When these accidents occur, the victims face the additional discomfort associated with being far from home – in an environment where they don’t know the lay of the land or how things work. This apprehension tends to increase if there are injuries, ambulances, and/or hospitals to deal with after an accident.
Since the Civic’s driver is guilty of a hit-and-run accident and was also driving a stolen vehicle (both of which are violations of the penal code), a jury hearing a personal injury lawsuit would quite likely assign a portion of the blame for the auto-pedestrian accident to him or her – even though those two factors may not have had a direct bearing on the cause of the accident.
Since the authorities placed the blame on the victim in this incident, it is likely that this determination would have a significant effect on the outcome of any wrongful death lawsuit which might be filed by the victim’s family members. If you have any questions regarding an auto-wheelchair accident, you should seek out a qualified personal injury attorney to answer them.
The bike rider was transported to Sunrise Trauma Center with critical injuries. The driver of the car, a 66-year-old Henderson resident was uninjured. The bicycle accident remains under investigation; but so far, the driver has not been charged with any crime.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled about 900 girls’ vest sets and hooded zip jackets manufactured by Los Angeles-based Splendid. Each of these garments has drawstrings in the hoods which can pose a strangulation hazard to the wearers.
In both of these instances, it doesn’t appear that any criminal charges will be filed based on the current information.
These two events illustrate the importance of taking extra precautions while crossing a road. Even though it may seem trivial, it is important to stay within a marked crosswalk while walking across a roadway (which may have been a factor in the fatal auto-pedestrian accident). In addition to safety concerns, pedestrians in crosswalks enjoy more protection under the law – and, by extension, in civil courts during personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
Not only will the at-fault driver probably be indicted for a crime, but he could very well be sued for wrongful death by the family members of the victim. In cases of this type, the grieving family could ask the court for reimbursement of burial expenses as well as compensation for mental anguish and/or pain and suffering.
The family of the at-fault driver are mourning his passing, but they also may be forced to deal with a possible personal injury lawsuit filed by the driver of the Scion. Though the family members themselves probably can’t be sued, the estate of the at-fault driver and his insurance may be taken to court.
It is important to point out that even though cell phone use while driving is currently legal, it can be used as evidence of liability in an auto accident in a civil court. This means that a driver who causes an auto accident while texting or talking on a cell phone may be held responsible for damages in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. In addition, if a plaintiff suspects that cell phone use may be the cause of an auto accident, lawyers may attempt to subpoena a defendant’s cell phone records – which will show the dates and times of all calls or texts made from a particular cell phone.