A little over a year ago in Florida, a young man was on the road on his way home to spend some time with his family. But his life was cut short when another man, internationally known polo club owner John Goodman, ran into him at an intersection. Goodman had run a stop sign. The crash left the young man trapped in his vehicle underwater.
Goodman has already been charged with vehicular homicide and intoxication manslaughter and will likely face a criminal trial later this year. However, the boy’s parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Goodman that will go to trial this summer.
After the crash occurred last year, Goodman allegedly fled the scene of the accident. When police were able to test his blood-alcohol content level three hours after the accident, Goodman’s levels were more than two times the legal limit in Florida. He was arrested three months after the night of the accident.
The young man’s family is still struggling with the loss of their loved one. His mother especially has dealt with a lot of emotions surrounding why her son had to die. No doubt she wonders every day whether her son would still be alive if Goodman had not left the scene of the accident.
Losing a loved one in a fatal accident can be one of the most painful and difficult things in life. It can be even more frustrating to know that the accident was due to someone else’s negligence and could have been prevented. Though a wrongful death claim will never bring back a loved one, it can help a family recover financially, lifting some of the stress so that they can move forward with their lives.
Source: Orlando Sentinel online, “Family, friends gather on anniversary of polo club founder’s crash that killed 23-year-old in Wellington,” Jason Schultz, 12 February 2011
