A taxi driver was killed in Toronto, Ontario when his taxi was hit by one of two Mercedes Benzs allegedly street racing in January 2006. Tahir Khan was a Pakistani immigrant, and was three days from obtaining Canadian citizenship when he died.
Khan was killed almost instantly when he was hit by the Mercedes Benz, which then slammed his taxi into a light pole at a busy Toronto intersection. Though investigators are still trying to determine at what speed Khan’s taxi was hit, it is estimated that the two cars hit speeds as fast as 140 kilometers (78 miles) an hour during the race.
The drivers of the Mercedes are both 20 years old. They pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to a year of house arrest and two years probation for the accident. The prosecution in the case was pushing for a three year prison sentence for each, and is appealing to make this a possibility.
Lawsuit
Khan’s family filed a $2 million lawsuit claiming loss of care and companionship, economic losses, and punitive damages. The Khan family’s lawyer, Russ Howe, says that Khan’s wife and mother, who are still in Pakistan, have been left impoverished due to the loss of their main caregiver. He claims the $2 million is not a “cash grab.”
Howe says there is still a lot of evidence to gather in the lawsuit against the drivers. The drivers’ parents are also named in the lawsuit for two reasons: (a) to gain access to their insurance, and (b) because Ontario law says vehicle owners are responsible for the driver’s actions.
Punishment and Compensation
Maybe the drivers got off easy with their punishment. Or maybe the house arrest, two years probation, and a lawsuit is punishment enough. In many of these cases, people say that all parties involved are victims. It can be argued that these drivers were just kids, and kids do foolish things, especially when they’re behind the wheel. It can also be argued that 20-year-olds are old enough to know they’re being dumb, which lead to the death of a man. The parents of the two drivers might be victims. After all, they weren’t there when their kids were out street racing, and suddenly they’re being targeted in a $2 million lawsuit.
Tahir Khan’s family in Pakistan would certainly argue with all of the above. They’re the ones who lost a family member thousands of miles away in an accident that probably could have been avoided.
Many aspects of life are radically different in Pakistan than they are in Canada and the US. But this case transcends cultural differences because losing your primary caregiver in any city or country is bound to cause economic hardship, as well as grief, anger, and frustration. $2 million doesn’t seem too much to ask for.
If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to another driver’s negligence, please contact an experienced injury lawyer to help guide you through the legal process.
