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Deceased motorcyclist's family and their lawyers win their case after their family member died in a motorcycle accident, striking a left-turning vehicle in Los Olivos, California

Accident Type: 
Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date: 
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Result Date: 
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monetary Result: 
$814,055
  On March 18, 2008, Lawrence Lovejoy, 74, was riding his motorcycle on Highway 154 in Los Olivos, California when a car operated by Harriet Ann Visscher turned left in front of him as it was entering the road. Lovejoy crashed into the side of the car. He died from injuries sustained in the accident, while Visscher died of a heart attack six hours later. Lovejoy's surviving family sued Visscher's estate for motor vehicle negligence. The family and their lawyers argued that Visscher's negligent driving was the sole cause cause of the accidetnt. At the time of his death, Lovejoy, a former California Highway Patrol officer, was a part-time employee with an auto parts company, earning 9$ per hour. His family claimed that Lovejoy could have been expected to live for another 10 years, during which time he would have continued working and also collecting his retirement funds from his career as an officer. They therefore sought lost wages due to his death. In the end, the jury sided with Lovejoy's family, awarding them $814,055, of which $138,000 was for the economic support he would have provided the family, had he lived.

Los Angeles family and their lawyers win their wrongful death suit against an ambulance company after a father dies while being transported to the hospital following a motorcycle race accident

Incident Date: 
Sunday, January 1, 1989
Result Date: 
Wednesday, January 1, 1992
Monetary Result: 
$500,000
  Mr. Mansur, a 59-year-old electrical contractor was injured in an accident during a motorcycle race near Los Angeles, California. While he was being transported to a hospital he succumbed to his injuries, resulting in his death. Mr. Mansur's wife and two children decided to sue the company which managed the ambulance he was riding in, Schaefer Ambulance, for wrongful death. They stated that he was not transported to the hospital in a timely mannner. They pointed out that he had survivable injuries, and that he would have survived if the ambulance company had transported him in time to the hospital.  The ambulance company and their lawyers coldly argued that Mr. Mansur's injuries were not survivable. They claimed his injuries, a collapsed lung, a ruptured spleen, and fractures to his shoulder and arm, were not survivable injuries. These injuries are, in fact, common injuries in motorcycle accidents where the injured rider survives. They further argued that the race promoters, not themselves, determined what equipment and personnel were needed and controlled the rescue operation. They also contended that a released signed by Mr. Mansur barred him from suing. The jury sided with Mr. Mansur's family and their lawyers, awarding them $500,000.