An 18-year-old girl from Orange County was killed in a gruesome car accident in 2006. However, it has taken until 2012 for her family to find closure. Pictures of the girl’s mutilated, maimed, and nearly decapitated body were taken by California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators and never intended for public release – in fact, they were not even initially shown to the surviving family members because of their graphic nature. Thanks to two highway patrol dispatchers, however, the images soon leaked online.
The teenager’s devastated family filed a lawsuit against CHP that was initially rejected by an Orange County Superior Court, since at the time, the law didn’t recognize the right of families to sue for invasion of privacy regarding photos of the dead. However, the 4th District Court of Appeal reversed this decision in 2010, ruling that surviving family members do have a right to sue for invasion of privacy in these types of cases.
Over the years, the girl’s family has attempted to have the images removed countless times, but once they were taken down on one site, they would sprout up on another. Many thoughtless people commented on various websites mocked the girl and claimed she “deserved to die” because she was spoiled and rich. Taunting messages were also sent to the home of the girl’s family.
If you have suffered a personal injury because of someone else’s negligence or willful recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area today using the Personal Injury Lawyer Directory.
