A jury has awarded the family of Brian R. Heikkila $2.8 million for his Florida motorcycle death. Heikkila, a Palm Coast resident, died on May 30, 2007 in a Daytona Beach traffic crash.
Per the family’s Florida wrongful death complaint, driver Michael T. Hemphill, who was in a Ford Mustang, failed to yield the right of way and struck Heikkila’s motorcycle. The plaintiffs accused Hemphill of negligence and sought damages for mental anguish, pain and suffering.
The Florida jury awarded the family $798,000 in economic damages and funeral costs. They also awarded $1 million to Heikkila’s 5-year-old daughter Ryleigh and $500,000 to each of his parents. The verdict for Heikkila’s daughter is double of what the plaintiffs requested.
South Florida Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are at greater risk of dying in a traffic crash than are motor vehicle occupants. As a matter of fact, the federal government said in 2007 that there are 37 times more motorcycle rider deaths than there are car accident fatalities. Miami motorcycle accident injuries can include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, burn injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, severed limbs, and other serious injuries.
In sunny Florida, where so many riders take to the roads on their motorcyclists year round, it is important that both they and motor vehicle drivers exercise caution around each other so as to avoid becoming involved in a Palm Beach motorcycle crash.
Jury awards $2.8 million to biker’s family, The Daytona Beach News Journal, March 30, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Motorcycles, Institutional Institute for Highway Safety
Motorcycle Safety Foundation, US Department of Transportation
More Blog Posts:
$5.3M Naples Wrongful Death Verdict Awarded to Family of Motorcyclist, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, January 21, 2011
Motorcyclist Dies in Hiahleah Gardens Car Accident, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, January 14, 2011
$8.4M Palm Beach County Motorcycle Accident Verdict Awarded In Florida Wrongful Death, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, December 14, 2010
An experienced Ft. Lauderdale motorcycle crash lawyer can help you explore your legal options. Even if you or your loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident that didn’t involve any other vehicles, there still may be liable parties, such as the government entity in charge of the road where the crash happened or the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle or bike part.