2 teens hospitalized after car accident involving cab driver

Just after noon on July 24, a Louisiana cab driver allegedly failed to obey a stop sign and struck two teenage boys who were riding their bikes. According to the teens, the cab driver checked on them, gave them each $50 and then drove away. By July 30, both teens had been admitted to the hospital for the injuries they suffered in the car accident.

One of the boys, both of whom are 14 years old, is already home and recovering from a fractured hip. His recovery could take several weeks, since he is in a cast that covers a large portion of his body. The other teen was initially sent home on the day of the crash after being examined by a doctor. However, persistent and debilitating headaches prompted his mother to take him to the hospital.

The teen was admitted to the hospital on July 30 after a CT scan showed that he had bleeding on the brain due to a ruptured blood vessel. The next day, his condition was not any better, and, according to his mother, he would need to spend at least one more night in the hospital. His prognosis is unknown at this time.

In the meantime, traffic cameras allowed police to track down the cab driver who hit the boys. He received citations for running a stop sign, failing to report the accident and negligent injuring. However, since he stopped, he was not charged with hit and run.

The mother of one of the boys is outraged that the cab driver did not receive harsher consequences. The parents of these two injured teens may file personal injury claims against the cab driver and his employer in an attempt to obtain some sense of justice for them and their children. If the evidence shows that the cab driver was negligent, a Louisiana court may award damages consistent with those ordered in similar car accident cases.

Source: nola.com, “Second teen cyclist hospitalized after Metairie crash involving cabdriver“, Jonathan Bullington, July 31, 2015