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May 2, 2024

Toledo Bend, LA – Murphy, Sam, and Young Identified as Victims of Fatal Boating Accident in Toledo Bend

May 2, 2024

Toledo Bend, LA (August 01, 2021) – Three people were killed in a boating accident on Toledo Bend, a popular fishing stop that sits on the Louisiana-Texas border.

Wildlife and Fisheries agents reported that the bodies of the three boaters have been recovered. The deceased parties have since been identified as 46-year-old Paul L. Murphy Jr., a resident of Opelousas, 44-year-old Joseph L. Sam Jr., also from Opelousas, and 40-year-old James F. Young, a resident of Lafayette.

The men set out in a 14-foot boat at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30th.

WF Agents were notified at about 10:00 a.m. on Saturday that the boaters were very late coming back from their trip. According to officials, the boat is still missing.

Murphy’s body was found wearing a life jacket on Saturday at about 12:35 p.m. The bodies of the other two men were found the following day without personal floatation devices.

At this time, the circumstances that caused the men to enter the water are unknown. It’s believed that their boat sank. 

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased victims, Mr. Paul L. Murphy Jr., Mr. Joseph L. Sam Jr., and Mr. James F. Young, at this time.

Wrongful Deaths in Toledo Bend

8.01 Toledo Bend, LA - Murphy, Sam, and Young Identified as Victims of Fatal Boating Accident in Toledo Bend

When dealing with wrongful death in Louisiana, members of the victim’s immediate family, parents, spouses, and children, are entitled to bring a claim against the at-fault person. If you have decided to file such a claim, it is imperative that you secure immediate legal counsel in order to be eligible for damages. 

When people are gravely injured in any kind of accident that stemmed from the reckless, negligent, or malicious act of another, their immediate family members may be entitled to file a claim of wrongful death with a Louisiana wrongful death attorney right away.  

The health and age of the deceased, their yearly income, and their personal expenses are all taken into consideration when establishing damages for the wrongful death. Financial compensation in these cases can include factors such as medical expenses, burial costs, loss of inheritance, loss of future wages, loss of benefits like medical insurance and pension, pain and suffering, and more.

The injury accident attorneys at Smiley Law Firm in Louisiana are wholly focused on helping their clients heal without worrying about their legal rights being abused. When families unexpectedly lose one of their own in a serious accident, we do everything in our power to increase their odds of being awarded the financial compensation to which Louisiana law says they are entitled. 

It is important that grieving families have a solid legal team on their side; one that is devoted to supporting and advising you from beginning to end. Our boat accident attorneys in Louisiana work diligently to help safeguard the legal rights and best interests of our clients. 

Non-economic damages, like loss of companionship, are occasionally also awarded in wrongful death suits. A Louisiana personal injury attorney will know the most effective methods and strategies to help you see a successful outcome to your wrongful death claim.

If your loved one was killed during a preventable accident, get in touch with our personal injury attorneys in Louisiana as soon as possible. Speak with someone on our team by calling 504-688-3494 or 504-822-2222, and asking us to schedule your free case review so you can learn about your legal options.

Note: These posts are constructed with the use of secondary sources. These sources include but are not limited to local and state news stories, local and state police accident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about injury accidents that take place in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana. We did not independently verify the fact surrounding this accident. If you locate any information that is inaccurate, please contact our firm and we will correct the post to reflect the most accurate information available. We will also remove this post upon request.

Disclaimer: These posts are created to raise awareness about the dangers of driving in Louisiana. We hope that by casting light on serious accidents like this one, other drivers will take heed, and avoid being seriously injured in a similar accident. This post is not a solicitation for business. The information contained in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. The photo used in this post was not taken at the accident scene.

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