Posted on July 29, 2016
A Louisiana man was recently sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a fatal collision in the 9th Ward. The car accident, which took place about a year ago, took the life of a 49-year-old woman. The man was reportedly driving at speeds of about 100 miles per hour when he struck another vehicle.
The woman was driving a smaller vehicle, and the force of the impact threw her car back about 80 feet. The woman died at the scene of the accident. Louisiana authorities originally charged the man with vehicular homicide, but later dropped the charges to negligent homicide. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges and will serve the last year of his sentence on probation.
It is always tragic when a loved one dies because of the negligent, reckless or dangerous actions of another driver. The family of the deceased motorist could be left facing end-of-life expenses, lost income from her job and emotional pain and suffering. Fortunately, there are ways by which a family can pursue compensation for the full extent of their suffering.
A wrongful death claim will not undo the damage caused by a car accident, but it can alleviate some of the financial suffering of those left behind. It is important to note that a civil claim against a driver is separate from any criminal charges or prison sentence. Knowledgeable legal counsel can help a family weigh this option and take the appropriate steps moving forward. Grieving families will it find it useful to seek a complete evaluation of their case.
Source: nola.com, “Chalmette man sentenced to 4 years in fatal Lower 9th Ward crash“, Paul Purpura, June 1, 2015