Florida car accident

This tragic Florida car accident involved 22 year old Roger Czapski. According to news reports, Czapski was a BMW car salesman with aspirations of owning his own dealership. Unfortunately, that dream ended in 2004 when he took Christopher Maher and two friends for a test drive in a BMW 530i. While on the test drive, Maher drove the powerful car over 90 mph through a busy suburban road that had a posted speed limit of 45 mph. The BMW hit another car and burst into flames after crashing into a light pole – killing Maher.

Ironically, the driver and his friends survived. His family sued Maher and their Florida car accident attorney was able to show that Maher was at fault for Czapski's wrongful death even though the defense tried to prove otherwise. A jury awarded Czapski's family $13.7 million.

Wrongful death: Defined

Wrongful death lawsuits allege that the victim was killed as a result of negligence (or other type of unjust action) on the part of the person or entity being sued. The victim’s survivors are generally entitled to monetary damages as a result of the improper conduct.

Damages in a wrongful death lawsuit may include the following:

• Damages for mental anguish or pain and suffering of the survivors;
• Loss of benefits like pension plans, medical coverage, and so on;
• Loss of care, protection, nurturing, and companionship of the survivors;
• Loss of inheritance;
• Loss of the victim’s expected earnings between the time of the death and the expected retirement or death;
• Medical and funeral expenses connected to the death.

Punitive damages, those meant to punish the defendant, may also be available depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case and the state in which the lawsuit is brought. An experienced wrongful death attorney can explain what damages your family might be entitled to.