Two Lives Lost. Two Different Crashes. One Important Reminder.

In just a matter of days, San Mateo County experienced two heartbreaking tragedies that serve as a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can change because of a single decision behind the wheel.

In the first incident, a 34-year-old bicyclist was killed while riding on Skyline Boulevard after authorities say a Porsche traveling at a high rate of speed crossed into the opposite lane and struck the cyclist head-on. According to investigators, drugs and alcohol do not appear to have played a role. Instead, excessive speed appears to have been the critical factor in a crash that claimed an innocent life.

Just days later, another tragedy unfolded in Redwood City. After a traffic collision, a driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene. A passenger from the other  involved vehicle tried to stop the fleeing driver but fell and was fatally struck by the fleeing vehicle. Authorities have since arrested the driver on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death and gross vehicular manslaughter.

While these incidents happened under very different circumstances, they both tell the same story: reckless decisions behind the wheel have consequences that extend far beyond the driver.

At Gomerman | Bourn & Associates, we represent people whose lives have been forever changed by preventable negligence. Every case file represents someone whose normal day suddenly became the worst day of their life. Behind every police report is a family grieving, someone learning to live with life-changing injuries, or a loved one left wondering why a crash that never should have happened took someone they cared about.

It's easy to think, "That could never happen to me." The truth is, every driver has the ability to prevent tragedies like these.

Choosing to slow down, staying off your phone, remaining alert, watching for cyclists and pedestrians, and staying at the scene if a collision occurs are simple decisions that save lives.

We also want to acknowledge the instinct many people have to help after witnessing a crash. That compassion is admirable. However, your own safety must always come first. Traffic scenes are unpredictable, and attempting to confront a fleeing driver or entering an active roadway can put you in immediate danger. The safest course of action is to call 911, provide as much information as possible, and allow law enforcement to respond.

Purchase Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

One of the best ways to get protection from the uninsured and underinsured is by adding uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage to your automobile policy. 

Uninsured Motorist coverage helps you pay for damages – including bodily injury damages—caused by a driver who doesn’t have car insurance. For example, a hit-and-run driver who could not be located despite the best efforts of the police department or possibly even the victims themselves. Please visit the links below to learn more about uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. 

https://www.gobolaw.com/post/gobos-top-ten-things-to-know-about-uninsured-underinsured-motorist-coverage-and-claims-in-california

https://www.gobolaw.com/post/why-it-s-important-to-have-uninsured-motorist-um-coverage

A Message from Our Team

Every time we read stories like these, we are reminded why we do what we do. While our mission is to help injured victims and grieving families seek justice, our hope is always that these tragedies never happen in the first place.

If sharing these stories causes even one person to slow down, give a cyclist a little more room, put their phone away, or think twice before making a reckless decision, then those lives may continue to make a difference.

Please drive safely.

Slow down. Stay focused. Share the road. Never leave the scene of a collision.

Someone's family is counting on you to make it home safely today—and so is yours.