Dead Teen Sued for Losing Control of Flying Body Parts

[mandym]

You think you've heard it all until I tell you that an appeals court in Illinois recently ruled that a woman is allowed to sue a dead teen's estate for injuries caused by his flying body parts. The 18-year-old boy was running across the Amtrak tracks to catch another train but didn't make it -- he was hit by an oncoming train going 70 mph and his body was torn apart by the force and flung onto a nearby passengers' waiting platform. The woman, 58, was struck by a sizable chunk of the boy's body and was knocked to the ground, breaking her leg and wrist. The court ruled that the boy's death was "reasonably foreseeable" and that his estate can be held responsible for his negligence.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_n...ctim?fb_ref=post_top&fb_source=home_multiline

 

[matt wade]

Her injuries were caused my his negligence. What's the issue here?

 

[targus]

Her injuries were caused my his negligence. What's the issue here?

I agree.

Not much different than if he had caused an automobile collision that harmed another person and killing himself in the process.

An unfortunate accident, but the estate is liable none the less.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I agree.

Not much different than if he had caused an automobile collision that harmed another person and killing himself in the process.

An unfortunate accident, but the estate is liable none the less.

Yup, I agree with you guys as well. His actions caused injury - the estate is liable.

 

[Oldtimer]

Yup, I agree with you guys as well. His actions caused injury - the estate is liable.

Ditto.

And, the woman involved may have been told by her insurance company they won't pay her medical bills because the teen caused the accident. Depending on her circumstances, she may not be able to pay them herself.

 

[David Lamb]

Ditto.

And, the woman involved may have been told by her insurance company they won't pay her medical bills because the teen caused the accident. Depending on her circumstances, she may not be able to pay them herself.

If that should be so, then (without wishing to dereail the thread), it would give me another reason to be grateful for our National Health Service.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Oh, how sad for all involved. The parents of the teen - having to endure their son's death and his estate being sued. Terrible.

The injured woman - being hit and having bones broken by flying body parts! I imagine she will have nightmares for sure.

I'm sorry to agree with everyone else. The teen was negligent.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

A horrible story. It's sad that it had to go to court.

Broke her leg AND wrist.

 

[TC]

I agree that she should get her medical bills paid and the amount of lost wages if she missed any work from the accident. If she is seeking to make some extra money buy asking for lots of punitive damages above those things and I had anything to say about it, I would award her $1.00 in punitive damages plus the lost wages/medical bills.

 

[preachinjesus]

I can't imagine the "estate" of this sad 18 year old is terrifically significant.

Sad on all fronts. Sadder still that this family has to continue to suffer loss.

 

[freeatlast]

I agree. She should be able to sue. Her accident was not her fault, but the person who had parts of His body hit her does have culpability even after death. He should have been more careful as it cost him his life and her an injury. If he had lived and his whole body hit her she could sue so this is no different.