Settlement reached in wrongful death lawsuit against Texas city
The family of a cyclist killed in an accident with two fire trucks has reached a settlement with the city of Houston, Texas. Their wrongful death claim against the city is set to be settled for $225,000.
Leigh Boone died two weeks after she was injured in an accident involving two fire trucks in March of 2009. The trucks collided at an intersection as they were speeding to what turned out to be a false alarm. One truck was speeding, and the other ran a red light.
Boone was standing on the corner with her bicycle when a ladder truck rolled onto her as a result of the collision.
Boone’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Houston in hopes of changing the way that the city’s fire stations compete for calls.
In the past, says an attorney for the family, there has been an unwritten competition amongst fire stations to be the first to the scene. Boone’s family wants to see that mentality changed to prevent future tragedies.
Under Texas law, the maximum amount of compensation anyone can get from a municipality for a wrongful death is $250,000.
We blogged about the Texas Tort Claims Act back in November. Essentially the law limits amount of money a person can be awarded when suing a governmental unit in Texas. It also limits the circumstances under which a governmental entity can be held liable for a tortious act.
If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of a negligent act by a government employee, it is critical that you seek the advice of an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer who understands the complicated laws that affect your ability to bring a lawsuit against the Texas government.
For more on the settlement, see this piece by the Houston Chronicle and this blog post on the Houston Press website.
