Sides Reach $1.1 Million Settlement over Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

 Posted on May 16,2018 in Auto Accidents

When a person lends their vehicle to another person, they assume a level of responsibility for ensuring that the driver is capable of safely operating the vehicle. Accidents, of course, will still happen from time to time, and not every crash will result in liability on the part of the vehicle owner. In certain situations, however, an owner may be held liable if he or she knew or should have known that the person borrowing the car would present a risk to others on the road. Such was the point of a lawsuit filed in Hartford Superior Court last year that recently settled for $1.1 million.

Hit-and-Run Rollover Crash

In October 2016, a 42-year-old Colchester man was driving north on Interstate 91 near Windsor Locks when his pickup truck was rear-ended by a Volkswagen SUV driven by a 34-year-old old woman from Newington. The man lost control of his truck, which hit a guardrail and flipped over, killing the driver instantly, reports indicate. The woman in the Volkswagen reportedly fled the scene, but she was apprehended by police in a store parking lot a short time later.

The woman reportedly admitted to being high on cocaine and heroin. She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, as well as evading responsibility and driving on a suspended license. She was found dead of an apparent overdose in January 2017, just before her criminal case was scheduled for trial.

Seeking Damages

Attorneys for deceased man’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit in April 2017 against the woman’s estate and the Massachusetts non-profit organization that owned the Volkswagen. The suit also named the charity’s executive director. The complaint alleged that the director entrusted the vehicle to person “whose behavior was extremely unpredictable,” said a lawyer for man’s estate. “Her substance abuse should have been clear.”

After nearly a year of negotiations, the parties agreed to a settlement that represented policy maximums for both the non-profit’s insurance coverage and that of the woman’s father. The woman was living at home with her father at the time of the accident.

Dealing With a Complex Case?

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a complicated motor vehicle accident, contact an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney. We will help you obtain quality medical, determine who was at fault, and work with you in collecting the full compensation you deserve. Call 860-290-8690 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at Woolf Law Firm, LLC today.

Sources:

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/20161017/woman-charged-in-connection-with-crash-that-killed-colchester-man

http://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/hartford/report-settlement-reached-in-windsor-locks-wrongful-death-lawsuit/1107326466

https://patch.com/connecticut/windsorlocks/woman-charged-fatal-windsor-locks-crash-found-dead