$1,500,000 Settlement in Fatal Auto Accident Case
Barry R. Eichen, Esq., managing partner of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP, reached a $1.5 million dollar settlement August 10, 2022 on behalf of the Estate of a 62 year old man who died two weeks after an automobile accident in June of 2020.
Decedent James McManus was riding his motorcycle on Oldham Road in Wayne, NJ when the Defendant, Logan Damiani, an 18 year old delivering pizza for Vinnie’s Pizzarama, attempted to make an abrupt Uturn in front of Mr. McManus causing the crash. Defendant Damiani was distracted by his GPS and attempted to make the Uturn when he realized he was on the wrong road.
Mr. McManus was taken from the scene to the hospital where he would succumb to his injuries two weeks later.
Both parties retained an accident reconstructionist to support their theories of liability. Defendant’s expert opined Mr. McManus failed to make reasonable observations and should have been able to avoid the crash. Plaintiff’s expert obtained an exemplar motorcycle and using it and his model, was able to show that Mr. McManus could not have avoided the crash due to Defendant’s abrupt and unpredictable behavior.
Defendants settled for the entirety of their $500,000 underlying and $1,000,000 umbrella policy.
Patrick M. Coyne of the Law Offices of Hermesmann & Coyne represented the Logan Damiani, Kirsten K. Damiani Heller and Hanover Insurance Group.
Estate of James Andrew McManus, et al. v. Logan Damiani, et al.