Wrongful Death

Twenty-five-year-old Jayme Alan Midlam was killed in a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred on December 29, 2012, around 1 a.m. in Santee.

According to the County’s Medical Examiner’s Office, Midlam was alone in his 1972 Volkswagen driving east when it collided with a westbound Chevy 2500 HD pickup truck driving in the wrong direction by 23-year-old April Carole Thompson.

California Highway Patrol Officer Art Athens said that the pickup truck was travelling at a speed of around 70 miles per hour and the female motorist is suspected to be driving under the influence.

Thompson suffered injuries and was treated at a local hospital. After her release from the hospital, she was taken into custody on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol.

Midlam sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the accident site. Our law office sends our deepest condolences to the victim’s family for such a terrible loss.

From the available facts, it is fairly clear that the pickup truck driver was driving negligently in an inebriated condition, putting her and the innocent lives of others at risk.

If drinking and driving is completely avoided and a little attention is paid while driving on the road, then that would drastically reduce the amount of fatal wrong-way driving accidents that occur annually. Wrong-way driving is definitely a horrible mistake in judgment by those behind the wheel.

The deceased victim’s family members can and should bring a wrongful death suit against the at-fault motorist to receive compensatory damages.

If you or someone you know has been harmed by a negligent wrong-way driver, seek help from our experienced Santee wrongful death attorneys. Contact us at (888) 233-5020 for a free evaluation of your case.

A 29-year-old active-duty Marine was killed in a multiple vehicle crash that took place on December 19 around 6:30 p.m. on Interstate 15 in the Deer Springs area. According to the authorities, a wrong-way motorist travelling north on the southbound lane sideswiped a 2006 Ford F-150, driven by a 52-year-old motorist from Vista.

The pickup was damaged a bit, but fortunately the motorist escaped unhurt. The Escort stopped after the collision and then continued to travel north on the southbound side of the freeway, where it later hit a concrete bridge over Gopher Canyon Road. This caused the Escort vehicle to swerve more into south lane No.1 and overturn.

The overturned Escort vehicle was hit by a 2013 Kia Optima driven by a 59-year-old motorist. The Kia driver was fortunately not hurt in this crash.

The overturned Escort was then struck again by a 1993 Harley Davidson driven by a 29- year-old Fallbrook male. The motorcyclist was thrown off the bike and died on his way to Palomar Medical Center. Our law office sends our deep condolences to the deceased victim’s family for such a shocking loss.

The Escort driver, 63-year-old Robert Sidney Bowman, was taken to Palomar Medical Center for immediate medical assistance.

CHP Officer Jim Bettencourt said that the investigation is currently underway to determine whether alcohol or drug intake contributed to this fatal motorcycle crash.

When any motorist gets onto the road and starts driving the wrong way, many innocent bystanders and/or drivers can be negatively affected by the negligence of another person’s actions. In this case, the Escort driver hit three other motorists, which caused multiple damages, injury, and death.

The deceased victim’s family members have a legal right to seek justice against the at-fault motorist that wrongfully took the life of their loved one through a wrongful death claim.

If you have lost someone through car accidents caused by another driver, contact our experienced Deer Springs wrongful death attorneys at (888) 233-5020.

53-year-old John Martin was fatally struck in a head-on car collision that took place on April 15 around 2:49 p.m. along Apple Valley Road. According to San Bernardino County coroner’s officials, Martin was driving a Toyota Highlander when he was hit by a wrong-way-driver Brian Sweet in a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Martin died at the scene. The at-fault driver was immediately airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center for medical treatment.

If Sweet is determined to have been at fault in this case, then he could face be held financially responsible for the wrongful death and damages caused. The victim’s family should seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other related damages.

Our San Bernardino wrongful death lawyers send their deepest condolences to Martin’s family and friends.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in San Bernardino County car accidents and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in Apple Valley due to a wrong-way driver, please order your free copy of The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

37-year-old Asdrubal Tiscareno, a passenger in a vehicle, was killed when the car he was riding in was broadsided on March 15, 2012, around 5:13 p.m. at Schaefer and Monte Vista Avenues. According to San Bernardino County coroner’s officials, the 2002 Mustang driven by 21-year-old Edwin Victor was traveling east on Schaefer Avenue when it began making a left turn. The Mustang was t-boned by a westbound 2004 Acura TSX driven by 25-year-old Cornelles Aldi of Chino Hills.

Tiscareno suffered fatal injuries and was immediately transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead around 11:55 p.m.

Based on this news report, officials suspect that a right-of-way violation may have played a part in this fatal collision. The family members of the deceased victim would be well-advised to consult with an experienced San Bernardino car accident attorney, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held liable.

The victim’s family members may file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault motorist to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care and companionship, and other related damages.

Our law office sends sincere condolences to the victim’s family members.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in San Bernardino County rollover car accidents and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in Chino due to a reckless and negligent driver, please order your free copy of The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

A woman was struck and killed in a severe pedestrian wreck that occurred on February 24, 2012, around 12:29p.m. on Arlington Avenue, west of Fairhaven Drive in the far western end of the city. According to Lt. Eric Charrette, a black pickup crossed the double-yellow line, causing the driver of another truck to veer off the road to avoid the collision. Unfortunately, the driver instead ran into a female pedestrian walking east along the south edge of the street.

Paramedics responding to this serious car wreck treated the victim at the scene and later transported her to Riverside Community Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Police are now searching for the driver of the black truck, who didn’t even stop. The victim’s family members may file a wrongful death claim against the pickup driver to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our law office sends sincere condolences to victim’s family members.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in Riverside County truck accidents and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California based personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a pedestrian accident in Riverside due to a negligent motorist, please order your free copy of The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

19-year-old Ronald Cole died in a serious multiple vehicle wreck that occurred on February 22, 2012, around 9 p.m. on Highway 74 (SR-74) east of Lake Elsinore. According to the authorities, Cole and his passengers were headed west in a 2004 Honda Civic on Highway 74 in the unincorporated Meadowbrook area when Cole, for unknown reasons, crossed into oncoming traffic.

The driver of another 2004 Civic tried to steer out of the way but the two cars collided head on. The other Civic, driven by 23-year-old Cody Testi, of Riverside, spun across the westbound lanes and came to rest on the shoulder. A Chrysler 300 that was behind Testi’s Civic and the Pathfinder struck debris from the initial crash.

Cole was immediately transported to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his fatal injuries.

Both the passengers, 19-year-old Sydni Adame and 19-year-old Josh Webb, suffered major injuries and were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Chrysler driver, 58-year-old Zina Harris sustained minor bruises and scratches and was treated at local hospital.

From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this traffic collision occurred. Was there a loss of control? Was one of the drivers distracted or speeding?

At this time, the victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County car accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. If Cole was negligently driving or even under the influence, then he may be legally required to compensate the victim’s family funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care and companionship, and other related damages.

Our law office sends sincere condolences to the victim’s family members. We also hope and pray that the injuries suffered by the victims heal soon.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in Riverside County multiple vehicle collisions and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in Lake Elsinore area due to a negligent driver, please order your free copy of the The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

Suzanne Tuberville, wife of the Texas Tech University head coach Tommy Tuberville, is under investigation for a car wreck in Lubbock back in November 2011. Suzanne allegedly ran a red light at 57^th and Slide and crashed into a car carrying 73-year-old Nelda Purdy and her husband 87-year-old Ira Purdy. After spending the last 4 months in intensive care, Ira Purdy died this past Friday.

At the time of the accident, Nelda and Ira sustained critical injuries. According to the Purdy’s family attorney, the man never recovered from the significant head injury, broken leg, and broken ribs, which resulted in his death last Friday. Sources say that he was in good condition and very active before the accident. However, with such significant injuries, it is hard to fully recover at that age.

The investigation is still open due to the extent of the injuries that one of the passengers sustained and the recent death of Purdy. Suzanne Tuberville could ultimately face charges such as criminally negligent homicide or vehicular manslaughter, depending on the results of the Lubbock Police Department’s investigation and autopsy of Ira Purdy. This is a common charge for people who run red lights resulting in a death.

Wife Nelda Purdy has almost fully recovered from her injuries and is hoping to seek action for her husband’s death and her hospital stay. So far, the Purdy family has been disappointed with LPD’s investigation, especially since no citation was issued to the driver at the time of the accident. It was only 6 months after the wreck that a citation was issued.

Our personal injury law firm gives our deepest condolences to Nelda and the Purdy family. We hope that justice is served and that she recovers compensation to pay for her medical bills and her husband’s wrongful death.

If you or someone you love has been severely injured in California by another driver who ran a red light, contact the San Diego car accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group at 1-888-233-5020. 

A prominent Charlottesville attorney, Matthew B. Murray (of Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen) and his client, Isaiah Lester, have been accused of lying to the court in regards to a wrongful death case.

Lester was originally awarded roughly $10.6 million for the death of his wife and injuries he sustained when the two were victims of an overturned cement truck on the highway in 2007.  At the time, the court had no knowledge that Lester had been intentionally withholding evidence in the form of social media. 

During the discovery phase of the case, the attorneys representing Allied Concrete Co. (the company involved in the accident) had gained access to Lester’s Facebook page. They requested screen photos of Lester’s Facebook account and had attached a picture they found that featured Lester with a beer can and an “I ♥ Hot Moms” t-shirt. Upon seeing this, Murray specifically ordered Lester to delete photos and to deactivate his Facebook account in order to hide evidence that would damage his client’s case.

In December 2009, Lester testified during his deposition that he never did such a thing and claimed that he had never taken his page down during the trial. With no evidence to prove otherwise, the jury passed a verdict that awarded nearly $10 million to Lester and $1 million to the deceased wife’s parents.

However, when the court learned of the actions of Murray and Lester, the verdict was cut by $4 million due to the misrepresentation of his condition. On top of this, Murray was fired from the Allen Firm, and both Murray and Lester could be liable for up to $900,000 in attorney fees for Allied’s defense counsel.

At the Jurewitz Law Group, we always advise our clients to be completely open and honest. The last thing we want is to have the court question your credibility, especially if it’s over some scandalous photo on Facebook.