Oct 24, 2016
Wrongful DeathCar accidents and product recalls associated with automobiles are regular topics that make California news. Many times, certain makes and models of automobiles are recalled in an effort to prevent accidents from occurring. If an accident were to occur as the result of a defective automobile, it is possible that the car manufacturer and even the car dealership could be held responsible. Recently, actor Anton Yelchin was killed in what his parents claim to be a case of wrongful death .
Several months ago, Yelchin apparently exited his Jeep Grand Cherokee while it was still running. Although the gear shift was in neutral, the Jeep rolled and crushed Yelchin between it and his mailbox. Last spring, this same gear shift was the focus of a product recall involving over 1 million Fiat-Chrysler products. This has caused many, including Yelchin’s parents, to infer that this apparently defective part could have been a contributing factor in his death.
Yelchin’s parents have now filed a lawsuit in California courts claiming wrongful death. It is their contention that there must have been a problem with the Jeep which resulted in their son’s death. One of the defendants, the Chrysler dealership where the Jeep Grand Cherokee was purchased, has responding by asking to be removed from the lawsuit.
The death of a beloved son is a difficult experience for any parent. However, when this death is possibly the fault of a defective product, the tragedy seems even more traumatic. California families who have lost a loved one in a possible wrongful death experience often have legal options available to them.
Source: thedrive.com, “Anton Yelchin’s Death Was His Own Fault, Alleges Jeep Dealership“, Sean Evans, Oct. 10, 2016
