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Compensation Fixed in Rep. Janklow Motorcycle Accident Death
May 16, 2008

Relatives of a man killed in a motorcycle accident that involved former representative Bill Janklow, have settled their wrongful death lawsuit for $1 million.

In the motorcycle accident that took place on August 16, 2003 in Trent, South Dakota, Janklow was on official government duty, and was driving his white Cadillac Seville. At a busy intersection, he ran a stop sign and slammed into a motorcycle driven by Randy Scott. Scott, a 55-year-old man from Minnesota, was thrown several feet into the air. He died at the scene of the motorcycle accident. Janklow suffered minor injuries.

At his arraignment, it was disclosed that Janklow who suffers from hypoglycemia, had taken an insulin shot that morning, but had not eaten anything the whole day. As a consequence, he was feeling fatigued, and likely blacked out, which is why he ran the stop sign, his lawyers claimed.

The jurors at his motorcycle accident trial were not made aware of his record of reckless driving. This was a respected public figure who had a total of 20 speeding violations to his credit. He had also been involved in three previous accidents before the one that killed Scott. Janklow's predilection for speed, fast cars and motorcycles was well known in the state, but jurors didn't hear of it at the trial, although his bad driving record was splashed all over the media. This was a man who was completely unapologetic about his speeding, and bragged about it once during a speech to the state legislature, saying he loved speeding and when it got him a ticket, he paid it.

Sadly, this swaggering bravado had tragic results, and not for Janklow. It's shameful that a public figure, a respected congressman, indulged in such selfish and precarious behavior, ending the life of a man. Scott wasn't speeding, he didn't run a stoplight, and he certainly didn't do anything to deserve being killed in a motorcycle accident. And he paid with his life. Janklow on the other hand, who was driving at over 70 miles an hour in a 55 mph zone, and ran a stoplight, escaped with minor injuries.

Janklow was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter in December 2003, and served 100 days in jail and paid a fine. He resigned from Congress, and currently practices as a lawyer.

Because Janklow was on official duty at the time of the motorcycle accident, he was spared any personal liability, which was instead ascribed to the government. Because Scott has no minor children dependant on him (both his kids are adults) the compensation amount for the wrongful death lawsuit was fixed at $1 million. When you consider that the speeding-red-light-running Janklow is alive and well, and back practicing law, and Scott who did all his riding by the traffic rules is dead, you think it isn't a fair settlement.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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