The lawsuit is based on Williams’ alleged negligence in causing a man’s death in the car accident.
Last month, tennis superstar Venus Williams was involved in a car accident that led to the death of 78 year old Jerone Barson. Barson’s wife, Linda, was also seriously injured in the accident. After Florida police found Williams at fault for the accident, Mr. Barson’s daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Williams for the loss of her father.
The accident happened on June 9, when the Barsons’ vehicle struck Williams’ car while she was stopped in an intersection in Palm Beach Gardens. Ms. Williams was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and was not distracted by her phone or by anything else at the time of the accident. Still, the police determined that she was “violating the right of way” at the time of the collision, which is why she was deemed to be at fault for the accident.
Ms. Williams was attempting to go through a busy intersection at approximately five miles per hour when she was stopped by heavy traffic. She had a green light when she initially proceeded into the intersection, but the light turned red when she was stopped in the middle of it. Linda Barson then attempted to cross the intersection in the opposite direction once her light turned green. As Ms. Williams stopped and blocked the intersection, Mrs. Barson struck her car. Mr. Barson suffered head injuries, while Mrs. Barson suffered broken bones. Ms. Williams was not harmed, and was not cited by the police with a ticket or citation for her role in the accident.
The Barsons’ daughter filed a wrongful death suit after her father died on June 22, claiming that it was Ms. Williams’ negligence that caused the accident and her father’s death. Ms. Williams has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.
Wrongful death lawsuits are meant to compensate the surviving family members of a person who died as the result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person. In a wrongful death action, the plaintiff (person who was injured by the loss of a loved one) must prove that the defendant (the person who caused the injury) was responsible for causing the death. If you can demonstrate that the defendant caused the death through their wrongful conduct, then the next step is proving that you are entitled to recover damages.
For example, you could recover damages for the lost wages that the deceased person may have earned in their lifetime had he or she not wrongfully died, or for the loss of companionship that you may experience. In the Williams case, the Barsons’ daughter may not be able to recover for her father’s earning potential, given that he was 78 and was not likely gainfully employed. However, she could seek damages for the loss of the love and affection that she is experiencing based on her father’s premature death.
The Williams case is just one example of how wrongful death lawsuits may result from car accidents. At the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we are highly experienced at helping families whose loved ones have been killed due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others. Our attorneys are skilled at handling all types of personal injury cases, including those involving wrongful death. Contact our office today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to schedule a no-obligation, no-cost consultation. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you!
