Settlement in Texting Wreck

[hemibee]

There has been a settlement in the case of the texter that hit a man and his wife and as a result both have lost their left legs.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/21/two-injured-by-new-jersey-text-messaging-driver-settle-lawsuit/


I'm glad they are getting a payment (if you ask me, it's not a big enough payment) from the idiot's insurance company but a bit ticked off that he was only slapped lightly on the wrist for this wreck.

Interesting that the couple's lawyer is also going after the sender of the text that led up to the wreck.

 

[devo]

I agree that half a mill is nowhere near enough
I also agree that the girlfriend isnt responsible, it is the drivers responsibility to leave the phone alone while driving.
What I totally cannot understand is the leniency of his punishment.
The woman who failed to see me and put me down got fined more than that plus was disqualified for 6 months and I had no permanent injuries.That poor couple will never live normally again.I really feel for them.

 

[otherwise]

Quote,
"settled their lawsuit against him for $500,000",
that suggests they only got $250,000 each. Had they been in Australia they could be looking at about $500,000 each plus all lost wages for as long as it takes to get them back to some kind of normality. The driver would be looking at a couple of $K fine, 6 to 9 mths prison but suspended provided no further offence is committed and loss of licence for at least 1 year.

 

[Sea Dog]

Just goes to show, don't expect justice when you enter a court of law. I bet the lawyer will get half of the $500k. At the moment, there is a debate in Oz that the state will take on the responsibility of caring and compensating accident victims, rather than the legal system feasting on the cash cow. Waiting for the legal and insurance industries to start screaming like stuck pigs! Bloody parasites.

 

[keystiger]

Lawyers going for more $. THe poor couple will most likely not get the full 500K a BIG chunk goes to the lawyer I'm sure. Sad.
We had a young rider killed a little over a month ago here, young medical student at the college bright, energetic promising young adult. Out enjoying his first Ninja 250.
Texting and driving simply needs to stop. THe fines and jail time needs to be quadrupled in IMHO.

 

[DaveM]

Well I must also agree I cannot see how the girlfriend can be held accountable even if she knew he was driving as Harry said it is the drivers responsibility. I also feel that he should have been hit as hard as they could hit him as what he got was a joke. I still don't understand how anyone can feel that they are able to text and drive it is just crazy

 

[CarlS]

Using a cell phone in any manner while driving should be treated in the same manner as DUI.

 

[DaveM]

Well they starting to confiscate the phone if they catch you this side but you can go and get it back the next day with a fine so it is a start.

 

[CarlS]

I think confiscating the vehicle would be much more effective!

 

[DaveM]

That would get my attention for sure

 

[CarlS]

I think it would get a lot of peoples' attention. It would certainly reduce cell phone usage while driving.

 

[hemibee]

I think confiscating the vehicle would be much more effective!

I'd love to see that.


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