Police in Louisiana recently arrested the man they believe is responsible for a bicyclist’s death. A number of factors contributed to the auto-pedestrian accident that occurred on the evening of June 11, in Baton Rouge. The victim’s surviving family members may be entitled to pursue compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim in civil court.
At approximately 8 p.m., a 20-year-old male was operating his vehicle in the southbound lanes of Sherwood Boulevard when he disregarded the traffic signal, ran a red light and struck another car. Instead of sticking around for the police to arrive, he allegedly tried to flee the scene and struck a bicyclist in the process. The victim suffered significant injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Sadly, he later succumbed to his injuries.
The driver who hit the cyclist did not stop following that accident either. He is said to have continued driving for a short while until his vehicle — which was badly damaged from both incidents — was no longer drivable. Police caught up with the man and requested he provide a breath test, but he refused. In the end, this individual was charged with driving while impaired, leaving the scene of an accident, careless driving and vehicular homicide — among others.
The sad truth is that a number of Louisiana residents lose their lives in accidents with drunk or otherwise impaired drivers every year. When they do, their surviving family members may feel angry, distraught and out of luck. While nothing can replace the life lost in this or any other case like it, the victim’s family members may have legal recourse. By pursuing a wrongful death claim in civil court, if litigation proves successful, they may achieve monetary damages for their losses and even a sense of justice served.