[soapboxrocket]

Caleb was my nephews best friend, and the families did a lot together. My brother-in-law said that he talked to the father after and he said the hardest part was that they all got in the car to go home after and had an empty seat.

[duxup]

As a parent I can't imagine losing a child...

A parents whole routine with life is do things, check kids, do thing..... every moment you would be aware that something is terribly wrong.

[wyldfire]

What did the family do with the settlement money? If my son had died I would feel so terribly conflicted. Survivor's guilt would be so much worse if I got to live a life of luxury in exchange for my son.

[AdamM12]

You do realize you could like not spend the money lavish manner right?

[wyldfire]

Indeed I do! 20 million dollars is a lot of money and I would feel tempted to spend it on things to make my family's life easier/better. Yet then again if it served as a reminder of my son's death, I might be persuaded to instead donate it to a scholarship or charity in my son's name.

Thus my question. Since I don't know how I'd handle it, I'm curious how this family did.

[AdamM12]

Did they actually get that much? I can understand now why you said that given that amount of money. Although really even $1 could make someone question it's use.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

From the article:

They eventually agreed that the water park and various companies associated with the design and construction of Verrückt would pay Caleb’s family a $20 million settlement, an astonishing sum. The two sisters who had ridden behind Caleb, both of whom suffered facial injuries, also received a settlement, of an undisclosed amount.