Northern California Wrongful Death Attorney

An auto accident in Santa Clara that involved multiple vehicles has resulted in a $49 million jury award for a college student who was injured while on his way home from a camping trip. The injury accident took place on State Route 152, better known as the Pacheco Pass. Two trucks collided at or near the center line, and the vehicle that the injured college student was riding in was struck by one of the trucks. After a five week trial, it was determined that the driver of one truck was 60% at fault, the driver of the other truck was 35% at fault, and the state of California was 5% at fault.

The jury awarded the injured college student the multi-million dollar verdict to compensate him for a variety of costs associated with his accident and the resulting brain injury he sustained. That is, $3.4 million was allocated for his past medical expenses, $27.6 million was allocated towards his future medical expenses, $4.5 million was attributed for future lost wages, and another $13.5 million was awarded for general damages. In the end, the rights of the injured were protected, and the student’s future well-being has been at least partially safeguarded.

In all California auto accidents, accountability is attributed to at least one party whose actions are deemed negligent. In the above case, accountability was attributed to multiple parties, with each party being deemed a certain percentage responsible for the accident’s result. In order to ensure that the rights of the injured are not infringed upon in a court of law, all details and circumstances of an accident need to be thoroughly examined to determine exactly where negligent action may have led to injury.

At Van Der Walde & Associates, our experienced Northern California personal injury attorneys understand the many challenges - on a physical, emotional, and financial level - that auto accident victims often have to endure. If you have been injured in a Northern California auto accident, please don’t hesitate to contact our skilled injury attorneys today for a free consultation of your case. We will fight to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call us today at 877-862-6288.

Local San Francisco CBS news affiliate KPIX-TV channel 5 recently reported in a story that a motorcyclist was killed in a crash that involved a big-rig on highway 238 in Castro Valley, CA.  The motorcyclist, identified as a 29-year-old male, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.  The man was on his way to take the oral board review portion of the California Highway Patrol entrance exam.

The man’s motorcycle collided with a big-rig just north of interstate 580.  The motorcycle crash in San Francisco took the man’s life, but it is not known whether or not the driver of the large truck was injured.  CHP officers did not have any further information regarding the specifics of the crash, and did not speculate on who was at fault.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a staggering total of 5,037 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2007.  Though it had been steadily declining since the 1980s, the number of motorcycle deaths each year has unfortunately been steadily rising since 1998. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 12% of all motor vehicle deaths in 2007.  Due to such a large difference in size and the fact the motorcyclists are more exposed than truck drivers, motorcycle crashes involving large trucks almost always end in fatality for the motorcyclist.

The skilled San Jose motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates are experienced and skilled in seeking compensatory damages in motorcycle cases.  Our diligent attorneys will hold those responsible for your accident accountable for their actions, and will get you the compensation you deserve to help cover the costs of medical bills, physical therapy fees, motorcycle repair, and, in some cases, funeral costs and loss of potential wages.  Please call us today for a free consultation.

The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported in an article that a $2.3 million settlement was awarded to the parents of a bicyclist who was struck and killed by a sheriff’s deputy.  Parents of the 29-year-old victim filed the claim against a Deputy Council member who reportedly fell asleep at the wheel of his cruiser before striking the decedent and two others. The wrongful-death lawsuit was filed in Superior Court against Council, Santa Clara County, and the sheriff’s department.

Council’s cruiser crossed the center line after he fell asleep at the wheel on March 9, 2008. The bicycle accident in Cupertino, which occurred on Stevens Canyon Road, took the lives of two and seriously injured another. Lead deputy county counsel said that the county was “pleased that [it] was able to reach a resolution with the family.” Other lawsuits filed against the county and Council by the other parties are still pending, but county officials, according to the lead deputy, “hope to be able to resolve those matters in the near future.”

Council pled guilty to two counts of misdemeanor criminal manslaughter and was sentenced to four months in jail and 800 hours of community service. At the time of the accident, Council did not have drugs or alcohol in his system, and had not been driving recklessly prior to falling asleep.

Unfortunately, accidents can be caused even by those who are meant to serve and protect us. In the event of negligence of any kind that results in injury or death, experienced legal counsel is a necessity. The Northern California wrongful death attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates offer free consultations of cases, and will exhaust all possible resources to ensure that you receive the closure and compensation that you deserve to help deal with the stress and heartache that personal injury can bring about. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today.