A motorcyclist from Kinnelon was killed last week after he was hit by two men racing Ferraris on a private track near MetLife Stadium. In the wake of the New Jersey fatal accident, authorities have charged both drivers with death by auto.
The drivers – ages 19 and 28 – had rented the vehicles as part of an event where customers could pay to test-drive luxury cars with the aid of a driving instructor. According to police, the two men were exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit when one of them lost control of his car and struck a curb. The other man tried to swerve to avoid hitting his friend, but ended up crashing into the motorcyclist instead.
Reportedly, the 28-year-old driver’s brother owns the car rental business. The 19-year-old would normally not have been able to rent a vehicle, as the company’s minimum rental age is 21.
The company says that the men were not participating in an organized event.
New Jersey Wrongful Death Lawsuits
The fact that the accident happened on private property does not preclude the victim’s family from bringing a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death claims can be brought whenever a person is killed by the negligence of another.
Depending on the facts of the case, the victim’s family may also be able to bring a claim against the company that operated the race track. For example, the family may be able to show that the company was negligent in allowing an underage driver to operate its vehicles or in allowing the men to race Ferraris outside of an officially-sanctioned event.
