The family of a girl struck and killed by a taxi near a beach has settled their wrongful death case with the City of Los Angeles for $9.5 million. During negotiations, it was proven the city failed to take steps to protect pedestrian beach goers from traffic.
In this issue, we’ll talk about what happened.
The Case at a Glance
The 16-year-old victim was struck by a taxi just after midnight when she left fire pits at the beach and was in an unmarked crosswalk on the very busy Vista Del Mar Avenue.
Her parents decided to bring the lawsuit because the city failed to take preventative measures even though the section of highway was known to be hazardous to pedestrians.
Despite repeated incidents in the area, no protective measures had been taken by the city. In fact, for roughly two miles on the street, there are no marked crosswalks.
The 12-member City Council agreed unanimously for the settlement.
The Impact on the Family After the Death of a Child
For a family who has lost a child – regardless of age – the effect is most often one of absolute devastation. While we’re all different and react as such, many parents who have experienced the loss of a child often report waves of grief, and relive the traumatic events that led to the injury.
The surviving family members have more than enough to worry about, so it’s important to remember that wrongful death lawsuits can be highly effective in recovering:
- Loss of contribution of support for family members
- Loss of association
- Loss of prospective education
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
If Your Family Has Experienced a Wrongful Death, Call Barber & Associates
Get in touch with us here at Barber & Associates. We’re one of Alaska’s leading wrongful death firms, and have a strong reputation for representing the families of victims of all types of fatal accidents.
Our number is 907-276-5858 or you can reach us via email.