High school graduation is both an ending and a beginning for many Louisiana teens. They are young, eager and excited to begin their adult lives. However, for one teenager who was seriously injured in a car accident in April, graduation is bittersweet.
A large pickup truck pulling a boat plowed into the SUV that the 18-year-old boy and his girlfriend — who was driving — were in that day in April. His 16-year-old girlfriend described the crash as like being hit by a train. Her boyfriend suffered seriously debilitating injuries, and she has remained by his side as much as possible since that day.
The teen fractured his skull, experienced bleeding on the brain (which caused his brain to swell) and broke some ribs. He was taken from the scene that night by helicopter and was recently transferred to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans in order to undergo rehabilitation as he continues his recovery. Even though he is expected to continue to improve, he was not yet strong enough to participate in his high school graduation. Fortunately, Children’s Hospital made arrangements to let him appear via Skype.
His recovery is undoubtedly going to continue to be costly. He retains the right to file a personal injury claim against the pickup truck driver believed to have caused the car accident that put him in the hospital. Establishing through appropriate evidence that his injuries were caused or contributed to by the driver of the pickup truck could result in a Louisiana court awarding him damages that could help with his current and future medical needs.
Source: wdsu.com, “Morgan City teen hospitalized after car crash attends graduation via Skype“, Casey Ferrand, May 21, 2016
