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In February 2015, TV star, entrepreneur, and Olympic gold-medal winning decathlete Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce) was involved in a very public and very complex car accident in Malibu, California. While authorities did not charge Jenner with a crime, she was still sued by the families involved in the accident. Most of those lawsuits have been settled, while one is still pending. What can the Caitlyn Jenner car accident situation teach us about Florida car accidents, which can happen at any moment, to any of us? Let’s look at the facts:
On a rainy section of the PCH, Caitlyn Jenner (who was still legally Bruce) began a four-car pile-up when her SUV rear-ended a Lexus. The Lexus was pushed into oncoming traffic and struck by a Hummer, killing the driver of the Lexus Kim Howe. Jenner’s car then hit a Prius that was stopped in front of the Lexus.
According to police reports, Jenner passed a field sobriety test, nor was she texting or driving recklessly. Prosecutors declined charges of misdemeanor manslaughter in the case.
But despite the fact that she did not face criminal charges, Jenner has been the subject of civil action brought by all three parties in the crash: the adult stepchildren of Kim Howe, the deceased Lexus driver; the Wolf-Millesi family traveling in the Hummer; and Jessica Steindorff, the driver of the Prius. The suits claimed wrongful death, negligence, and personal injury and property damage, respectively.
Over the course of the past year, the suits filed by the family of Kim Howe and the Prius driver have been settled, reportedly with payments from Jenner’s insurance company. The suit filed by the family in the Hummer is still pending.
Even if you don’t think you have a case, we urge you to contact reputable counsel like Central Florida car accident attorney Jeff Badgley so that you can move forward from an auto accident with peace of mind. Call us for a free consultation at (407) 781-0420 today.