Police in Louisiana recently charged a truck driver for what they say was his role in a fatal accident. Three people — including one toddler — were killed in the accident and a teenager was injured. After such a devastating ordeal, it is possible that the victims’ surviving family members may choose to seek compensation through wrongful death claims.
The wreck happened at about 11:30 a.m. on July 29, 2017. At the time, a 17-year-old teenage girl was behind the wheel of a pickup truck, driving three passengers between the ages of 3 and 45. According to police, the teenage driver had slowed the vehicle so that she could complete a right turn, but then ended up colliding with an 18-wheeler. All three passengers died while still at the scene of the accident. The teenage driver was transported to an area hospital to receive treatment for moderate injuries.
The details of the accident are not entirely clear. However, police believe that the driver of the 18-wheeler was likely at fault, and have charged him with three counts of negligent homicide, negligent injuring, driving an unsafe vehicle and reckless operation. He is currently in police custody.
There is no undoing the harm caused by a negligent driver, but that does not mean Louisiana families have to deal with lingering damages on their own. Instead, a family can pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of their loved one. These types of claims can help families get the compensation they need to address serious financial damages, such as medical bills and funeral expenses.