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Deceased motorcyclist's family sue the city of Simi Valley, California after he swerved to avoid a pothole, striking a tree and dying, winning $475,000 in a settlement
Accident Type:
Motorcycle AccidentIncident Date:
Wednesday, March 1, 1995Result Date:
Saturday, September 1, 2001Monetary Result:
$475,000Topics:
Mr. Byron, 19, was riding his motorcycle in the city of Simi Valley, California in March of 1995 when he swerved to miss a large pothole on the street, going off the road and striking a tree. The collision killed Mr. Byron, who was survived by his family.
Byron's family brought a suit against the city of Simi, California. They and their lawyers argued that the city had failed to properly maintain the roadway he was riding on. They maintained that they had not only failed to prevent or fill the pothole, but had also failed to barricade or warn motorists of the dangerous condition of the roadway.
The city of Simi Valley and their attorneys contended that Mr. Byron's inexperience operating a motorcycle and his excessive rate of speed resulted in the accident, rather than the condition of the street.
In the end, the case was settled to the amount of $475,000.
Family of business owner and their lawyers win a wrongful death suit against a produce company whose driver struck and killed their father in Los Angeles, California
Accident Type:
Pedestrian AccidentIncident Date:
Friday, January 1, 1993Result Date:
Sunday, January 1, 1995Monetary Result:
$641,095Topics:
Mr. Stone, a 79-year-old business owner was walking in a crosswalk in Los Angeles in January 1993 when he was struck by a truck operated by an employee of Bangkok Produce, Inc. He was unconcious and survived for ten days after the accident before he died. He was survived by three adult children.
The driver reported the accident to the police an hour after it occured and said he was not aware that he struck Stone until he saw the ambulance taking him away. He later recanted, however, and said that the police did not correctly record his statement. There were two witnesses who were unable to positively identify the driver of the truck.
Mr. Stone's family decided to sue Bangkok Produce in a wrongful death suit. They and their lawyers contended that the driver failed to stop after the accident, and did not inform police until he learned that there were witnesses to the accident, but later recante when he understood that the witnesses were unable to identity him.
Bangkok Produce and their lawyers argued that the police made many mistakes on the report because the driver was unable to speak English and had limited education.
Ultimately the parties settled for $575,000. They additionally claimed $31,674 for medical expenses and funeral costs and $44,421 interest, and also additional expenses, totalling $641,095.