Guy Kornblum & Associates :: Recent Victories

Guy Kornblum & Associates Settles Wrongful Death Case for $1.825 Million in case involving County of San Mateo

Guy Kornblum & Associates has obtained a settlement comprised of both cash and future annuity payments having a present cash value of $1,825,000 on behalf of the widow of a 45-year-old man who was fatally injured on Westborough Boulevard in South San Francisco, California, when his car was struck by an oncoming vehicle which crossed the median divider.  Plaintiff sued the minor driver of the vehicle, his parents, and the City of South San Francisco and County of San Mateo, as this portion of Westborough Boulevard ran over both entities’ property.   The settlement included the future value of the decedent’s wages, benefits and household services, as well as a sum to compensate his widow for the loss of his care, comfort and society.

Just prior to the collision, the minor driver who was speeding in excess of the posted 45-m.p.h. limit, lost control of his vehicle and crossed the median area, which consisted only of a 4-foot wide, 6” high curb, and hit decedent head-on.  This curb was the only thing dividing the opposing lanes of traffic on a .91 mile long stretch of winding road, notorious for speeding motorists, without streetlights or traffic lights.  There was no guardrail in place which would have prevented such an accident from occurring.  The absence of a guardrail on this median was a source of much controversy and public outcry spanning twenty years, which stemmed from a dispute between the City and County over which entity should be responsible for this section of Westborough Boulevard. 

Guy Kornblum and his team of experts demonstrated that the lack of a guardrail on this stretch of road, which had seen numerous crossover accidents resulting in many injuries and a few deaths over the past several years, was a dangerous condition of public property, of which the entities had notice, and had sufficient time to remedy by installing a barrier.  Had a guardrail been in place, this accident could have been prevented. 

The County installed a median barrier on the western curve of the road in 2003 after a 17-year-old was killed when her car crossed the median and struck an oncoming vehicle.  It was only after our client’s husband was killed did the County agree to install a barrier on the remaining stretch of this road between Junipero Serra Boulevard and West Orange/Camaritas Boulevard, with the City contributing to the cost of installation, finally putting an end to the political bickering between the two entities.