Gwinnett County Jury Awards $2,500,000 in Street Racing Wrongful Death

A passenger died in a street racing crash in Duluth, Georgia, leading to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the decedent's surviving family. In 2012, the mother and sister of the 18-year-old passenger filed suit in Gwinnett County Superior Court against the two drivers involved in the race.

The incident occurred when a Honda Civic, driven by one defendant, was racing a Mercedes SUV, driven by a co-defendant, through a residential neighborhood. While navigating a curve on Hamilton Mill Parkway, the Honda Civic spun out of control, struck a tree in the median, and ejected the passenger, who died. A police investigation indicated the Civic lost control due to an irregular, sharp left steering input. Both drivers were later charged criminally by the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.

The plaintiffs sought wrongful death damages, alleging negligence from both parties and asserting they engaged in a joint enterprise of racing and reckless driving. At trial, the defendant driver of the Honda Civic admitted to speeding and driving alongside the Mercedes shortly before the crash. However, the co-defendant, who drove the Mercedes SUV, maintained he was 1,000 feet ahead of the Civic and denied having raced or sped.

After a five-day trial, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff. The jury found both defendants liable for the death and awarded the family $2,500,000 in damages.