I came across a story the other day that is nothing but sad, and I am afraid it is getting even sadder. The article, first appearing in the Toronto Star then carried by FoxNews (April 27, 2014), was entitled: “Driver who killed teen is suing dead boy’s family for $1 million.”
The title is not a misprint and it pretty much summarizes the lunacy of our times. To quote from the piece:
“The family of a teenage bicyclist who died after being hit from behind by an SUV is now being sued for more than $1 million by the woman who was behind the wheel.
Sharlene Simon claims in court papers the accident caused her ‘great pain and suffering’ and accuses her victim Brandon M. (there is no need to spell out his name) 17, and his two friends of negligence, calling them ‘incompetent bicyclists,’ the Toronto Sun reported Friday.”
To set the scene, the driver was going approximately 55 miles per hour along a dark, rural road near Toronto. The driver was reportedly exceeding the speed limit in her SUV by about five miles per hour when she struck the teenagers. “Brandon” was killed, another boy was injured and the third escaped injury.
Naturally, when the lawsuit was presented to the dead child’s family they were incensed. To quote directly from the piece:
“’I feel like someone kicked me in the stomach — I’m over the edge,’ his father, Derek M., told the Sun. ‘Sometimes, it makes my blood boil.’”
It would make my blood boil too, but it also causes a great many questions to be raised from an ethical point of view.
It’s her right
Teenaged kids do stupid things. I have no idea how they were riding their bikes and the article didn’t mention reflective vests or lights on the bicycles or reflectors. Maybe they were observing every law on the Ontario Province books or maybe they were riding in the center of the road wearing dark jackets. I don’t know.
I do know she was riding on a dark road over the speed limit. I know (and I am bound to get some of you angry at me), that many SUV drivers are clueless to the fact that they are driving in an insulated cab atop a heavy truck chassis. SUV’s don’t behave like small sedans, but more like small trucks – and many drivers are not tested accordingly. I don’t know if she was distracted. I do know she was not charged with a crime.
Sure she can sue if she would like. I can sue a local chicken farmer for selling me a square egg if I have the money to pursue the case, but someone along the line needs to tell me that I am being foolish – and maybe just a little bit nuts.
They reported that the driver has three young children. For the love of all that is sacred, can the driver not emit one drop of empathy for the dead child or his family? Right now, I would guess not.
The lawyer for the driver (naturally) has reportedly used the word “nightmare” to describe the mental anguish of the driver. She cannot get over how this is affecting her. I am sure she is living a nightmare but I also believe the lawyer and presumably those around her are fanning the flames for a law suit. I have a real problem with that; it heals nothing.
Reset except for the obvious –
The young boy is not coming back to life. Whatever happened has happened. For all time, and in all ways, the teenager will always remain the age he was that night. I have said this many times before but it’s so true it constantly bears repeating: real life is not Reality TV, it is not Facebook or Twitter or a video game.
When we make mistakes in real life, we must live with the consequences. There is no reset, there is only the need to understand and learn.
If the driver has any friends or if her lawyer remembers anything he learned in law school, they will insist she seek intensive counseling. She is in trouble. She is a “victim,” but the family of the boy are “VICTIMS.” There is more than enough grief to go around, and it is time for grieving.
The dead boy would undoubtedly wish for a reset, but he does not have that option. The driver (I hope), might wish that on a dark rural road she was doing 45 rather than 55, but she does not have that option either. She needs to get help and grieve and to understand that life is precious – not just her children, but everyone’s child.
In time, I hope she is able to sit down with the boy’s family; not in a lawyer’s office or a court of law but in a quiet, private place; maybe on that dark road – and weep.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!
What most of the reports are leaving out is that this is a counter suit most likely instigated by her insurer as she was sued first by two of the families involved for 2.3 million. Subrogation
No, this is not a countersuit, it is a separate filing.
What isn’t mentioned is that the driver’s husband who was following her in a separate vehicle at the time, is a police officer. The driver was allowed to leave shortly after police arrived on the scene even though other witnesses were held for over 4 hours.
The husband did not attempt to render any first aid and a case of improper conduct was launched. Investigated by the police themselves about one of their own, found no impropriety.
The older brother of the dead teen became depressed after the collision and was found dead six months later from an overdose of alcohol and pills.
Wow. This one is so bad that it almost sounds unbelievable. Definitely a sign of the times.