Tragic Louisiana Pedestrian-Involved DUI Case Shows Impacts of Drunk Driving – Rights of Family Members of Victims of Fatal DUI Crashes under Louisiana Wrongful Death Laws Explained
There is no question that no matter what, a drunk driving car accident is a terrible thing. Things perhaps become even more unfortunate when young lives are transformed forever, and not for the good. Such was the case last year in October, when several young people were involved in a horrific DUI car crash in Ruston, Louisiana. According to local news reports, 21-year-old Jackson Mitcham was killed in a car accident when another young person, 21-year-old Abby Sterling, allegedly struck him and another pedestrian on the South Service Road inside of the city limits of Ruston. Reports indicate that Sterling told police officers that she was traveling east on the Service Road and the two men were “in the travel lane” of the road. Sterling said that she “continued on to say that she attempted to stop the car but did not have enough space to stop.” The accident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. on October 19.
At the scene of the accident, Mitcham and 20-year-old Hahn Bridges were found lying on the north shoulder of the South Service Road. Mitcham and Hahn were transported to the hospital, but, sadly, Mitcham succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead. According to reports, Sterling was said to have “had an odor of alcohol and performed poorly on field sobriety tests which ultimately lead to her arrest.” She was given a breathalyzer test and her blood alcohol content registered at .169%. As Sterling’s BAC was more than twice the legal limit in Louisiana, she was arrested for First Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring, a charge that prosecutors indicated could be upgraded, in light of Mitcham’s death.
Your Rights When a Family Member Is Killed by a DUI Driver in Louisiana
Although every driver in Louisiana knows that drunk and intoxicated driving is unlawful, dangerous, and just plain senseless, the truth is that drunk driving car accidents – including fatal ones – happen far more often than they should. When a person is killed in a DUI car accident in Louisiana, it is important for their family to know that they may have rights to compensation under Louisiana personal injury wrongful death laws. Under Louisiana personal injury wrongful death laws, certain close surviving family members of victims of fatal car accidents are entitled to file a lawsuit in court to recover money compensation for the loss of their loved one. There is a limited time to file a wrongful death claim under Louisiana civil laws, so it is best to speak to an experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a serious and fatal drunk driving car accident occurs.
If you or your loved one were seriously injured in a car accident in Louisiana and you need legal help getting justice under Louisiana personal injury laws, contact the experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. The experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyers at the law firm Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC are here to help victims of serious car accidents and their families get justice due to them. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
wgno.com/news/louisiana-tech-student-killed-in-drunk-driving-incident/
