Determination + Dedication
One morning in December 2015 around 11:00, a Tram-Am Trucking driver crashed into oncoming traffic on a two-lane road in Iowa, Louisiana. In the miles leading up to the crash, witnesses reported the driver swerved off the road to the right, then back on the road for a short distance before running off the road again. His delivery truck drifted further and further onto the shoulder until more than half the truck was off the road. Then, the Tram-Am swerved back toward the roadway, causing the truck to flip on its side. The truck slid across two lanes of pavement and crashed into an oncoming Ford truck. The driver of the Ford truck died after approximately 30 minutes of suffering.
The driver did not appear intoxicated at the scene and was not arrested for DUI. However, his blood test results revealed the presence of prescription pain and sleep medications, for which the driver had valid prescriptions.
Tram-Am hired the driver about 9 months before the crash and that he was arrested for DUI on his way home from training. After the new driver finished his training in Houston, he took pain and sleep medications before getting on Interstate 10 to drive three hours back to Louisiana. The driver was seen swerving and nearly hitting several cars on the Interstate around Vinton, Louisiana. He was pulled over and arrested for DUI.
The driver reported the arrest to his Tram-Am supervisor that night and admitted taking pain medication while driving.
Tram-Am Trucking took no meaningful action to investigate the DUI or their driver’s drug use. Tram-Am Trucking briefly made the driver ride as an observer (with pay) and then Tram-Am Trucking put him back on the road behind the wheel of commercial delivery truck.
Pharmacy records revealed that over the course of 4 years and 10 months, the driver had acquired over 300 extra sleeping pills from his pharmacy by refilling his prescriptions early.
Important rulings from the Court included Partial Summary Judgment allowing for punitive damages to be assessed against the employer Tram-Am Trucking based on vicarious and independent liability.
After the crash, Susan (fictional name used to protect our client’s privacy) regained consciousness briefly. After being cut out of her truck, she passed out and never woke up again. She suffered severe injuries to both legs and her upper body. Plaintiffs were Susan’s adult son and adult daughter.
HOW WE HELPED THE PLAINTIFF
Determination
Dedication
Aaron worked on this case at one point almost every day for three years. There were 5 attorneys on the other side he had to keep up with. We got a tremendous result.
The hard thing about cases like this is being stubborn when the defendants want to pay, what most people would consider, a lot of money, but not quite what they owe. We settled for 10 million, in the end, but it was not nearly what they should have received.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“Great people it was more like going to see friends then a lawyer appointment they helped me and my family through some really hard times in my life.”
Tim
Susan’s son – Client
AARON BROUSSARD
Partner – Trial Lawyer
Aaron graduated from Sulphur High School in 1998 and graduated from McNeese four years later. He attended Tulane Law School in New Orleans and began practicing law at the age of 25.
In law school, Aaron was a lead member of Tulane’s National Moot Court Trial Team. He was also selected for Tulane’s Law Clinic which allows senior students to represent real clients while still in school. Aaron dedicated his law clinic experience to assisting victims of domestic violence in New Orleans. He also graduated with a Certificate of Specialization in Maritime Law.
Aaron is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Louisiana Association for Justice, and the Louisiana Bar Association. Aaron gets to know clients on a personal level and never gives up. His clients very rarely call to see how their case is going because they already know. Aaron keeps his clients informed and up to date. Aaron is very selective about what cases he handles. Being selective allows Aaron to dedicate more time to each client and get better results in a shorter time. Aaron strives to provide great representation to good people.
“I wish I could have done more for her. I wish I could have finished the fight, I guess.”
AARON BROUSSARD
