According to local news reports, a recent weekend accident turned a regular evening into the unpredictable in Livingston Parish. One driver allegedly stopped their vehicle in the left passing lane, causing several other drivers to swerve to miss the stopped car. This resulted in multiple collisions. Those multiple wrecks, in turn, cost one person their life, caused several injuries and damaged multiple vehicles.
According to police reports, the driver of the stopped car is facing multiple charges relating to the car accidents, including a charge for the fatality that happened that unfortunate night. When you get into an accident, typically, there are determinations regarding liability, or who is liable for causing the accident. The liable person and their insurance are responsible for paying damages to the victims of the accident.
When criminal liability is also attached, as here, some punitive damages may also apply, which is designed to punish the negligent driver for their actions. In addition, if criminal liability is found, a subsequent civil trial is much easier to win as the standard to win a civil trial (preponderance of the evidence) is much lower than a criminal trial (beyond a reasonable doubt).
Final thoughts
A car collision can be over in an instant, but its effects can go on for the rest of a person’s life. The injured face enormous medical expenses, pain and other symptoms, and they may be unable to earn a living the way they did before the accident. In cases involving fatal accidents, the victim’s family is left without their loved one’s companionship and income. When these damages result from another driver’s negligence, the injured and their families deserve to be compensated.