This week, a Chicago jury awarded the family of Roger Czapski $13.7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit over his death in a 2004 auto accident.
Czapski was a 22-year-old car salesman at a local Chicago dealership. On August 4, 2004, he was sitting in the passenger seat of a BMW 530i that was being taken for a test drive by a customer. The customer was driving 95 mph, more than double the posted speed limit, on a busy suburban street when the vehicle hit another car.
As a result of the collision, the BMW was catapulted into a light pole, causing the car to explode. The driver and two backseat passengers survived the crash. Czapski did not. The driver was given a ticket for driving 40 mph over the speed limit at the time of the auto accident.
Defense lawyers for the driver of the BMW claimed that Czapski contributed to the negligent actions that led to his death by encouraging the driver to speed and allowing him to drive the car outside of the accepted test drive route. The jury did not feel the same way, and they ruled that the driver’s negligent and reckless actions warranted a rather large damage award.
The calculation of damages in a wrongful death lawsuit is very complex. Therefore, it is important to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney to ensure that you receive fair compensation for the loss of your loved one.
If you have a wrongful death claim in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
