A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against late “Jackass” star Ryan Dunn.
The lawsuit was filed by the parents of the passenger in the car that Dunn was driving when he got into a fatal accident, gossip website TMZ reports.
Dunn was reportedly driving his Porsche at 132 mph in June 2011 when he lost control and struck a tree in rural Pennsylvania. Both Dunn and his passenger, Zachery Hartwell, were killed. At the time of the accident, Dunn was allegedly “extremely drunk,” reports TMZ.
It was not specified how much Hartwell’s parents are seeking; however, Dunn may still be liable despite the fact that he is dead.
Generally, an injured party can sue a dead person by going after the dead person’s estate. The process for bringing the lawsuit would be similar to suing a living person. However, you will be dealing with an agent (the executor of an estate), as opposed to the person liable. In addition, there may be different time limits on when you can bring an action against an estate.
These time limits are covered by state probate laws, which can be complicated. So you may want to contact a personal injury attorney first. An attorney can also help you calculate damages. For example, in the Ryan Dunn lawsuit, it’s interesting to note that Zachery Hartwell’s parents are seeking from Dunn’s estate any wages Hartwell would have earned during his life.
Related Resources:
- Lawsuit Filed in ‘Jackass’ Star Crash (Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV)
- ‘Jackass’ Star Dies: Ryan Dunn Crash Site Near Philadelphia (FindLaw’s Celebrity Justice)
- Wrongful Death Overview (FindLaw)
- Man Killed by Train is Sued: Flying Body Parts Injured Woman (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help
Civil Rights
Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
Criminal
Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records
Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules
