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Families of pedestrians get $2.2M in wrongful death case

Drunk drivers are often the culprits in cases of bicyclists and pedestrians killed by cars. These negligent drivers put everyone on and near the road in harm's way when they decide to drink before getting behind the wheel. Now, the families of two Florida men who were killed by a 22-year-old drunk woman in a Porsche in June will be receiving more than $2 million from the irresponsible driver. The men's relatives were awarded a joint $2.2 million in connection with the wrongful death suit. Those men were killed by the drunk driver in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The amount was proposed to avoid taking the case to trial.

Official reports show that the victims, ages 30 and 35, were likely homeless. They were well-known among the homeless community in the area, and they often took advantage of charitable offerings throughout the region. The two men were in a parking lot that is often host to a homeless population when they were struck by the out-of-control drunk driver. The woman is seen on surveillance camera plowing through the parking lot and into a bush.

The woman's mother, who owns the Porsche, and her insurance company have agreed to put forth $2 million in connection with the case. In addition, the drunk driver's family has agreed to pay an additional $200,000 for the woman's role in the two victims' deaths.

The driver in this case is also facing criminal charges. She is mounting a criminal defense against allegations of DUI manslaughter and unlawful blood alcohol manslaughter, along with a variety of other DUI-related crimes. Authorities say the woman's blood alcohol content at the time of the collision measured at 0.17 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit for Florida drivers. The criminal case is still pending in the matter, but the civil proceedings sped along because the parties were amenable to a settlement.

Source: articles.sun-sentinel.com, "Families of 2 men killed in Porsche crash share $2.2 million settlement" Erika Pesantes & Mike Clary, Oct. 22, 2013

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