Life changes on a dime, as this one family discovered when their daughter was killed. Their wrongful death lawsuit hopes to make a point for others.
The young college student in this case was out for an evening of fun with friends. They had gone to a club and were in party mode until about 2 a.m. when they decided to head home. What happened next was horrendous and took the life of a 23-year-old woman.
The after party crowd was making their way outside to their vehicles, when the defendant in this reported case got into his souped up monster truck (Ford F-250) and ran over the woman with both front and back tires. She died at the scene from blunt force internal injuries. She never had a chance. The truck’s driver said he never saw her.
Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming the drunk driver and the club who over served the man well past the legal intoxication limit, let him leave, and get into a vehicle to drive while under the influence. Was the club negligent? Yes, it was. They have the responsibility to not over serve alcohol to inebriated patrons for very reason that killed the young woman in this case. They did not do anything to stop him from leaving, even though they knew he was more than three sheets to the wind.
Turns out that the F-250 driver was driving with a suspended license and was so blasted that he had no idea he had even hit anyone, let alone killed them. The reason he never saw his victim? The man had a lift kit on his truck that restricted his field of vision; a kit that was not in line with federal and state laws. In other words, the truck was not fit to drive.
The man was charged with intoxication manslaughter and his blood alcohol content clocked in at 0.18; more than twice the legal limit. He was subsequently released on $100,000 bail. The criminal charges are typically dealt with first and later, the civil wrongful death lawsuit may be filed.
The family of the young woman wants to make sure something like this never happens to anyone else. But for the negligence of the club in illegally serving an already drunk person even more liquor, this young woman may have been still alive. But for the negligence of the drunk driver, this young woman may have still been alive. Her family would not be facing the devastation of the daughter’s death for a senseless reason.
If you are faced with a situation similar to this, your best bet is to call skilled legal counsel. Talk to an experienced Arkansas injury lawyer. They understand the nuances of wrongful death cases and what the family wants to achieve by filing one. Often wrongful death cases are not about getting even with the defendant; instead, they are about wanting to prevent the same horrid thing from happening to anyone else. Is there financial compensation for the death? Yes, as typically there is an insurance settlement involved, and you will need an Arkansas injury lawyer to help you get the settlement you deserve.
Michael G. Smith is anArkansas personal injury lawyer and Arkansas business dispute lawyer, practicing personal injury law and veteran’s benefits in Arkansas. Learn more by visiting Arkansaslawhelp.com
