It may mystify Louisiana residents that there can be such a large disparity between the injuries suffered by individuals involved in an accident. The same car accident that takes the life of one individual can also result in another person suffering moderate or serious — but survivable — injuries. If the impact is forceful enough, even being properly restrained will fail to save a life.
For example, troopers with the Louisiana State Police received a call at approximately 11:40 p.m. on a recent Saturday about a two-vehicle accident. When they arrived, one driver, a 16-year-old boy, had already succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the crash. Yet, the other driver, an 18-year-old man, survived. The surviving driver suffered injuries described as moderate and was taken to an area hospital. His current condition is unknown.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident. Preliminary reports indicate that the younger driver’s vehicle veered into the opposing lane of travel. It veered into the path of the other vehicle. At that point, neither driver was able to avoid the collision.
Even moderate injuries can require a significant amount of time from which to recover. During that time, medical expenses will undoubtedly add up quickly. If the injured driver was employed at the time of the car accident, he may be losing income as well. These and other damages may be recoverable in a successfully presented personal injury claim. Establishing negligence on the part of the deceased driver could lead to a civil court awarding the injured driver a monetary judgment as restitution for monetary losses.
Source: ksla.com, “Victims identified in Sabine Parish fatal wreck“, Victoria Shirley, March 22, 2015