Pedestrian Killed in Crash on LA-34 in Ouachita Parish, LA
Ouachita Parish, LA (September 9, 2026) – A pedestrian died early Sunday, September 6, after being struck by a pickup truck on Louisiana Highway 34 near Smith Street. Louisiana State troopers began investigating the collision shortly before 4:00 a.m.
The pedestrian, identified as a 38-year-old man, was standing in the left southbound lane of the highway when he was hit by a southbound Chevrolet Silverado. He was fatally hurt and died at the scene.
The driver of the truck was restrained and was not injured. Investigators do not suspect impairment, though routine toxicology samples were collected as a standard part of the review.
Troopers continue to investigate the wreck.
We extend our sincere condolences to the man’s family and loved ones.
Does Louisiana Use Pure Comparative Fault in Pedestrian Cases in Ouachita Parish, LA?
Louisiana applies a pure comparative fault system in pedestrian cases. Under this system, a court can assign a specific percentage of responsibility to both the driver and the pedestrian, and a family can still recover damages even if the pedestrian is found partly at fault. However, the award for the family is reduced by the percentage of the victim’s fault.
When a pedestrian is killed, Louisiana law allows specific family members to pursue a wrongful death claim, with priority typically going to a surviving spouse and children, followed by parents if there is no spouse or child, and then siblings.
A separate survival action can also be brought on behalf of the deceased's estate to recover for the person's own pain and suffering in the moments before death, along with related medical or funeral expenses.
The fault percentages assigned can significantly change what a family recovers and insurers tend to move quickly to argue the pedestrian bears a larger share of blame than the facts support.
In these situations, a wrongful death lawyer can push back on that framing by gathering vehicle data, roadway evidence, and any available reconstruction analysis to establish a more accurate account of what happened.
An important piece of information to take into account is Louisiana’s one year statute of limitation. This one-year window of time is the time limit that families have to file a wrongful death claim. If the claim is not filled in at that time, families can be barred from recovering anything, so it is especially important to make early legal involvement.
At Parker Alexander Attorneys at Law, we work with families across Ouachita Parish who are grieving the loss of a loved one in a pedestrian case.
If your family has questions about a case like this, we can help explain how fault might be evaluated and how your particular claim could develop. Call Parker Alexander Attorneys at Law at (318) 625-6262 to learn more.
Note: Our team utilizes outside sources when creating these accident posts. Our team has not independently verified all of the facts surrounding this accident, therefore, if you find any information that is inaccurate, please contact Parker Alexander Attorneys at Law right away so that we can update the post with the most accurate information available. The post will be removed if requested.
Disclaimer: The photo used in this post was not taken at the actual accident scene. The information provided in this post is not intended to be medical or legal advice. If you have been injured in an accident, please seek medical attention immediately. This post is not intended to be a solicitation for business.