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Two People on a Motorcycle Killed in Fiery, Wrong-Way Crash

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
wrecked motorcycleThe driver and passenger on a motorcycle were killed early Monday morning when they were hit by a Hyundai traveling the wrong way on Madison Avenue near Lincoln Oaks Drive. The collision caused both vehicles to catch fire, causing the man and woman on the motorcycle to sustain severe burns. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Hyundai was able to exit his vehicle and walk to the sidewalk after the crash. He remained there until authorities arrived and arrested him for driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol content of at least .08 and felony manslaughter. Investigators will conduct a 360-degree inspection on both vehicles to see if there were other factors in addition to the driver’s impairment that contributed to the accident, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Chad Hertzell. The accident led to authorities closing all westbound lanes of Madison Avenue at Linda Sue Way. Those traffic lanes were eventually re-opened.

Impaired Driving Statistics

Every year, impaired driving is one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that almost 30 people die in impaired driving accidents every day. There is a traffic fatality involving an impaired driver every 53 minutes. Moreover, nearly one third of 2014 traffic fatalities involved an impaired driver, which equates to almost 10,000 deaths that year. If you or a loved one has been severely injured or died from a motorcycle accident with a drunk driver, you may be able to recover compensation for mental, physical and financial damages. The motorcycle accident lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm offer a free consultation to review your claim and advise you of all of your legal options.

Contact our injury lawyers today by calling (916) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.