Twenty-four-year-old T. Lofton was a front-seat passenger when the vehicle he occupied rear-ended a tractor-trailer that stopped too quickly on the roadway.
He tragically lost his life due to severe blunt force injuries that caused extensive internal and external trauma. Lofton was a passenger, so he had no control over the tractor-trailer's unsafe operation or its driver's conduct.
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary represented the Lofton family in their wrongful death case, holding accountable everyone whose negligence contributed to their devastating loss.
Impaired Driving Turned a Preventable Collision Into a Fatal One
The tractor-trailer driver was under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol impairment delays reaction time, impairs judgment, and reduces the ability to perceive and respond to hazards. What might have been avoidable became fatal because an impaired driver sat behind the wheel.
Florida law under Section 316.193 treats DUI deaths with particular severity, imposing criminal penalties and allowing the family to pursue civil wrongful death claims against those whose impaired or negligent actions cause fatal harm. With wrongful death attorney Sean M. Cleary, the Lofton family pursued justice for a tragedy that evidence revealed was caused by someone choosing to drive a commercial vehicle while impaired.
Catastrophic Injuries That Caused T. Lofton's Death
The medical evidence became the foundation for proving causation and severity. A sudden deceleration caused his brain and internal organs to collide violently with skeletal structures, resulting in blunt force trauma. He suffered skeletal fractures throughout his body that exceeded the threshold for survivable impact. A severe facial trauma was evident from the presence of periorbital ecchymosis.
The aspirated blood in his airways proved his body's protective reflexes had shut down in those first moments after the crash. Brain lacerations from the impact caused him to lose consciousness and die instantly.
Building the Case Against the Truck Driver and Trucking Company
The tractor-trailer that stopped abruptly created the dangerous situation that resulted in devastating consequences for our client, T. Lofton. Our firm pursued maximum compensation from all available sources, including the impaired driver's insurance and the trucking company's liability policy.
Evidence showed that Lofton had no control over the tractor-trailer driver's impaired decision-making or the unsafe stopping. After the crash, our firm preserved the details of the scene, the images of the damaged vehicle, and the toxicology analysis reports. Our team worked with accident reconstructionists, forensic pathologists, and biomechanical experts to establish how collision forces produced fatal injuries and which parties' negligence caused the crash.
Standing Up to Trucking Insurers with Attorney Sean M. Cleary
Insurers for trucking companies often try to blame the other driver for accidents. Our firm stance was supported by evidence that the truck driver was under the influence and had stopped too quickly or unsafely. Insurers were forced to acknowledge their driver's share of liability after our reconstruction and biomechanics experts demonstrated how the truck's actions led to the collision.
The Lofton family recovered both economic and non-economic damages under Florida's wrongful death statute. This included funeral expenses, lost future wages, and lost services and support, as well as compensation for their emotional pain and suffering.
Securing Justice & Full Compensation With The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary helps families who have lost loved ones in truck accidents caused by impaired drivers and unsafe trucking practices.
Our firm stands up to insurers who minimize their liability by pursuing claims against all responsible parties, preserving evidence efficiently, and working with expert witnesses.
If a truck accident has taken someone you love, reach out to our Miami office. Personal injury attorney Sean M. Cleary will evaluate your case and see if you're eligible to seek justice and compensation for your pain and suffering.