Wrongful Death
Families of Bike Accident Victims Collect Settlement from Santa Clara County
An article in San Jose’s Mercury News talks about the $1.2 million settlement that the family of a killed bicyclist received from Santa Clara County. The male bicyclist was killed in an accident involving a police patrol car that was being driven by a sheriff’s deputy that fell asleep at the wheel while driving. The deputy also hit two other male bicyclists during the Cupertino accident that occurred in March of 2008. Santa Clara County previously settled with another one of the other victims for a total of $2.3 million. The third victim recovered from his injuries, and any sort of settlement received by him was not disclosed in the article.
The parents of 30-year-old and 29-year-old bicyclists that were killed filed suit on behalf of their sons, and were awarded compensatory damages on their behalf. While the sheriff’s deputy certainly did not mean to fall asleep at the wheel, he was found negligent in causing the accident. Because there was no intent to commit harm to the bicyclist, the officer pled guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, and was sentenced to four months of house arrest and an undisclosed amount of public service.
Ultimately, the settlements amount can be considered indicative of the sheriff’s department admitting that wrong-doing on the part of one of their officers took place. As with all vehicular accidents, negligent action can typically be attributed to one or more parties, and such action can hold those individuals responsible for the behavior that caused the accident. Regardless of the situation, it is always important to retain the services of a skilled personal injury lawyer that will examine the details surrounding your accident to ensure that your rights are upheld and those responsible for your accident are deemed as such in a court of law.
If you have recently been in a bicycle accident or any other type of personal injury accident, chances are that negligent behavior played a definite role in causing you injury. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our experienced Santa Clara County bike accident attorneys will seek compensatory damages on your behalf, and will hold the negligent accountable for their actions. If you have been injured, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at 877-862-6288 for a free evaluation of your personal injury case.
SUV Crash Takes Life of Modesto Man, Injures Family
According to tracypress.com, an auto accident involving a Mercedes-Benz SUV and a small Honda vehicle took the life of a 45-year-old man from Modesto, California. The Modesto man was a passenger in the Honda, which was being driven by his sister. Other passengers in the Honda included the Modesto man’s brother-in-law and nephew. The man’s sister, her husband, and their child were all injured in the crash. They were all taken to a Modesto-area hospital for treatment of injuries that included broken ribs, a punctured lung, and spinal injuries. Reportedly, no one in the SUV was injured.
In order to help cover the costs associated with the accident, the family of the deceased Modesto man has set up a fund to assist those affected by the crash. While such a fund is certainly a good idea, especially given the exorbitant costs associated with medical care and making funeral arrangements, it is not the only recourse to be taken in the event of a traffic accident.
Though investigation into this auto accident in San Joaquin County is still underway, police speculate that the SUV, which was traveling at unsafe speeds, may have been racing another vehicle. Such action is certainly to be deemed reckless and represents a degree of negligence that ultimately led to a loss of life and multiple personal injuries.
According to the report, police hope that evidence gathered at the crash scene combined with a computer simulation of the intersection where the accident occurred will provide them insight into what exactly happened, and will show whether or not the driver of the SUV was at fault for the accident.
In any event, an accident victim will benefit not only from police investigation, but from retaining the services of an experienced auto accident attorney that will help examine the details surrounding the crash to determine where negligent behavior may have contributed towards the crash. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, don’t hesitate to contact the skilled car accident attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates. Our knowledgeable lawyers will seek compensatory damages on your behalf that may assist with medical bills, wages lost, and other costs associated with your accident. Please call us today at 877-862-6288 for a free consultation of your auto accident case.
San Jose Pedestrian Accident Kills Man
The Mercury News recently reported in an article that a San Jose resident was struck and killed while crossing the street north of Downtown San Jose. The 51-year-old, whose name was not revealed, was struck between Hedding Street and Mission Avenue while crossing First Street. The man was taken to a local hospital after the pedestrian accident in San Jose, but medical personnel were unable to save him.
The man was struck by a white 2008 BMW, according to a Sergeant. The BMW was driven by a 33-year-old, San Jose woman. The woman was not determined to be under the influence of any substance, nor did she flee the scene of the accident. She has not been charged with a crime as of yet.
San Jose police report that this incident is the ninth involving pedestrian death in vehicle-related collisions in the city of San Jose in 2009. Though negligence may not have played as much of a role in this man’s death as it has in other pedestrian related deaths, negligence is still one of the leading causes for pedestrian injury in vehicle-related accidents.
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a vehicle-pedestrian accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the personal injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates. Our knowledgeable lawyers will examine the details surrounding your accident, and will hold those responsible for their actions. Please contact a skilled San Jose pedestrian accident attorney today for a free consultation, and we’ll help restore the order that your accident took away.
