On June 5, 2017, a sheriff’s chaplain in Sonora pulled into the right-hand turn lane on Stockton Road. As he made his turn onto South Washington Street, a bicyclist rode out in front of the county vehicle. The two collided, causing severe injuries that led to extensive medical treatments. Now, the guardian of the boy on the bicycle wants his resulting medical treatments paid for by the county.
An 11-Year-Old Is Suing Tuolumne County: Here’s Why…
At the age of 10-years-old, the young bicyclist was pinned by his left foot under the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Community Service Chevrolet truck. First responders managed to get him out from under the vehicle and reported his injuries as non-life-threatening, but there was still a lot of damage.
According to the lawsuit filed by the boy’s grandfather/guardian, the child suffered severe injuries to his foot. In addition to cuts and bruises, the boy suffered several fractures and a degloving injury. He also had to be flown from Adventist Health Sonora to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for surgery.
In its investigation of the crash, the Sonora Police Department concluded that the sheriff’s chaplain was not at fault. However, some inconsistencies in the testimony raised the grandfather’s suspicions and led to the filing of this lawsuit. It claims that the chaplain who was driving the county vehicle was negligent, and the county should be found liable for the grandchild’s injuries.
Now, a California court will decide if Tuolumne County is responsible for paying this boy’s medical bills and damages. In bicycle accident cases, it can sometimes be difficult to determine who is liable for the damages and injuries that result from a collision. Issues such as right-of-way and the speeds involved at impact could come into play. Because of these complications, contacting an attorney could be the best way for victims to protect themselves.
A message from the bike accident attorneys at Bohn & Fletcher—we’re here to help protect your rights!