A collision with a semi truck can be catastrophic for anyone in a car, pickup or SUV. The smaller vehicle is no match for a massive tractor-trailer. These accidents often result in serious injury or death. Tragically, this was the case in a crash that killed an 18-year-old woman on Interstate 10 near Breaux Bridge in 2014. Now the woman’s mother has filed a lawsuit, naming the truck’s owner as well as the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
The woman was on her way home from a hunting trip when the crash occurred. The semi truck was owned by Duck Commander, Inc., which is owned by the family depicted in the “Duck Dynasty” TV show. Witnesses said the semi truck ran the young woman’s pickup off the road. She says a surveillance video supports her claim. Investigators, however, say the woman lost control of her pickup, and that the video evidence is inconclusive.
The mother’s lawsuit also alleges the DOTD was negligent in its design and construction of the highway, failure to provide adequate signage and failure to provide a recovery zone.
The loss of a loved one in a tractor-trailer crash is devastating for surviving relatives. In addition to their grief, they are left seeking answers as to what happened and why.
Proving liability in a truck accident is more complicated than doing so in other motor vehicle accident cases. Issues like truck driver fatigue, hours of service or trucking log violations and improper equipment or negligent truck maintenance require an understanding of the state and federal regulations covering semi trucks. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney can help a family make sense of it all and get the answers they need.
Source: klfy.com, “Duck Commander named in lawsuit surrounding deadly crash near Breaux Bridge,” April 7, 2016