The Paul Walker car crash on November 30, 2013 is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of the driver against Volkswagen’s Porsche division. The May 12, 2014 complaint alleges design flaws in the 2005 Carrerra GT that was involved in the fatal accident.
Paul Walker Car Crash Results in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed by the wife of Roger Rodas, asserts nine claims against Porsche, including wrongful death and false advertising. Rodas claims that the suspension system in the vehicle failed before it traveled off of the road and that the car was not equipped with a safe spill-containing fuel tank or a proper crash cage.
The wrongful death lawsuit also disputes an investigation launched by Porsche and police officials that found the 2005 Carrera GT was traveling at least 80 miles per hour at the time of accident. According to those reports, speed was the sole cause of the Paul Walker car crash. However, Rodas stated that the vehicle was traveling slower.
According to officials, there had been no indication that Rodas or Walker had been racing, driving under the influence or driving while distracted. As a result, several other factors have led investigators to believe that the Paul Walker car crash could have potentially been caused by a defect within the vehicle itself. While the 2005 Carrera GT is reported to be a notoriously difficult car to drive and is certainly not intended for novices, both Walker and Rodas, a professional race car driver, appear to have had enough experience in handling this and similar types of vehicles.
Whether the car carrying Rodas and Walker malfunctioned is another question. Ultimately, drivers who purchase high-speed sports cars and similar high-end vehicles typically have to take the manufacturer’s word on concerns of safety as these cars generally do not have an accepted measure of crash safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, two U.S. groups responsible for crash-testing, rate only cars that sell in relatively high volumes.
Product Defects Can Cause Injuries and Deaths
As it may be the case in the Paul Walker car crash, when a product defect leads to injury or death even with proper use, those involved may be injured or killed. Depending on the circumstances surrounding an accident, injured victims and their loved ones may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for their damages or the death of a family member if it can be proven that the product’s manufacturer did not properly or adequately design, manufacture or market its product.
If you or a loved one has been injured or you have lost a family member due to an allegedly defective product, contact Attorney Group today. We can evaluate your case at no cost to you and connect you with an affiliated attorney who can help you seek compensation or file a wrongful death lawsuit and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
