In December 2021, our law firm and the Simon Law Group LLP partnered together and obtained a $10,000,000 jury verdict in Long Beach, CA. The case, Sonia Mena Garcia v. Ramiro Hernandez, et al., was the fourth largest California jury verdict during 2021 amongst all car accident cases!

Facts of the Case – Drunk Driver Killed a Pedestrian

This wrongful death case involved a drunk driver who struck a pedestrian with his motor vehicle in Lynwood, CA.

The pedestrian arrived on scene in the early hours of the morning on September 23, 2017. He was attempting to help his friends get home. While he was crossing the street, a car crashed into him.

Law enforcement arrived on the scene and obtained statements from several witnesses. The witnesses indicated that the motorist had made the terrible decision to drink and drive. Law enforcement later charged the motorist with drunk driving.

Nonetheless, the defense attorneys in our wrongful death lawsuit asked the jury to find the pedestrian 100% at-fault. Specifically, they argued the pedestrian should not have walked into the roadway. The jury disagreed with the defendant’s contentions. The jury then awarded each family member damages for their wrongful death claims.

Wrongful Death Damage Awards

Family members assert their right to damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. In this case, the separated mother and father of the decedent were the plaintiffs.

Unlike personal injury cases, the parents’ claims revolved around general damages. The parents asserted no claims associated with typical personal injury cases. There were no claims for physical pain and suffering damages. There were also no claims for medical bills or economic damages.

The parents’ general pain and suffering damages were less tangible. They included things such as the mental and emotional distress associated with the loss of a loved one. Also included were the parents claims for loss of their child’s love. Additional claims involved the loss of companionship, comfort, and affection.

The Long Beach jury valued the parents’ loss at $10,000,000.

If You Have Been Wrongfully Injured, Contact a Local Personal Injury Lawyer Right Away!

If you have been injured as a result of a car accident, call a California car accident lawyer right away. Make sure that you gather the contact information from as many witnesses as you can find.

No one article can cover everything that people should know after a personal injury.  Additionally, personal injury law presents unique legal challenges.

We recommend that you contact a personal injury lawyer before speaking to an insurance adjuster, or filing a claim.  Filing an insurance claim for personal injuries without consulting an attorney, could result in an adjuster attempting to use your statements against you.

There are many local Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Huntington Beach personal injury lawyers and car accident attorneys. Lawyers who regularly practice in this field of law should be able to help, and will likely offer you a free consultation.

Don’t let an insurance company lowball your demand for reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Ensure that you receive full justice for your insurance claims!

The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this post, or website, should be taken as legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.  

Contact us If you have lost a loved one or have pain and suffering from a personal injury.  For more information, visit our car accidents page and wrongful death page. For a free consultation, please reach out to our attorneys to arrange a time to discuss your case.  

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