Recently, a mother from New Orleans initiated a wrongful death suit against an apartment complex after her son’s body was discovered in water surrounding the property of his rental building.
The mother filed suit against the son’s apartment complex and other associated parties in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. The petition notes that in September 2012, the son lived at the residential apartments in New Orleans. During this time, the rental building had a stream of water, which ran between surrounding structures on the land. At the end of September 2012, the son was found in the water. Since the death, the water stream has been covered.
The suit claims that the stream was maintained improperly. Tall grass, algae and shrubbery often covered the sides of the creek. There were no gates, warning signs or any installed barriers, which protected individuals from the dangerous waters.
In the wrongful death matter, the plaintiff claims that the death resulted from the negligence of the defendants. The apartment complex and associated defendants are charged with not sufficiently caring for the land, failing to warn, failing to act as “a prudent person would under the circumstances” and being generally reckless. The case also puts forward claims for medical expenses, funeral expenses, emotional distress, loss of love and affection and other related damages.
The loss of a loved one as a result of negligence can be tragic for a family. In addition to anger and sadness, many families are left perplexed. Why did this happen? How did this happen? How do we move on as a family?
Of course, nothing can ever bring someone back. However, this does not mean that the surviving family of a victim does not deserve closure. Plaintiffs in a wrongful death suit deserve answers and details. They also are entitled to financial support as they attempt to move forward with life after such an unexpected and traumatic event.
Louisiana wrongful death laws address the following forms of recovery for surviving family members of a wrongful death victim:
A few of these forms of recovery have been addressed in the pending matter.
If your loved one was lost at the hands of negligence, do not hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury professional. A lawyer can help you deal with the aftermath of an accident.