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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 AccidentIncident Date:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008Result Date:
Monday, April 27, 2009Monetary Result:
$814,055Topics:
On March 18, 2008, Lawrence Lovejoy, 74, was riding his motorcycle on Highway 154 in Los Olivos, California when a car operated by Harriet Ann Visscher turned left in front of him as it was entering the road. Lovejoy crashed into the side of the car. He died from injuries sustained in the accident, while Visscher died of a heart attack six hours later.
Lovejoy's surviving family sued Visscher's estate for motor vehicle negligence. The family and their lawyers argued that Visscher's negligent driving was the sole cause cause of the accidetnt.
At the time of his death, Lovejoy, a former California Highway Patrol officer, was a part-time employee with an auto parts company, earning 9$ 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.
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.
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, 1989Result Date:
Wednesday, January 1, 1992Monetary Result:
$500,000Topics:
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.