Liability, awards and settlements

30.1, accidental death, award

US: the family of a woman who died after being hit by an SUV at a car wash was awarded $7.5mn in compensatory damages on January 26 in a lawsuit against the business. The victim died of head injuries after the crash in 2005 at Town ‘N County Car Wash. Her 18-month-old son, who she was pushing in a stroller at the time, survived. Her husband was awarded $2.5mn and her son got $5mn. The award was added to the $92,000 the car wash already agreed to pay for documented financial damages. The husband declined to seek any punitive damages. In its verdict, the jury said punitive damages were warranted in the case.