 feet before the school bus stop. As the bus comes to a complete stop, the flashing red lights and stop signs will activate. The motorist waits for the vehicle to move and scan before starting to drive again. This is required by law whether you are meeting the bus or traveling behind it. Every state has a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that’s stopped to load or unload passengers with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Far too many drivers simply choose to ignore the law for their own convenience and put children at risk.
You do not have to stop when the bus is stopped in a loading zone completely off the roadway and where pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway. If you are following a bus, increase your following distance in order to get a better view. Anticipate the bus stopping at its pickup and drop off points. Never pass a bus with its red lights flashing on the right or on the left. Buses typically travel at lower rates of speed and make frequent stops. During the school year school buses are most likely to be on the road during a three-hour period in the morning and a three-hour period in the afternoon.
When a school bus is stopped in opposite lanes on a roadway separated by a ditch, grassy median, elevated concrete barrier or any obstacle that prevents traffic from driving thereon, you are not required to stop. Drivers are also not required to stop for a stopped school bus when traveling on four-lane or five-lane roadways which are separated by a dedicated two-way left turn lane. Drivers must stop on a four-lane roadway when it is not separated by a barrier.
School Bus and Automobile Crashes
Bus crashes can be serious. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an empty car can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, while an empty school bus can weigh up to 14,500 pounds. This disparity may increase if the bus is at full capacity. What does this mean? Colliding with a school bus versus a passenger vehicle could mean you might sustain more serious personal injuries and more extensive damage to your vehicle. You may have to deal with injuries, such as:
Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
Whiplash
Back pain
Damage to or loss of extremities
Mental trauma
Death
Such injuries can result in both economic and non-economic damages. Typical examples of economic damages are wage losses, job loss, medical expenses, and funeral costs. Typical examples of non-economic damages are physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. In short, economic damages can be quantified. Non-economic damages cannot be quantified; they are subjective and subject to speculation. No ever person is the same, so non-economic damages vary from person to person.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, an accident victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the accident victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
Most people have no experience with the legal system and dealing with insurance companies. It is important to know that there are two Points of View (POV). The accident victim wants Justice, meaning full compensation. The insurance company wants to pay the injured person as little as possible for damages. So if you need an attorney, you want one who cares about you, who spends time getting to know you, who keeps you informed about your case, who spends the necessary time to explain the law, and who know what evidence is needed to prove all of your damages.
At the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy, you will have Richard Kennedy and Richard Kennedy III to represent you. Why is this important? Because you will know who is representing you; you know that we will keep you timely informed about your case and all the information you need for us to do our very best to get justice for you. When you call us, we answer your calls and we promptly answer your emails. The bottom line is simple: we and our clients get to know each other on a personal — not just a professional — level. That is critical in building trust. So, if you need a lawyer, call us at (337) 232-1934 to get started.
Can you use your cellphone in a school zone?
USE OF CELL PHONES IN A SCHOOL ZONE
Talking and driving is distracting as it frequently takes the driver’s attention off his/her driving duties. Distracted drivers cause preventable injury every 78 seconds according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTA). Many types of signs warn motorists when they are approaching a school zone.
A violation of this traffic safety law is a moving violation. The first violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Each subsequent violation is punishable by a fine of not more than one $1,000 and a suspension of a driver’s license for a sixty-day period. If the person is involved in a collision at the time of the violation, the fine shall be equal to double the amount of the standard fine imposed and the investigation police officer shall include that in his official Traffic Crash Report.
Back to school means that vehicles and pedestrians are sharing the road again after several months of summer break. School zones, which have been empty for the summer months, are now busy with children, school buses, and pedestrians. Pedestrians and drivers must be aware of their surroundings as they share the road.
The bulk of responsibility lies with drivers of vehicles in school zones. The burden is on motorists to ensure they operate their vehicles in a law-abiding and safe manner. Drivers need to be aware that the responsibility in school zones lies with them even though students and pedestrians may engage in reckless behaviors. Drivers need to be prepared for any situation, including stopping for school buses.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, an accident victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the accident victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
We are a boutique law firm consisting of Richard Kennedy and Richard Kennedy III. Is this important to you? You bet. Why? Because you will know who is representing you, we will keep you timely informed about your case and all the information that you need for us to do our very best to get justice for you. We answer our clients’ calls and promptly answer their emails. The bottom line is simple: we and our clients work as a team and get to know each other on a personal — not just a professional — level. That is critical in building trust. So, if you need a lawyer, call us at (337) 232-1934 to get started.