Tire Change Death of Lake Charles Man, Wrongful Death?

A 44-year-old Louisiana man from Lake Charles lost his life in a fatal accident as he was trying to change a flat tire on April 22. State police say the man, a passenger in a vehicle that became disabled by a flat tire, was attempting to retrieve a spare from the car trunk when the collision occurred about 7 p.m. The driver of the car that caused the fatal accident was a 25-year-old female, also of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Both drivers and another person in the vehicle with the flat tire were also injured. Authorities say a 13-year-old passenger in that car suffered more serious injuries than the driver, though both were said to be wearing their seat belts. All three individuals in the fatal accident were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Louisiana law enforcement confirmed that toxicology tests will be a part of the investigation. Many other circumstances of the crash are likely to be discovered in the still-open accident investigation. If it is determined that negligence on the part of any individual caused or contributed to the collision, a legal basis to pursue civil claims for personal injury and wrongful death may exist.
Whether or not criminal charges are filed against anyone in this fatal accident, the deceased man’s family may consider filing a wrongful death claim against any party or parties whose negligence caused the death. Similarly, those seriously injured through no fault of their own may decide to file personal injury claims against any at-fault party. A successful claim may include reimbursement for medical bills and other damages, including pain and suffering related to the accident.