Louisiana man dies in head-on collision
On Nov. 29, a 39-year-old Independence man died in a two-car collision. The crash took place on Louisiana Highway 40 in the evening.
A second individual was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck eastbound on Highway 40. As he passed began to pass a Ford Fusion, his pickup inexplicably crossed the center line and hit the Fusion head-on. The man was uninjured, but the Fusion driver died as a result after failing to wear a seat belt.
According to the state police, there is no information yet as to whether either driver was under the influence, though toxicology samples were collected from both men at the scene. The accident remains under investigation, and there have been no charges filed at this time.
In a situation where a death occurs and there is the possibility of negligence, the family members of the decedent may want to consider filing a wrongful death claim. For example, if the wrong-way driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or otherwise driving inattentively, he may be civilly at fault for causing someone’s death.
Wrongful death suits are intended to compensate the decedent’s loved-ones for both their emotional and financial losses. A judge will consider factors such as the pain and suffering of the family members, the lost earning potential of the deceased and the number of dependents that the person was supporting. The judge can consider any other relevant factors as well. It may be advisable to consult an attorney who is familiar with wrongful death caused by an auto accident in order to get support and advice on how best to proceed.
Source: NOLA, “Independence man dies in head on collision in Livingston Parish“, Quincy Hodges, November 29, 2014
Tags: auto accident, car collision, pain and suffering, police
