A Late-Night Drive Changed Everything
Just before 11 p.m., our client and her wife were driving along a rural highway near Leesville, Louisiana, on their way to visit friends stationed at the nearby military base. It was supposed to be a quiet evening trip with their dog riding along beside them.
As they entered the intersection with a green light, a pickup truck suddenly turned left directly across their path. The truck carried a father and his two sons. The driver failed to yield, leaving our client no time to avoid the collision.
The crash was devastating. Metal and debris covered the roadway. Both women suffered painful injuries, and their dog was killed in the impact.
What happened next made the situation even harder.
The Police Report Blamed the Wrong Driver
Even though physical evidence at the scene pointed to the pickup truck driver causing the crash, the responding officer relied on statements from the other driver and a supposed witness. Our client received a citation for allegedly running the red light.
For many injury victims, a police report like this can shape the entire case. Insurance companies often use those reports to deny responsibility or pressure injured people into accepting less than they deserve.
Our clients knew the police report was wrong, but proving it required fast action.
Surveillance Video Revealed the Truth
Our office was hired only days after the crash, and we immediately began investigating.
That decision made all the difference.
We located surveillance footage from a nearby gas station before it could be erased. The video clearly showed our client entering the intersection with the green light. It also exposed another critical fact: the so-called witness had not actually seen the collision happen. They arrived AFTER the crash and gave inaccurate information to law enforcement.
Using the surveillance footage along with the police officer’s body-worn camera recording, we also found an independent witness who watched the entire collision unfold. Their statement confirmed exactly what our client had been saying from the beginning.
Without quick legal intervention, that surveillance footage may have disappeared forever.
Fighting Back Against False Claims
Once the evidence was secured, we worked directly with law enforcement and prosecutors to challenge the citation issued against our client.
The traffic ticket was ultimately dismissed.
We then presented the surveillance footage, witness testimony, and investigative findings to the insurance company for the pickup truck driver. Faced with clear evidence, the insurer accepted responsibility for the crash.
Cases like this remind people why early investigation matters. When the other driver lied or witnesses provide inaccurate information, important evidence can disappear before injured victims realize what is happening.
Serious Injuries and Emotional Loss
The collision left both clients dealing with painful and lasting injuries. They suffered ankle fractures that required surgery and months of physical therapy. They also experienced neck and back injuries that forced them to miss work while recovering.
Beyond the physical pain, they were grieving the loss of their dog, who did not survive the crash. For many families, pets are part of everyday life and emotional support. Losing one in a violent collision adds another layer of trauma during an already difficult recovery.
We pursued compensation for all of those losses, including damages connected to their pet’s death.
Full Insurance Policy Limits Recovered
After building the case and presenting the evidence, we recovered the full available insurance policy limits for our clients.
What began as a case where our client was wrongly blamed became a clear example of how fast investigation and careful legal work can reveal the truth.
If our office had not acted quickly to preserve the surveillance footage, the outcome could have looked very different. Instead, the evidence told the real story and helped our clients move forward with financial support and accountability.
