Verdict reach in wrongful death lawsuit after fatal accident

While it would be ideal for people to know that they would be safe whenever they get behind the wheel, they cannot control the behavior of other drivers in Connecticut. Unfortunately, there are definitely those people out there who are careless and participate in distracting activities while they are operating their vehicle. There are others who are reckless or who are fatigued and unable to maintain concentration.

For one family in Georgia, one person’s ignorant decision ultimately claimed the lives of five people, including two children in a fatal car accident after their vehicle collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. Early investigations revealed that the truck driver appeared to have done nothing to avoid the collision when his truck veered into the path of a small SUV. Further investigations suggested that the driver may have fallen asleep when his truck crossed the median. 

One of the five people killed in the SUV was a woman whose husband filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the steel company where the truck driver was employed. In a startling settlement that was arranged recently, it was determined that the victim party would receive a payout of $285,065,000. The breakdown was $150 million for wrongful death and another $30 million for pain and suffering. $100 million would be given for punitive damages and $65 million for legal fees. 

If people have been hurt or worse yet killed because of the negligence of another, they may be entitled to compensation for the suffering that has been endured. An attorney can play a critical role in facilitating the process of taking such serious matters to court. 

Source: wrbl.com, “Historic $280,065,000 verdict delivered in wrongful death suit Madere v. Schnitzer,” Mikhaela Singleton, Aug. 23, 2019