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Originally Posted by Fungineer
is it BS because of the sum, or because some idiot ran a red light while looking at his BB?
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Good observation.
If he meant the sum, it's small in today's times where medical bills can total $1 million in a short while. Many of the high dollar awards that we see or read about include payment for a lifetime of medical care one will need.
The money sounds flashy and absurd, but what is the alternative, to have the injured pay for their medical treatment despite someone else being at fault? Besides, but for the settlement or verdict, most injured cannot afford to pay for required medical treatment or their insurance policies have limits as to what will be paid.
Moreover, this woman, while old, sounds like her remaining years will be full of pain and suffering. People that scoff at the dollar amount don't know what it is like to spend 24 hours a day in pain.
I just consulted on a $15 million wrongful death case. During the XMAS holidays a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel [driving in excess of fed and state limits]. He drove over a family van. The husband in the suit lost his wife, two month old son and a brother-in-law. What is a lifetime of emotional pain worth? Nothing?
If he meant the driver looking at the BB:
Hit em hard is my position. Here in SF I road bike a lot. Getting to and from the Presidio to my residence on Nob Hill requires navigating on City streets. I am on full alert at all times.
Each day I see close calls between cars and at times I am almost getting hit. Why? Because 9 out of 10 times the negligent drivers are talking on their cell phones or looking at the phone [which I have to assume is him or her looking at the display for contact info, etc.].
[2006-12-11] Blackberry lawsuit in Chicago
