The parents of a 13-year-old boy who died after losing control of a borrowed all-terrain vehicle (ATV) was awarded $20 million in economic and non-economic damages.
Donald “D.J.” Roberts was in middle school in 2002 when he lost his life in an ATV Accident. According to the wrongful death lawsuit, D.J.’s parents claim that Timothy Mark Taylor—the man who invited the teenager over to ride the vehicle—was responsible for the 1986 Honda ATV and therefore, should be held liable for the damages resulting from the accident.
According to Hendrik Uiterwyk, the plaintiff’s lawyer, D.J. “was almost decapitated” when he crashed the ATV into a barbed wire fence. Another young boy was also on the vehicle and suffered some injuries.
The civil suit accused Taylor of negligence and wrongdoing for failing to supervise the kids, neglecting to secure the ignition, and failing to ensure the vehicle was property maintained and in “safe” condition. The defendant never appeared in court nor were any attorneys there to represent him.
Although the parents got a favorable verdict, “it doesn’t bring them any pleasure because they still lost a 13-year-old son,” Uiterwyk said.