Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and sadly, lives can also be lost just as quickly. A spokesperson for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office reported an accident that claimed the life of a 48-year-old woman. The incident that caused her death occurred on a recent Wednesday shortly before 5 p.m.
The cause of death
Apparently, the woman was a customer of the tire shop. While waiting for the work on her car to be done, she stood outside in front of the business. Without warning, an out-of-control pickup truck struck her and then crashed into the foyer of the business. It was reportedly suspected that the driver of the pickup truck pushed the accelerator instead of the brake.
The investigation
Deputies from the sheriff’s office were called to the scene of the accident and launched an investigation. They suspected the driver of the pickup truck was also a tire shop customer. The sheriff’s office’s spokesperson revealed that no criminal charges are pending, and no citations were issued. Authorities believe it to have been an unintentional act.
Even though there will be no criminal charges filed, the deceased woman’s surviving family members will be entitled to seek financial relief. They can do that by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the pickup truck driver. For any car accident-related civil lawsuit in Baton Rouge to be successful, the plaintiff must prove negligence on the part of the driver. Once that is done to the satisfaction of the court, documented claims for monetary damages will be adjudicated.
