The Louisiana House has advanced bills this week that seek to reduce the big payouts car accident victims get after filing a lawsuit. Among them is a bill authored by Baton Rouge Republican Emily Chenevert. The measure stipulates that if a driver is 51% or more at fault for a wreck, they should not be entitled to damages.
In fact, as the Louisiana Radio Network reports, Chenevert points out that states with lower insurance rates have this law on the books. “You’re 49%, 40%, you would get your percentage of fault. If someone else hurts you, you would get that percentage of fault. But if the person that caused the accident, the plaintiff causes the accident, and there are 51% or more, you would not claim for damage.”
Chenevert contends that the bill would reduce frivolous lawsuits and called the legislation a common-sense change. “This is about making sure that we in Louisiana have a fair climate, that if somebody is at fault in an accident and causes their own injuries then why is somebody else responsible to cover that.” The bill passed on a 67-26 vote and it has the support of insurance companies. The measure now heads to a Senate committee for further consideration.
Legislation to improve medical transparency was also advanced to the Senate. House Bill 34 by Slidell Republican Brian Glorioso would allow a judge and jury to know how much a person injured in a wreck paid in medical costs. “This allows it to be presented, so that our judges will have it in evidence, and they can consider it. Because if it’s not in evidence, they can’t consider it.”
