Family of 89-Year Old Man Struck by SUV Inside Bayonne Wendy’s Files Suit
The family of an elderly man who died from his injuries several weeks after being struck by an SUV that rammed into a Bayonne Wendy’s fast food restaurant has sued the driver of the SUV. The man, John Ruiu, was 89 years old when he was hit in February 2015 by a BMW SUV that drove through the front entrance of the Wendy’s and slammed into him, sending him flying against a wall and eventually sweeping him underneath its tires. Mr. Ruiu initially survived the crash but died from his injuries several weeks later in March. The driver of the BMW SUV was a 77-year old Bayonne woman who was reportedly in shock after she drove through the entry to the Wendy’s and struck Mr. Ruiu. Police reports indicated she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that she did not intend to drive into the restaurant or to hurt anyone. She was not criminally charged but was cited for careless driving, a civil charge to which she pled not guilty.
Despite the lack of criminal charges, the family of Mr. Ruiu, who served in WWII in the US Navy and was honored for his service, recently filed a civil lawsuit against the driver. In such a lawsuit, the family of a person who has died in an accident can sue for the injuries suffered by the victim of the accident, even though the victim is no longer alive and able to receive a portion of the judgment. The family can sue for both the economic injuries suffered, such as the cost of medical treatment, as well as the pain and suffering that the victim had to endure for the time that he or she was still alive. The family may also sue for their own losses caused by the accident, including the emotional pain of losing a loved one as well as for the lost services and/or income previously provided by the deceased victim. In Mr. Ruiu’s case, he had cared for his wife and handled household issues on her behalf, and so now she may sue the driver for the loss of her husband and the services provided by him.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and/or for the loss of your loved one, even where the person who caused the accident may not have intended to cause any injuries or other damages. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to begin investigating the crash to determine the extent of your injuries, and to help you file any necessary police reports or claims with your insurance provider. For a free consultation on your claim from anywhere in the Wayne, New Jersey area, including Hawthorne, Patterson, Fairfield, Caldwell, Clifton, and throughout Hudson County, contact the personal injury attorneys at Massood Law Group, LLC. Call today for an evaluation of your possible lawsuit at 1-844-4MB-HURT or 973-696-1900.
