LA Truck Crash Survivor Receives $150 Million Wrongful Death Award
UPLAND, CALIFORNIA (PRWEB) November 11, 2013 -- The Law Offices of Brain Brandt has secured over $150 million in damages for 13-year-old Kylie Asam, the victim of a SUV and tractor-trailer collision that took the lives of her mother, father, and brother. The Los Angeles County jury that heard the Southern California wrongful death case found the commercial truck driver, Rudolph Ortiz, and the trucking company, Bhandal Brothers Trucking, responsible for the fatal accident. (1)
According to an October 29 LA Times article, Kylie Asam and her family were driving from Riverside to Oregon for Thanksgiving on November 22, 2009, when their vehicle struck the back of a tractor-trailer allegedly parked illegally on the shoulder of the freeway. Kylie and her brother Blaine escaped the wreck by crawling out of a broken car window, but the rest of their family died in the resulting car fire. Blaine committed suicide in June 2013, just days before his mother’s birthday. (2)
In court, Brandt argued that the trucker was parked in an area reserved for emergencies only, and that Ortiz gave authorities multiple reasons for being stopped with his lights off. The defense argued that Ortiz had stopped due to a severe headache—a medical emergency—and that Mr. Asam fell asleep at the wheel before veering off of the road. (3)
The jury deliberated for several days before awarding Kylie Asam with $112 million for pain and suffering and $30 million for past and future emotional distress. Blaine’s estate was awarded $8.75 million. The money will be placed in a trust that Kylie will be able to access when she is 18 years old. (3)
“While there is absolutely no way to erase the unthinkable tragedy endured by Kylie, we hope that the damages secured in this case will help her in all ways possible,” said Brandt. “We also hope that this verdict sends a clear message to truckers and trucking companies that we will not tolerate unsafe commercial drivers. We will hold them responsible for the harm they cause.”
The Law Offices of Brian Brandt assists Southern California residents with personal injury and wrongful death claims. To learn more about their legal services, please visit http://www.brianbrandt.com.
Sources:
(1) Case Name & Number: Asam v. Rudolph Ortiz, Bhandal Bros. Trucking
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Central / PC051705
(2) LA Times October 29, 2013: latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-20131029-150millionverdict,0,6820479.story#axzz2kAiuc0ME
(3) Jury Verdict Alert: juryverdictalert.com/jury-verdicts/item/wrongful-death/highlighted-verdicts/young-girl-sues-for-wrongful-death-of-her-family-members-jury-awards-over-150-million-los-angeles-county
About The Law Offices of Brian Brandt:
With 25 years of personal injury and wrongful death experience, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Brian Brandt are dedicated to representing the victims of traffic accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall accidents, dog attacks, and defective product injuries.
Our law offices, which are located in Upland, Orange County, San Bernardino, Mission Viejo, and Riverside, offer injury victims and their families case evaluations during private introductory appointments. To learn more about our legal services, or to learn more about personal injury law in California, call us today at 909-932-1162 or visit our website at http://www.brianbrandt.com.
Contact: Brian Brandt
Phone: 909-932-1162
Email: brianbrandt(at)verizon.net
Website: http://www.brianbrandt.com
Danielle Ruderman, Foster Web Marketing, http://fosterwebmarketing.com, +1 888.886.0939, [email protected]
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