Portner & Shure, P.A. recently settled a wrongful death claim for the family and the estate of a man who was killed last year by a distracted driver. Attorney Simran Rahi, Attorney Jonathan Portner, Paralegal Diane Lazo, and Paralegal Stephanie White all worked on this delicate case. We are proud to say we secured a $750,000 settlement for our client, which they have found more than satisfactory and a means of finding closure, financial stability, and some peace of mind.
Details of the Distracted Driving Wrongful Death Claim
On March 25th, 2019, in Washington County, Maryland, John Doe – identities have been kept confidential for privacy reasons – was driving westbound on Boonsboro Pike near its intersection with Mill Point Road. Defendant Scott – also an alias – had a stop sign at the intersection, but failed to stop, resulting in a horrific accident.
Our attorneys were able to use cellphone and vehicle module data records obtained during discovery to reveal that Scott failed to stop because he was not paying attention and was possibly on his phone. John was killed in the crash. His estate pursued non-economic damages for more than 60 hours of pain and suffering that the decedent experienced between the collision and his untimely death.
John’s wife also made a claim for:
- Loss of companionship, having been married for more than 40 years
- Loss of support
- Mental anguish
John’s daughter and son made claims for loss of companionship and support. They had each maintained a healthy and close relationship with their father, who often visited them at work on lunch, talked on the phone practically every day, and enjoyed chatting each weekend. They both also cited their mental anguish in their claims.
Defendant Scott was represented by counsel for Erie Insurance Company. It was argued by the defense that John’s elderly age of 73, his daily smoking habits, and serious heart condition would limit the damages the plaintiffs could demand. Based on their assumptions, no Washington County jury would award more than $500,000.
However, Attorneys Simran Rahi and Portner disagreed and knew the true value of a claim when they saw it. They argued that Scott was clearly responsible for John’s untimely death and that a jury would sympathize with the family. Perhaps afraid of losing a drawn-out court battle, the defending insurance company agreed to settle at mediation for $750,000.
At Portner & Shure, P.A. in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., we believe every successful case result is one worth celebrating. If you would like to work with a winning and compassionate team for a wrongful death claim, then we encourage you to call us at (855) 954-4141. We can discuss the key details of your case during a no-cost consultation.
