<p>How about taking keys from folks who like drinking/drugging & driving? That would keep a whole lot of of a lot safer as well. That was why the OP’s post was written–drunk, high woman caused fatal crash, claiming lots of lives. She wasn’t old, just high and drunk.</p>
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<p>Because that’s how auto insurance works. The insurance rests with the vehicle and it is up to the owner of that vehicle to use some discretion in who they allow to drive it. When a law suit is filed, it’s filed against the owner of the vehicle, who then will refer it to their insurance company, and depending on their policy’s liability limits, to their own personal attorney. This is why it is imperative, in my opinion, to have the highest liability limits you can afford and not the ridiculously low minimums that many states have. If one of your children is driving your car and decides to allow a friend to drive it, and that friend has an accident that kills someone, it’s your policy and you who will be named in a suit. The kid will likely be named, too, but it’s you and your insurer that have the greatest possibility of recovery for the plaintiffs.</p>
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<p>Sorry HImom, I should have flagged my post as being slightly off-topic. I was responding to someone who said there had been two incidents of elderly drivers doing this same wrong-way freeway driving. We’ve talked about how dangerous senior drivers can be. And yes, of course, people shouldn’t drive when they’re drunk and/or high. Both are true.</p>
<p>I’ve turned into one way streets by mistake, in my own neighborhood, truly no excuse. It’s surprisingly easy to do if you are distracted. But entrance ramps to the Taconic are long and generally have more than one pair of wrong way signs. And no one who was in their right mind could possibly drive three miles on a highway with traffic coming towards them.</p>
<p>New lawsuit today - the in-laws are suing the Schulers. I’m surprised they hadn’t done it already.</p>
<p>If the car owners who loaned the car had no indication that this woman was unfit to drive their attorneys should be able to get them dismissed from the case relatively soon, even tho there were deaths. Unfortunately, it’s a factual question as to what they knew or should have known, so that would take time and discovery.</p>
<p>I agree that folks should have much more than the piddly minimum insurance limits PLUS if they have assets, an umbrella policy of at least $1 million for whatever other liability. This tends to get the best attorneys in town hired for your defense because insurers HATE to part with $$$$.</p>
<p>Daniel struck me as rather manipulating, although I can’t even imagine how he gets out of bed each day, at some point, he has to acknowledge he knew the wife used marijuana, and can’t completely deny the toxicology reports. truth is he probably can’t acknowledge that he knows she was high/drunk, because he’s seeking insurance money and needs to deny any awareness of a preexisting problem himself. that poor little boy, can you imagine?!</p>
<p>I know of an accident involving young man (25) driving under the influence wrong way on major Florida highway at 3 a.m. He hit a younger woman, (19) and both had significant brain injuries, etc. family of young man apparently paid off the woman’s family, bc when the case went to court, low and behold, the woman’s family never showed up. talk about enabling a young man with an alcohol problem.</p>
<p>Watched the documentary. I was really annoyed by Daniel’s repeated refusal to even entertain the possibility that the toxicology results could be correct. Every time they were referenced, he would say “that’s not true.” WTH? He stated he wanted a “correct” autopsy. He had little to say when the expert HBO hired to analyze the autopsy stated that it was done correctly, and well.</p>
<p>I am trying to understand why the producers included the death photos of Diane. Could they have done this without Daniel’s consent? I am baffled. They were pretty disturbing.</p>
<p>The surviving child actually was in better shape than I expected. It’s too bad his father is so bitter and consumed with preserving the “perfect” image of his wife rather than being plugged in to his son. I believe Daniel is trying to be there, but I don’t think he is really succeeding. It was interesting that his SIL said that Daniel was angry at Diane because he never wanted kids, so Diane had promised to “do everything,” and by dying, she was leaving him with the bag. He now must be father and mother to his child-doing everything she had always taken on, plus his own job. And not just any child, but a child with special needs due to the injuries he sustained in the accident.</p>
<p>Really so sad in every respect.</p>
<p>The comment about not wanting kids really stuck with me. I also think the documentary did a good job, and I believe the forensic psychologist commented on it, of showing that Diane wanted/needed to be perfect. I think it is possible that she was drinking when Daniel was at work.</p>
<p>yeah, that comment, he didn’t want kids so Diane agreed to do everything. perhaps the kind of odd agreement one makes before realizing what that really means, to DO everything for your kids without paternal help. could see how that would be a factor in contributing to drinking to manage stress. a common issue for women with alcohol problems, trying to be the “perfect” woman, wife, mother. it can’t be done.</p>
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<p>I believe New York imposes vicarious liability on the owner of the car by statute - if the driver is a permissive user. Many states shield the owner and require negligent entrustment -along the lines of the quoted text below. It varies from state to state, but as a matter of policy, New York wants as many pockets as possible for recovery to victims.</p>
<p>Jackie Hance, mother of Diane Schuler’s 3 nieces (all killed in the accident) finally speaks.</p>
<p>[The</a> Worst Has Happened: Life After the Death of My Children](<a href=“http://www.lhj.com/relationships/family/raising-kids/life-after-the-death-of-my-children/]The”>http://www.lhj.com/relationships/family/raising-kids/life-after-the-death-of-my-children/)</p>
<p>She is expecting a new baby in September.</p>
<p>just read Jackie Hance’s story, heartrending…reminds me to be grateful for all the ordinary moments we have with our children and cherish every moment. what courage it must take to have another baby after such tragedy.</p>
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<p>I agree. It would be so very hard to not be completely overprotective.</p>
<p>Jackie Hance, who lost her 3 daughters in this horrific accident will give an interview on Friday’s Rock Center with Brian Williams.</p>
<p>She has given birth to a beautiful little girl and says the child has brought her back to life.</p>
<p>Here is a snippet of her interview:</p>
<p>[Mom</a> of girls killed in wrong-way crash: New baby ‘brought us back to life’ - TODAY.com](<a href=“http://www.today.com/books/mom-girls-killed-wrong-way-crash-new-baby-brought-us-1B9518754]Mom”>Mom of girls killed in wrong-way crash: New baby 'brought us back to life')</p>
<p>What a story. I cannot imagine being in her shoes.</p>
<p>Thanks, Nrdsb4. I’ve set my dvr. Hard to believe that it’s almost four years since this happened.</p>
<p>Sometimes they say just continuing to breathe is a sign of courage. She is very brave!</p>
<p>I can’t imagine being her new baby, either. Imagine living with the ghosts of your big sisters around the house all the time. I hope they can truly start anew.</p>
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<p>Ugh…so bizarre. To be an “only child” and yet not at the same time. Bet as this child grows up, her older siblings will cast an incredibly long shadow, with their images staring back at her from the walls and family photo albums, and their tragic story casting a pall upon every occasion.</p>
<p>Too bad the baby isn’t a boy and might have helped more forge a fresh identity. Hope their family really started afresh. I give the mom and husband credit. Hope the boy who survived the crash is doing well too.</p>