I am sorry that this person died. However, $10 million is just a bit ridicules against an 83 year old lady. Even if they di take everything this woman owns it will never be anywhere NEAR $10 million. She'll probably be dust in her grave as the family holds things up in court.

COMMENT: The deep pockets in this case would be the defendant's insurance company--MTD.

My condolensces to the family of this young man. They have been through an unspeakable tragedy. May he rest in peace.

I also hope that the politicians in Annapolis will learn from this accident (and countless others like it) and mandate re-testing of drivers' skills at age 75.

Michael

How do you know the insurance company has deep pocket? Its rare for an individual auto policy to have more then a $250,000/person limit for personal injury. Unless she has an umbrella policy, the family will likely never collect anything near $10 million.

COMMENT: You may be right. Read the updated item.--MTD

So if the driver were a 28 year old driver, then the accident would attributed to negligence or some other cause and not require any "mandatory" testing of 28 year old drivers?

PS Maryland has a cap, one may sue for all the gold in Knox, and win, yet the award will be capped.

MTD --

Actually, the "deep pockets" will be the the other policyholders in that insurance company.

I noticed the other night that a ghost bike has been erected at the accident site. Let's hope there won't ever be a need for another one in Baltimore.

HEY NICK, THIS IS WHY I AM HESITANT TO BUY A ROAD BIKE.

Sr citizens can be stubborn and bullheaded!! This happened to her for a reason. I wonder how many times her family joked "You're going to kill someone one day. You need to stop driving!!!" MVA needs to put an age limit on licenses not go by eye and driver tests. I have no desire to drive in my 80s!!!

COMMENT: See the updated version of the original posting.

I am a middle aged driver with a pristine driving record and zero distraction behaviors (such as texting or cell). The bike lanes around Hopkins are insanely confusing and Hazardous. I came close to hitting a cyclist the other day, as I was turning left on my green light, yielding to oncoming traffic. A man on a bike zipped directly in front of me as I began to turn left, and I could not see him at all until he was in the intersection. I was extremely surprised. I am not used to bike lanes, did not know it was there, but even if I did, the dappled shade of the street hid the biker 100% until the very moment he rode into my path. I am actually amazed that more people are not killed around this area. In any case, I could have been that woman, but I am not elderly. I am not negligent. The intersection is majorly screwed up and especially for someone who does not drive there regularly. Luckily, I saw him in time and my young reflexes saved him.

Its an odd coincidence that the lawsuit was settled a few weeks before the victims death. Insurance companies typically value a human life at about $2 million. $10 million would be a fair figure if the victim was in a vegetative state and needed continuing nursing care.

Jean didn't "recognize how special Nathan was." She made a rational decision when faced with a vindictive lawsuit. The family refused to settle for the policy limits. She settled for more then she could afford to avoid loosing everything if she lost in court.

This same argument (age) could apply to the many drivers that completely ignore and endanger the lives of the many motorcycle riders on a daily basis. Its always tragic when an accident results in the loss of life and risk is a part of living. The amount mentioned in this article seems a bit much and is more about sending a message.

This same argument (age) could apply to the many drivers that completely ignore and endanger the lives of the many motorcycle riders on a daily basis. Its always tragic when an accident results in the loss of life and risk is a part of living. The amount mentioned in this article seems a bit much and is more about sending a message.

The settlement is confidential but I guarantee you it isn't anywhere near 10 million dollars. This wasn't a drive off or a drunk and the lady involved agreed to give up her license. No need for a criminal proceeding.

I'm an experienced cyclist of some forty years. Bike lanes can be very dangerous if and when a cyclist thinks these lanes provide some magical protection. They don't. A cyclist must be EXTREMELY careful at intersections, and NEVER overtake a car at an intersection whether or not a signal is on . . . of course we all know that drivers always signal right?

Statistically, the most dangerous drivers are the very young and the very old. In the past decade, we've seen significant progress on making it more difficult for teenagers to get a license (graduated licenses, raising the minimum age of drivers, etc.), but almost no progress on ensuring that senior citizens are able to drive. If we tested seniors every five years (starting at 65), we'd reduce the likelihood of events like this to happen.

The lawsuit was "vindictive"? This woman negligently killed a young man who was attending one of the nation's most prestigious universities and had his entire life (and life's earning potential) ahead of him.

A successful doctor or lawyer or businessman today can make $500,000 per year. Multiply that by only twenty years and you've got $10 million. That's not even accounting for his pain and months of suffering before his merciful death, or the suffering of his entire family. Plus, the total amount of the settlement including the insurance and the defendant's contributions was probably between $400,000 to $600,000.

Regardless, no amount of money will bring this young man back. I have no attachment to this young man's family or their attorney or to the negligent driver, but for a friend of the driver's to call the lawsuit vindictive is absurd.

To renew their license nowadays, all an 80+ yr old driver need do is have an eye exam performed from their local eye doctor who then fills out a report. The sr. citizen then just mails in the form and they get a license renewal for 6 yrs without ever having to step into an MVA office. Nice job maryland legislature! Too afraid of AARP to do what's right.

Does anyone know why the prosector wouldn't re-open the case and charge the driver with manslauhter? My grandma did the right thing and gave up her license before she killed someone. I ride my bike more than I drive my car and I could easily be Nathan one day.

People make bonehead mistakes on the road every day. We all pay - either with our lives or higher insurance premiums.

People love to point fingers, such a tragic accident...I would feel terrible every time I spent a dime of that money that was earned via the death of my loved one.

The young man's family was harping about money right after this accident occurred. I can certainly understand their horror regarding the medical expenses but from MY PERSPECTIVE it seems money was huge factor from the beginning. RIP Natan.

My sympathy to the family and friends of this young man. I remember when this occured and was hoping he was improving.

Some people remember 83 or 23, that woman killed someone who was legally riding a bicycle. Thankfully she won't be driving and killing any other cyclists.

The population of the USA is aging very rapidly and people over 65 will be a huge part of the population very shortly.

it is odd that the MVA only tests eyesight, but does not test reaction time, night blindess, sensitivity to color, hearing, peripheral vision, mental health, or mental processing speed. These things can decline significantly in the last few decades of life. Even in middle age they can all be far more dulled than when one was a teen, but some people decline faster than others due to lifestyle or genetics. At some point you have to admit that someone is a serious hazard and we can't just NOT test people when they need a renewal. They should make people do road tests every renewal. They should have a computer exam to test knowledge of the rules, every renewal. It's not the age per-se, it's the stage of decline that we should be watching out for.

Having renewal by mail with just a check or credit card is just insane.

I feel saddened by the loss of this young man who had a bright future ahead of him. I can understand the lawsuit to help cover his care and medical expenses, but now that he is gone, I wonder if the family will give the balance of the award to worthy causes...or pay off the house mortgage and have many spectacular vacations? I certainly hope it's not the later, unless of course money makes the pain go away.

COMMENT: One thing being lost here in the discussion of the Krasnopoler family's supposed windfall is that without a civil penalty, the sanctions levied against the woman at fault would have been limited to $220 and driver's license points. Civil judgments are an imperfect tool to compensate a family for a lost member, but that's what we have to work with. I wouldn't begrudge the family a single dollar of what they collected, and how they use it is up to them. They can spend it on a trip around the world or they can donate it to the cause of bicycle safety, but they have no obligation to make an accounting to the public-- MTD

they often say texting while driving impairs a driver's ability more than driving drunk. I'd like to see a study done on how elderly driving compares to the reaction time and awareness of a drunk driver. That would probably stir up some action to have further testing!

This is a situation where if just one thing had changed, nothing would have happened. If she hadn't decided to drive, or to take that route, or been more alert. If he had been a little more alert, if he had decided to walk the bike thru the intersection, if he had felt a little less safe. But nothing can change after the fact, that it why it is called an accident.

The thing everyone should take away from this is that, it could have been anyone of us on either side.

I don't know anything about this young man or the lady. What I do know is how I see bicyclists drive. Many seem to feel that they can weave in and out of cars, drive between cars, drive through intersections when the light is red, etc. And, yes, it is difficult to see bicyclists early in the morning, later in the day and in areas of trees. Car drivers need to look out for bicyclists but bicyclists need to look out for cars and follow the rules of the road!

Although I do not know the facts of the case other than those presented here, it would appear that the driver and her insurer believe she was substantially at fault in killing the young man. To those who complain that the cost of the settlement ($10 million or whatever, it is not clear to me that this was the final settled-upon amount) are mostly borne by the other policy holder, they are basically right. This is how insurance works. Ideally, this will act as an inducement to the insurance company to more carefully screen those to whom it offers driver's insurance. To my knowledge, there is nothing preventing the insurer from requiring that elderly drivers, or others whose demographics or history suggest they might be impaired, from undergoing extra testing before the insurer grants coverage. If such practices were widely adopted, it might eliminate the need for legislative action.

While suing for financial gain or revenge after a tragedy is common, I wonder to what extent the city forced this situation. First the police announce the driver did nothing wrong and then later, under pressure, she gets a slap on the wrist. Suing for a ridiculous amount of money may have been the only way to make a point.

Imagine a black 20 year old had hit the bike and left his car running on top of the victim - the driver would not have seen the outside of a jail cell for decades.

In light of some of the recent comments, please remember than Nathan did nothing wrong. He was riding in a marked bike lane IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK, not an intersection. He was wearing a helmet and carrying groceries. And the family undoubtedly has huge medical bills from the 5 1/2 months he spent in the hospital.

Are there any organizations in Baltimore that help seniors who no longer drive still get around ? I think that is one of the issues that keep people driving well beyond their capability to do so. There just is no other way to get around safely in many cases. I recall a radio show about volunteers that who were essentially taxis for seniors who call for a ride. Sorry I can't remember the program. I'm wondering if higher insurance as well as good alternative transportation would help motivate those drivers who need to switch modes, to make a switch.

I really liked the article, and the very cool blog

I am so sorry to the family and friends of this young man.