$5 million wrongful death lawsuit filed after fatal Baltimore, MD bicycle accident

2010-03-09 05:56:58 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Wrongful Death)

Legal news for Maryland wrongful death attorneys. A multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit was filed after a bicyclist was fatally struck in Baltimore.

The family of bicyclist Jack Yates filed a wrongful death lawsuit for his death, which was caused by an accident in Baltimore.

Baltimore, MD—The family of a bicyclist who was killed on August 4, 2009 by a Potts & Callahan truck driver has filed a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit. The multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 in the Baltimore Circuit Court against the truck driver and his employer, as reported by the Baltimore Sun.

John R. “Jack” Yates, 67, was reportedly riding his bicycle south on Maryland Avenue when a truck suddenly struck him from behind. The collision caused the bike to get caught by the truck’s wheels, which caused him to be run over as the truck rounded a right turn on Lafayette Avenue in the Charles North Neighborhood. Due to his serve injuries sustained in the collision, Yates was pronounced dead at the scene by responding emergency medical services (EMS) teams. The loaded fuel tanker failed to stop after the collision, and continued on its way. Investigators believe the truck driver didn’t know he had hit the biker, due to the sheer size of the truck. The truck was found two days later at the Potts & Callahan service yard, with blood and hair still on the front tires. After DNA testing it was confirmed that the truck was involved in the collision.

Yate’s wife, son and daughter filed the wrongful death lawsuit, which accuses the truck driver, Michael Dale Chandler of Severne and his employer, Potts & Callahan Inc., a demolition and equipment rental company, of negligence. The lawsuit claims that the driver and employers were negligent after reviewing a surveillance video that showed the driver making the right turn without an activated turn signal. Maryland laws require bicyclists to stay with the flow of traffic, and to the far to the right as possible; Yates was in full compliance with the state laws, according to his representing lawyers. City police investigators told a different story and said that they found Yates was actually at fault, because he was riding his bike in the parking lanes and tried to pass the truck on the right, which is illegal according to Maryland laws.

The wrongful death lawsuit is seeking compensatory damages.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for wrongful death lawyers in Maryland.