The family of a bicyclist, who died when he was struck by a sheriff’s deputy who was driving while distracted by a digital device, will be paid $11.75 million by the city of Los Angeles as a settlement in their wrongful death suit.
The accident that killed Milton Olin Jr., a 65-year-old attorney and former chief operating officer of Napster, happened on December 8, 2013. Olin was in the bike lane in Calabasas, when the officer drifted over and hit him. He died on impact “after landing on the patrol car’s windshield and shattering the glass.”
According to ABC 7 News, the investigation following the accident showed that the officer was texting on his personal cellphone just prior to the collision, and then moved over to his mobile digital computer, on which he was typing at the time of the accident. The officer was not criminally charged, although he was distracted while driving, but the family is hoping prosecutors will reconsider.
Olin’s wife stated, “Milt would be here today if not for Deputy Wood’s decision to continue driving instead of pulling over to use his mobile devices, he may as well have been blindfolded as his attention was on his mobile devices and not on the road.” The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the $11.75 million settlement in the Olin family’s wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday May 20, 2018.
Sadly, wrongful death accidents caused by distracted drivers occur far too often on California roads. If you have lost a loved one as a result of distracted driving, a skilled Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer can assist in helping you with your case to recover funds for all possible wrongful death damages. Our hearts go out to the Olin family and are grateful they have been able to receive some justice in this tragic situation.