Paul Walker, the American actor, was born on September 12, 1973, in Glendale, California. He rose to stardom, playing the role of Brian O’Conner, in the famed Hollywood blockbuster series The Fast and Furious.
Walker died in a tragic car accident on November 13, 2013, when he and Roger Rodas crashed into a tree while driving a Porsche Carrera GT in Santa Clarita, California. He was 40 years old.
Rodas was driving at an estimated speed of 80 to 93 mph. The local speed limit posted in the area was 45 mph.
Investigators determined Walker’s cause of death as “unsafe speed for roadway conditions.”
Accidental Death Lawsuits
The accident resulted in two of Walker’s family members contacting a personal injury lawyer and filing accidental death lawsuits against the carmaker.
Walker’s daughter, Meadow, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Porsche and won a 10 million dollar settlement — even though the company denied any responsibility for the accident.
Both parties declared the other was at fault. Walker’s injury lawyer stated, “The Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car. It doesn’t belong on the street.”
The sports car maker claimed their vehicle wasn’t designed for use with “aftermarket alterations or at unsafe speeds.”
Walker’s legal team blamed safety and design flaws for his death. They said the car was unsafe for street driving because it lacked critical features typically built into high-end sports cars.
Porsche made a public statement saying the car Paul Walker was driving was “abused and altered,” referring to aftermarket alterations made by Walker.
Paul Walker III also filed a lawsuit against Porsche. They settled the second wrongful death lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.
At Robert J. DeBry & Associates, we have seen the devastating effects of car accident deaths in Utah. If you are a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident, do not hesitate to contact a Robert J. DeBry & Associates personal injury lawyer to help you during this time.