In November of 2014, Sally LaMay was killed in a bus accident when she was crossing the street on foot. A SMART bus hit the 37-year-old as she crossed the street in a marked crosswalk. The bus had a flashing yellow light at the time of the accident. The driver of the bus was fired by Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) after the incident.
Last week, an Oakland County jury ordered the company to pay $5 million to LaMay’s family for the pain they endured due to the untimely loss of their wife and mother. In court, the company argued that they should not have to pay anything to the family of the deceased because LaMay was killed instantly and did not suffer – a sentiment many in the courtroom found absurd. The jury ultimately issued the verdict to compensate for “conscious pain and suffering.”
LaMay left behind a husband and two daughters, now ages 15 and 11.
The state of Michigan ranked seventh nationwide for its number of dog bite injuries after 126 persons were bitten by dogs in the state in 2015. There was also a national total of 6,500 mail carriers nationwide that reported a dog bite or attack to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) last year.
According to the USPS, a 14 percent increase was observed in dog-related injuries from 2014 to 2015. In Michigan, information from State Farm Insurance revealed that a total of $3.7 million was reimbursed to all dog bite victims. Sheriff Deputy Steve Campau in St. Clair County said that any dog, regardless of size or breed, is liable to bite or attack. State officials strongly advised people not to let children play with dogs unsupervised and to utilize common sense when dealing with dogs. Dog-related injuries, officials noted, are preventable if pet owners are responsible.
The lawyers at Detroit Personal Injury Attorneys represent people in Michigan who have been bitten or attacked by dogs. We strongly believe that dog bite victims should receive compensation if negligent pet owners are involved. Call our office at (248) 948-9696 to learn more about your legal options.