RIP Paul Walker - killed in a CGT's passenger seat

[Perfectlap]

^ There's already a messy trail for Porsche in the Courts. The previous suit by the family of the Rennlister who died at the oval track produced conflicting testimony by Porsche's own engineers of why the car was not designed with stabilitiy management (along with some of the GT 911's). The answers were not good ones, something along the lines of commercial need over safety. That's basically like opening up the check book from the witness stand. A better question would have been why the engines weren't tweaked towards more 'street-oriented' mapping making it a bit more manageable at low end. Too much cowbell for the average set of wrists..

p.s.
I went digging through some of the Rennlist threads to see if a previous owner of the car had chimed in and sure enough Graham Rahal was posting on it, it seems he's pretty upset about it all. I guess it makes you think that easily could of have been me.

[particlewave]

The concept of personal responsibility is unfortunately lost on most because of greed, laziness, and selfishness.

Why work when one can simply sue?

[Perfectlap]

^ actually that McCoffee case was a little more complicated than that. THat particular McDonald's was nuking the coffee and handing it over at temps well beyond what would be considered safe for a mobile hot beverage. I recall the surgeon who had to perform skin grafts on the old lady saying he'd never seen burns that bad from a simple coffee spill.

I think there will indeed be litigation if they can find evidence that there was some manner of malfunction. But if there was no malfunction, and this was just a case of too much HP with too little electronics nanying (for a road car), there will still be a legal action.

Also, the pricey lawyers for Porsche will know that they have already been convicted on the charge that their's is the brand that killed (another) famous actor. What they spend fighting the case will not be worth simply writing a check to the families. It will simply re-inforce a notion amongst many that Porsches are dangerous and a $80-$100K Jaguar or Merc is more forgiving and life-continuing. From a business point of view getting out the laywers to fight to the death, for years, is not conducive to sales.

[southernstar]

Agreed perfectlap - precisely why I expect that there will be a lawsuit and that it will be settled. As far as the MacDonald's case is concerned, I still find it hard to believe that anyone would open a cup of coffee between their bare legs and not realize that it was hot. Coffee made with a french press is just a couple of minutes past boiling, as is percolated coffee. I don't care how much they nuked her coffee, I mean, do we really need warnings that "coffee is hot"! Keeping in mind that McDonald's cups are cardboard and not styrofoam, the outside of the cup alone is enough to cause burns if held for any period (which is why some people ask for double cups). What about tea? Don't they pour boiling water in the cup with a tea bag? Whether the plaintiff was an old (but either negligent or stupid) woman, or a young one with the same traits, I still think their verdict stands for the same proposition: juries who have sympathy for a plaintiff will tend to award them money due to that sympathy - and large amounts of money if the defendant is perceived as having large pockets.

[Perfectlap]

If memory serves the old lady was willing to settle for as little as $20K in medical expenses (she spent a week in the hospital undergoing skin grafts and had burns to 20% of body) and a court-appointed mediator pegged settlement at like $200K. McD's refused both offers to settle (they spent way more on lawyers anyway -- go figure) and marched into court. In the end the jury gave the old lady $3 million! Sometimes you have to know when the math does not make sense no matter what the lawyer dudes are saying. Which is exactly what will happen in the case of the car that killed another young handsome actor.

[Topless]

It happened in California, the lawyer state. Somebody sneezes and you can sue and win $3mil here. I'm sure every personal injury and wrongful death attorney in the state is descending on these two families like flying monkeys on Dorothy. Porsche has deep pockets and they will surely extract the necessary funds for their clients... less the customary 30% fee of course.

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by Topless

It happened in California, the lawyer state. Somebody sneezes and you can sue and win $3mil here. I'm sure every personal injury and wrongful death attorney in the state is descending on these two families like flying monkeys on Dorothy. Porsche has deep pockets and they will surely extract the necessary funds for their clients... less the customary 30% fee of course.

It is after all the home of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lol. They've shown over the years the common sense proclivity of a duck.

Given the "Earnings Potential" of the deceased, my guess is this will undoubtedly rise to another level entirely. I pity those who will get ensnared.

[Deserion]

The local fast 'n furious crowd was blocking traffic on I-295S tonight. Maybe 50 of them, flashers going, driving 30-40mph and revving engines. Figured it was in "honor/memoriam" of PW, and stupid me for calling them out on their bull**** of blocking all three lanes.

[BYprodriver]

Porsche Carrera GT Dangerous Vehicle Product Liability Lawsuit

[nieuwhzn]

"Porsche Carrera GT Dangerous Vehicle Product Liability Lawsuit"

Only in America, my friends, only in America!

Life is full of dangers. You climb a ladder, you break your neck. You walk a tightrope over the Grand Canyon, you splatter. You watch Fox News, you go brain dead. You buy a fast car, you crash and kill yourself.
I'm sick and tired of these shady lawyers trying to make a buck of the stupidity and misery of others.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by nieuwhzn

"Porsche Carrera GT Dangerous Vehicle Product Liability Lawsuit"

Only in America, my friends, only in America!

Life is full of dangers. You climb a ladder, you break your neck. You walk a tightrope over the Grand Canyon, you splatter. You watch Fox News, you go brain dead. You buy a fast car, you crash and kill yourself.
I'm sick and tired of these shady lawyers trying to make a buck of the stupidity and misery of others.

My thoughts exactly! It's outright disgusting!
Roger Rodas killed Mr. Walker, not a darn machine. Ok, that's speculation as it could have been mechanical failure, but I think the point is obvious.

When someone is shot and killed, their family doesn't sue Smith & Wesson.
I'm a patriot, but the American people have become something that I want no part of. Social media and mass media are the worst..."guilty until we decide your not", Nancy Grace mentality

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by particlewave

My thoughts exactly! It's outright disgusting!
Roger Rodas killed Mr. Walker, not a darn machine. Ok, that's speculation as it could have been mechanical failure, but I think the point is obvious.

When someone is shot and killed, their family doesn't sue Smith & Wesson.
I'm a patriot, but the American people have become something that I want no part of. Social media and mass media are the worst..."guilty until we decide your not", Nancy Grace mentality

I reassure you that it has nothing to do with the USA mate - stay proud. Canada, China, The United Kingdoms, all have the same appetitive and means to fight for their rights. Heard it's tuff in other place of the world as well :/

I truly believe in the Justice For All system or similar.... what I can't bear are those rats roaming around (the dead in this case) trying to make money off other's miseries. That is the saddest part imho

[particlewave]

You are right. I was posting angry. I just found out that I got an 89.75% in my geography class and I'm not happy about that, lol
0.25% away from an "A". Grrrrrr....

That's going to hurt the GPA. Back on topic and I'm out of this one
I'll let the experts handle it.

[husker boxster]

I got a kick out of them twice mentioning that lawyers are experts at determining the saftety of vehicles. My a$$.

[thstone]

Good discussion. Here is my speculation: out for a demo ride, pro race driver shows off a bit and loses control at high speed (>100mph). Car crashes into fixed objects. Occupants crash into car interior and are dazed/unconscious. Fire starts. We know how it ends.

Its a simple result of using poor judgment at the wrong moment in the wrong place. We've all done something similar (in terms of poor judgment) and got away with it. This is the 1 in a 1,000,000 who didn't.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by thstone

Good discussion. Here is my speculation: out for a demo ride, pro race driver shows off a bit and loses control at high speed (>100mph). Car crashes into fixed objects. Occupants crash into car interior and are dazed/unconscious. Fire starts. We know how it ends.

Its a simple result of using poor judgment at the wrong moment in the wrong place. We've all done something similar (in terms of poor judgment) and got away with it. This is the 1 in a 1,000,000 who didn't.

+1 I heard somewhere the car had "racing slick tires" I don't think they ever left the office park so probablly never fully warmed up the tires.

[Timco]

Coroner: Paul Walker car going 100-plus mph - CNN.com

Over 100. Here it is.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Timco

Coroner: Paul Walker car going 100-plus mph - CNN.com

Over 100. Here it is.

"Investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department met with engineers from Porsche to analyze the data-retrieval system in the car's computer, the department said last month. That system is used to shed light on the car's speed, throttle opening, air bag deployment, seat belt use and, possibly, other information from the time of the crash"

That's an interesting word choice. More interesting is that any of the car's data-logging is apparently fire and explosion-proof. And instead of hiring an independent expert to examine the data, the police went to the party that will most likely be the defendant in a civil suit to analyze said data? Sounds to me like Porsche is setting up a defense for the family's civil suit with this 100+ mph business. If Rodas was a competitive driver, I don't see how he couldn't have scrubbed some speed, at speeds fairly common for a racer and on a stretch of street that was far from ideal for 100+ mph racing. Either way they were certainly going over 45 mph so Porsche has a leg up from the start.

Let's wait until the family's indepdenpent expert goes through these same documents/data, if Porsche hasn't cleverly settled before then (long after the 100+ mph storyline becomes accepted fact).

[thstone]

Paul Walker's driver. 993 owner out in the canyon. Same issue.

Take it to the race track folks!

[southernstar]

I suspect that investigators are required to use Porsche's proprietary software to analyze the data. I also suspect that Porsche wouldn't 'fudge' the readings, law suit or not - those responsible could end up charged with obstructing justice, or the equivalent under California law.

What's the lesson here? Drive at speeds in excess of 100 mph on public streets where there are curbs and light posts and trees directly off the travelled portion of the roadway and there is absolutely no margin for error!

Brad