Off-duty officer killed in motor-vehicle accident

On Sept. 6 around 4:30 p.m., an off-duty officer with the Los Angeles Police Department was killed while riding his Yamaha R6 motorcycle in Torrance. He was the seventh LAPD officer to have died in 2014.

The officer was riding southbound on Western when a Kia Optima that was traveling on 234th Street attempted to turn onto Western northbound. The car drove into the motorcycle's path, and the bike crashed into the side of the car. The officer died at the accident scene. The woman driving the vehicle reportedly did not suffer any injuries and was not hospitalized. Her passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. A lieutenant from the coroner's office said an autopsy was scheduled for Sept. 8 to determine whether or not drugs or alcohol were a factor in this accident. He reported that the practice was standard procedure.

If retained for a wrongful death suit, a personal injury lawyer usually reviews a variety of information about the incident. That information can include the incident report from police and, if available, an accident-reconstruction report. The autopsy report and witness statements can also provide facts that could help an attorney build a case for wrongful death on behalf of a client.

Damages awarded to plaintiffs of wrongful death lawsuits can account for decedents' lost wages as well as their funeral costs and any medical expenses they incurred. Property damage is another example of economic harm for which compensation can be awarded. Plaintiffs might also receive money for the pain and suffering of victims before they died.

Source: CBS Los Angeles , "Off-Duty LAPD Officer Killed In Torrance Crash Is Identified", September 07, 2014