Family Of Woman Killed Comes For Uber

On November 5, 2018, Jessica Christie was riding her motorcycle westbound on Broadway. She was heading to the café where she worked as a barista. Unfortunately, she never made it there.

An Uber driver, Roberto Carlos Blando Martinez was ahead of her in traffic. When he received a new fare alert, he made a U-turn from the curb. He didn’t see Christie, but she slammed into Martinez’s Civic. She was thrown off her motorcycle and sustained injuries that killed her an hour later. Her family has not brought a lawsuit against Martinez and Uber.

At Allegiance Law, we cannot imagine the pain Christie’s family is going through. We know that the roadways are unpredictable and especially dangerous for motorcyclists. If you need a San Francisco motorcycle accident attorney, you can count on us to be by your side, fighting to secure the compensation you deserve.

What This Is About?

Since the crash, prosecutors have charged Martinez with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and Christie’s parents have sued him and Uber for wrongful death.

“He made an illegal U-turn responding to a call for service,” said the attorney representing the parents. This case will likely take a while to play out as it consists of both a criminal and a civil one. In this case, Martinez appears to have admitted to police that he made an illegal turn.

In California, we know that so many car crashes happen due to driver negligence. For the latest reporting year, there were over 278,000 total vehicle crash injuries according to the state Office of Traffic Safety.

What are some of the main causes?

• Distracted drivers who are paying attention to their phones and other devices. In a driver survey, nearly 50% of state respondents say they had made a mistake while driving and talking on their cell phones. How often have you looked at the driver next to you and seen them with their faces focused on a phone screen?
• Drunk drivers were responsible for 29% of the total vehicle crash fatalities in the latest year of data. They caused 27,065 injuries.
• Drivers across California say that their main safety concern is those who speed and drive aggressively on the roadway.

We do not have good numbers for how many crashes are caused by ridesharing drivers, though we expect that number to increase as companies like Uber and Lyft expand into food delivery and medical transportation.

What You Can Do

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle crash that was caused by another person’s negligence, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Allegiance Law, our qualified and experienced team understands the complexities of these cases and will work tirelessly on your behalf. We want to make sure you get compensation for the following:

• Your crash-related medical bills
• Lost income if you cannot work
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages

When you need a San Francisco motorcycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling at 415-404-6395.