Shoplifter charged with Texas mom’s death during getaway
A person who has not witnessed a loved one’s violent death can only imagine the immediate and long-term emotional impact of such a horrific event. Dallas civil courts approve damages for injured car accident victims and family members traumatized by a wrongful death.
A Baytown teen was a passenger in a car that was struck by a pickup truck. The teen’s mother, who was the car’s driver, died at the scene of the auto accident. The daughter also was hospitalized with unidentified injuries.
Pasadena authorities stated that the truck’s driver was an intoxicated woman who had been caught shoplifting at a nearby Wal-Mart. Store security guards reportedly attempted to stop the 28-year-old woman as she left the store with stolen goods. The guards alleged the that woman assaulted them before running toward a pickup truck. It is unclear whether Wal-Mart officials notified police. The accused shoplifter ran a red light and crashed at an intersection during the escape.
The boyfriend of the woman arrested and charged with “intoxication manslaughter” recognized the truck while watching a news report. The white pickup belonged to the man, who said his girlfriend had taken it while he was sleeping.
No amount of compensation can erase the memory of watching a family member suffer catastrophic injuries or die. Damage awards received through liability lawsuits may cover more than actual expenses like medical bills, burial costs and income losses due to a family member’s death. Pain and suffering can be physical as well as emotional for victims and those who’ve lost them in a senseless accident. A negligent defendant can help allay the anguish of those harmed by reckless or careless behavior with financial relief.
Spouses, adult children and parents are eligible to file wrongful death claims in Texas. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death or separate survival action initiated by a decedent’s estate is two years.
Source: KTRK-TV, “Boyfriend of Pasadena shoplifting suspect accused of causing deadly wreck speaks out” Demond Fernandez, Dec. 16, 2013