Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Chain Accident that Claimed Life of Motorcyclist

On Tuesday, a Laguna Beach woman pleaded not guilty before the Orange County Superior Court after she was accused of driving under the influence and caused the chain accident that claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

According to reports, 27-year-old Leslie Juarez is more likely to face 13 years of state imprisonment if convicted.

Last June 5, Juarez was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while impaired, driving under the influence causing personal injury, and driving with a blood-alcohol level higher than the legal limit causing personal injury or death to more than one victim.

The legal limit of blood-alcohol level varies according to states, but in most states, the legal limit of blood-alcohol level is 0.08.

Accordingly, Juarez’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.23 about a couple of hours after the accident. It was actually three times the legal limit, according to Deputy District Attorney Nancy Hayashida.

According to prosecutors, Juarez was speeding along southbound in her 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse on the I-405 near San Canyon at around 11:30 p.m. last March 29 when she swerved into another lane. As a result of which, her vehicle crashed into a 2006 Nissan Sentra that was driven by 21-year-old Joelle Friedlander.

Consequently, Friedlander lost control of her vehicle and swerved over the center divider then came to a stop in the northbound carpool lanes. Witnesses said that Friedlander managed to get out of the car and run to the center median before a northbound 1991 Suzuki motorcycle slammed into her vehicle and caused another accident.

The driver of the said motorcycle was identified as 32-year-old J.C. Droege. Droege was thrown from his big bike and was declared dead right at the accident scene due to multiple injuries. Meanwhile, Friedlander was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment of his fractured ankle and other personal injuries.

Prosecutors added that when California Highway Patrol officers arrived at the scene, Juarez demonstrated signs of intoxication, which included having alcohol in her breath, slurred speech, and unsteady balance.

Juarez is next scheduled to appear in court on July 24 for a pretrial hearing.

Even though motorcyclists wear protective gears around them, during an accident, the severity of the injury still lies on how physics favors them the moment that the collision occurs.

In such motorcycle accident deaths, a Los Angeles motorcycle attorney can help the families of the decedents in assessing a claim particularly within Los Angeles area.

Los Angeles Detective Off Duty when Killed in Motorcycle Crash

When an off duty officer is gets involved in an accident, the police department may not have to compensate the surviving family members. The family members may choose to file a formal lawsuit instead to recover damages.

On the other hand,  when an on duty officer is injured in a motorcycle accident, the police department will have to provide compensation for the family of the deceased. The family representative will have to show proof that the crash occurred while the officer is performing his or her duties within the assigned shift.

However, when the officer or the detective is off duty, the police department's liability on the accident is lessened. Take the example on Friday when an off duty Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detective was killed after a motorcycle crash on 110 Freeway.

According to reports, the investigator was traveling on 110 Freeway when a truck collided with his personal motorcycle. Paramedics arrived and rushed the 48-year-old detective to a local hospital where he died shortly after arrival.

The surviving family members may assert a formal lawsuit instead. A wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver may help clarify the causes of accident and determine the negligent act/s. The family representative may present proof of the truck driver’s fault in the crash and recover damages such as medical and funeral expenses and emotional loss.

For more information on motorcycle accident, you may consult with a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Your attorney will guide you throughout the process of litigation. Dial 1-866-772-2889 or email us at info@mesriani.com for a free case analysis.

Route 79 Motorcycle Accident Victim Identified by Coroner’s Office

The Riverside Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died in a motorcycle accident on Route 79 the other day as John Anderson, 62, from Encinitas.

According to CHP, Anderson was riding his motorcycle on the southbound lane of Route 79 when he tried to overtake the vehicle in front of him.

As a result, he collided head-on with a semi-truck as he entered the northbound lane.
Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

It looks like the liable party in the accident is Anderson himself as he was on the wrong lane when he collided with the truck.

Even if Anderson has died, the truck driver can still make a claim for the damages sustained from the accident.

Although Anderson’s death freed him from criminal liability, the truck driver can still go after him civilly to get back what he lost.

However the truck driver can only make a claim up to the limit of Anderson’s policy and probably even some of his assets.

If the amount of damages goes beyond that, he won’t be able to collect anymore.

Woman Charged with Vehicular Manslaughter after Jan 2 Motorcycle Accident

Most of the time, we realize our mistake a little too late.

Heather Anne Baxter, 24, of Antioch was charged with one count of felony and one count misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter following a motorcycle accident last January 2.

According to reports, Baxter’s Honda Accord struck the Suzuki DRZ 400 motorcycle that Jeffrey Cramer, 50, was riding on the southbound lane of Highway 87.

Cramer was thrown off his bike and responding firefighters declared him dead on the scene.

Baxter was said to be running at about 70mph and was not able to stop or decelerate in time to avoid hitting Cramer.

She did stay on the scene and even called 911.

Baxter was said to be profoundly saddened and upset about the whole ordeal.

The family of the victim said that they had mixed feelings about the arrest.

On one hand, they were relieved that the liable party for Cramer’s death was apprehended as opposed to it being ruled as a single crash earlier.

But on the other, they feel sad for Baxter that she has to live with the fact that she caused the death of another person, albeit unintentional.

If they choose to support the prosecution of Baxter or not will be up to them, the state can move forward with the case with or without their support.

They know that Baxter is already suffering for what she has done but they can’t just “not do” anything about the death of their loved ones.

In my opinion, filing a wrongful death lawsuit is the closest thing that would compromise those feelings.

By filing the lawsuit against Baxter they at least, in their own way, may hold her accountable (at least civilly) for her actions.