Parents of Man Hit and Killed by Bus Awarded Jury Verdict of $20 Million
On June 29, 2017, 25-year-old Hunter Brown was traveling on a Greyhound Bus Lines bus from Seattle, Washington to California. During the ride, the bus driver stopped at a rest stop in Center Point, Oregon. While attempting to get back on the bus, Brown was run over by the bus and killed.
Brown’s parents filed a lawsuit against Greyhound Bus Lines. The lawsuit alleged the driver failed to count his passengers before leaving the rest stop. As a result, he left Brown behind. Passengers stated that when Brown fell, he was running alongside the bus and knocking on the bus door. After falling, the driver made a turn and roller over Brown. During the trial, a bus industry expert testified that the accident and resulting death could have been prevented if the driver took a headcount of the passengers.
The jury found Greyhound Bus Lines negligent in Brown’s death. The verdict in favor of his parents was $20 million in damages. The jury verdict stated that had the driver followed company policies, the accident may have been avoided.
Wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the wrongful act, neglect or fault of another party. A lawsuit for the injuries and resulting death can be filed on behalf of the deceased person’s estate. Michigan law also lists the persons that may be entitled to damages from the wrongful act and death. The individuals include the deceased’s spouse, children, parents and siblings. The lawsuit may seek damages for economic and noneconomic losses.
Economic losses include losses with a set monetary amount. They include medical expenses, medical care, lost wages and burial costs. Noneconomic losses suffered in a wrongful death action do not have set numerical values. Noneconomic losses include pain and suffering, mental anguish, mental distress, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and loss of parental care.
Although a person may have a wrongful death action, they may not be able to pay for a lawsuit. The costs of starting a lawsuit accrue quickly. Even if a person decides to file the lawsuit without an attorney, they will still have to pay the court fees and other costs. Litigation funding provides financial ease.
Litigation funding or legal funding provides third-party financing to a person or party who pays for litigation costs. This funding allows the borrower to have some financial relief. The third-party financing company absorbs the risk of lending the money because the money is returned if the borrower wins or settles the lawsuit. Additionally, the borrower always retains control of their suit. The lender is only the financer; it does not control the case or the attorney.
Tags: Bus Accident, Greyhound, legal funding, litigation funding, Wrongful Death
