There I was, sleeping away in my recliner after having dozing off and then waking up to the news, something I rarely watch on purpose. The story being told was about a couple who were badly injured while riding their motorcycle by a teenager who crossed the centerline and struck them with the front left and side of his pickup. He was texting his girlfriend at the time.
This is a horrible thing to have happened to anyone, the accident, the loss of limbs from massive injury, the whole mental and physical event. But is it one that should be used to change the entire legal aspect of driving? What will they sue over next? Who will they sue? Could be you or me, a parent, an employer, a radio station, fast food joint, maybe a makeup manufacturer, how about the automobile manufacturer for installing a safety device that is annoying? Nothing is beyond the imagination because this "leap of logic" will open the floodgates to lawsuits over any and every thing that can distract a driver.
Should the driver have been texting? No. Should his girlfriend have been sending him text that would cause him to respond? Doesn't matter, HE was the driver not her. It is the driver's responsibility to be in control of the vehicle, no one else's.
How would you like to be the employer who gets sued for causing an accident that occurred in an employee's private vehicle because you told the employee that their work was not good enough and that the employee must improve or consider other employment causing that employee to be mentally distracted? No employer can afford poor workmanship and so far this country's product reliability is low enough already and if this suit is decided in favor of the plaintiffs, expect more junk on the store shelves.
IF this lawsuit is settled in favor of the two unfortunate people that lost their left legs, there will be millions of lawsuits against fast food businesses, radio stations, makeup companies and any other person or thing that can be talked to, eaten or done while driving.
At no time is complete liability NOT the drivers responsibility, they are the one in control. This "leap of logic", if successful will make everyone liable for the actions of everyone else.
http://www.themissouriinjurylawyer.com/2...http://lansing.injuryboard.com/automobil...