A four-year-old girl from Plano died in a car accident as her family was on their way to Chuck E. Cheese. The family’s Chevrolet sedan was in the high occupancy vehicle lane when a Dodge pick-up truck pulled in front of them unexpectedly. The pick-up truck had been traveling in the left hand lane when traffic in the lane came to a sudden stop. The truck driver attempted to avoid a collision with the car in front of him by swerving into the family’s lane. Instead, the truck struck the Chevrolet sedan. The sedan rode along the highway’s concrete barrier, hit a light pole, and overturned.
The girl’s mother and her nine-year-old brother were able to escape, but the girl and her sister remained trapped inside. By the time the girl was freed from the car, it was too late to save her, and she was later pronounced dead. Meanwhile, none of the five people occupying the pickup truck were injured. Police have stated that alcohol was not a factor, and everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.
The situation might have been worse if not for a mother who acted as a Good Samaritan, pulling over to help at least one of the daughters get out of the car. When she could not get the other one out, she comforted the distressed mother until the emergency responders could come.
Investigators plan to refer the case to a grand jury and the driver of the vehicle may face criminal charges. It is unknown at this time whether the driver was ever arrested or taken into custody. Even if the driver’s actions do not amount to criminal behavior, they were certainly irresponsible, with tragic consequences.
Drivers have a general duty of reasonable care to other drivers on the road, as well as passengers. That duty includes obeying the rules of the road and driving with reasonable caution. Those who are injured in a vehicle accident have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver responsible, claiming: the driver had a duty of care to drive responsibly; the driver breached that duty by way of his careless, unsafe driving; the breach was the direct or proximate cause of the injury; and the injury resulted in damage, which could range from minor physical injuries to death. No driver should get away with driving irresponsibly — the risk of injury or death is too great. If you or your loved one live in Dallas or Fort Worth, and you have been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced Fort Worth car accident attorney today.
Bill Berenson has been representing Texans injured in accidents for more than 33 years. Located in Fort Worth and with offices throughout the Metroplex and in Houston, he only represents clients injured by accidents involving cars, trucks, 18 wheelers, bicycles and motorcycles. If you want an experienced Board Certified personal injury specialist who will provide you with compassionate legal representation, contact him today to schedule a free initial consultation.
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