Articles Posted in Government Torts

Modesto motorcycle accident attorney knows that Modesto’s area summer weather brings out the motorcycles. Modesto and its ideal central California location, being 90 minutes from San Francisco and within an hour of various mountains, make it a motorcycle enthusiast ideal location. Stanislaus County extends into the foothills where motorcycle are often ridden into Jamestown, Sonora and other Mother Lode neighboring cities. More motorcycles means more motorcycle accidents. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, half of all fatal motorcycle collisions involve other vehicles. Fatal motorcycle accidents can lead to wrongful death lawsuits. Serious motorcycle accidents can cause loss of life and loss of limb.

Where the other party is negligent in causing such injury, the plaintiff can be awarded money damages after a trial. Most cases do not go to trial but are settled after negotiating with insurance or other companies. However, when John Hendrickson had his leg crushed on August 27, 2009. He was hit by while riding his motorcycle while riding in a remote area of California’s San Diego area. A Border Patrol Officer in a truck came around a sharp turn at an unreasonably high rate of speed. The officer did not see Hendrickson and the truck collided with the motorcycle.

Hendrickson suffered severe fractures and had one of his legs amputated below the knee, forever changing his life. As a recording artist and motorcycle enthusiast, his lingering pain and the emotional trauma keep him from working and partaking in the same activities he always enjoyed. He went through 6 months of post open treatment for a comminuted distal femur fracture and dealt with several other injuries. Hendrickson filed a negligence lawsuit against the United States government and on June 20, 2014, the court awarded him 5.4 million dollars. This large verdict was reported by ABC New 10 in San Diego.

Hitting the Road

As the spring weather heats up, more and more Modesto and Stockton families and ‘weekend warriors’ will be ‘hitting the road’ to their respective recreational destinations. Unfortunately, some of these families will be injured in an car accident. As traffic increases along with the seasonal temperatures, so too does the risk of being involved in vehicle collisions which may cause personal injury. These circumstances necessitate enhanced vigilance with regard to road safety by those behind the wheel or otherwise on the road. Driving defensively and maintaining constant awareness of one’s surroundings while driving greatly decreases the risk of being involved in an accident. The following tips should prove helpful:

  • Maintaining an appropriate distance from the car ahead
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