Opinion ID: 1910626
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Percentage of Fault

Text: Examining the parties' respectively fault under the guidelines in Watson v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Ins. Co., 469 So.2d 967, 974 (La.1985): both truck drivers were professional operators and therefore in a superior position vis-a-vis Brown. The risk posed when Brown stopped on the icy road was substantial. If she breached her duty to the travelling public, her conduct was influenced by a humanitarian motive. She was not a professional driver. The circumstances extenuated her fault in failing to immediately activate her hazard lights. Stapleton realized the danger as he came around the northern curve. He might have prevented the accident by moving to the right. However, he remained in a legal lane of travel. The risk presented to Brown and Henderson was great. As it developed, the risk to Stapleton was even greater. He testified that he was afraid to change lanes on the solid ice. In his own self-interest, he would have moved over if he had thought the move was feasible. Stapleton had half the distance to avoid the accident that was available to Henderson and was in an inferior position to prevent the accident. Henderson knew the road was icy. His excessive speed, as he hurried to finish his driving stint in Dubach, precipitated the accident. Although Henderson did not anticipate a car stopped in his lane of travel, he should have been able to avoid the accident in the available distance. See Mart v. Hill, 505 So.2d 1120, 1124 (La.1987). Like defendant Hill, Henderson was an experienced driver who should have been aware of the danger created by his excessive speed on the icy road. Like Hill, Henderson took the best available alternative in turning to the shoulder and thereby preventing greater injury or death. However, his excessive speed was the primary cause of the accident.