A lawsuit was filed today against Porsche on behalf of the late actor Paul Walker’s 16-year-old daughter, alleging a defective seat belt kept her father trapped alive for more than a minute in the sports car in which he died before the vehicle became engulfed in fire.
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges wrongful death, strict liability and negligence.
The interests of Walker’s daughter, Meadow Rain Walker, are represented by her guardian, Brandon Birtell. The lawsuit does not state Birtell’s relationship to the girl.
The suit seeks unspecified damages. A Porsche representative could not be immediately reached.
Authorities said that high speed caused the fiery crash on Nov. 30, 2013, in Valencia that killed Walker, 40, who was best known for his role in “The Fast and the Furious” film series, along with the car’s driver, Roger Rodas, 38. Electronic information retrieved from the burned-out car’s computer systems determined that Rodas was driving the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT at speeds between 80 and 93 mph when the car smashed into a pole and a tree.
“Plaintiff is informed and believes that the seatbelt continued to apply force across Paul Walker’s body after the Porsche came to a rest, causing his breathing to become shallow and prevented any escape or rescue,” the suit alleges.
The complaint also alleges the car had a lack of electronic stability control and inadequate side door reinforcement bars.
Attorney Jeff Milam, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the girl, described his client as “a teenage girl who is still dealing with the tragic loss of her father.”
“The bottom line is that the Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car,” Milam said. “It doesn’t belong on the street. And we shouldn’t be without Paul Walker or his friend, Roger Rodas.”
