Image of a serious car accident

Unbelted Arrestee Suing Teen Driver & City of Guadalupe

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In a case that elicits thoughts of “could your day possibly get any worse?” a man handcuffed but unbelted in the back of a police car sustained life-threatening injuries when an intoxicated teen driver smashed into the patrol car. Both the arrestee and the officer driving the police vehicle were seriously injured. Now, the arrestee is suing both the teen driver who caused the accident and the city of Guadalupe for damages. Let’s dive in.

The Incident

In December of last year, Abacuc Lopez Sanchez was being transported in the back seat of Guadalupe Police Officer Efrain Isaac Oseguera’s patrol car when they were struck by teen driver Miranda Alexis Miranda. Miranda was speeding at 70 miles per hour while traveling on the wrong side of the road at the intersection of Highway 1 and Brown Road in Guadalupe. It was revealed that she was under the influence of marijuana and alcohol and blew a BAC of 0.11%.

The Lawsuit

Sanchez suffered extensive injuries, including a ruptured trachea, lacerated chin, and chest pain. He was reportedly hospitalized for months and missed a significant amount of work due to his injuries. He has named Miranda, her parents, and the City of Guadalupe as defendants in his lawsuit. Though no one denies Miranda is primarily at-fault for the accident, Sanchez and his attorney argue that he should have been belted into the patrol car and that Oseguera failed to keep him properly safe by not strapping him in. All told, Sanchez is seeking at least $25,000 in damages from the defendants.

The Santa Maria Times reports that Clayton Hall, the attorney representing the City of Guadalupe, responded to Sanchez’s suit by denying that the city breached their duty of care. Furthermore, Hall said the city “would be entitled to complete indemnity from each cross-defendant,” meaning that the Miranda family would be required to reimburse the city for any payments ordered if the city is found to be liable.

Quality Representation is Key

It will be interesting to see if Sanchez is successful in seeking compensation from the City of Guadalupe. It will likely depend heavily on the competence of his representative attorney. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury, the team at Hales & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation is more than prepared to fight for your rights in court. We can help you collect the compensation you need and deserve. Contact our Murrieta office today at (951) 489-3320 to schedule a free consultation with a trusted and experienced personal injury lawyer.

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