Women gets four-year sentence for her role in motorcycle accident.
A woman who critically injured a decorated Marine in a motorcycle accident has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison.
According to the Pomerado News, 22-year-old Jessica Bloom plead guilty in November to felony DUI and hit-and-run charges stemming from a July 31 accident which left Gunnery Sgt. David W. Smith critically injured. Smith was riding his motorcycle eastbound on Bernardo Center Drive near West Bernardo Drive when he was hit from behind by a Chevy Trailblazer. The impact launched Smith onto the hood of the car and into the street.
Witnesses say Bloom got out of the car and asked bystanders if Smith was dead before getting back into the Trailblazer and driving off. Witnesses followed the SUV to her apartment a short distance away before calling police.
According to police, Bloom's blood alcohol content was .37 at the time of her arrest, more than four times the legal limit. Smith reportedly suffered multiple injuries, including a partial decapitation, lacerated kidney, lacerated liver and a brain hemorrhage. He was comatose for two days and remained on life support for ten days.
Smith spent a total of three weeks in the hospital before being released. He continues to suffer double vision and limited mobility in his neck but doctors have called his recovery nothing short of a miracle. Smith says he remains on limited duty and will continue undergoing physical therapy for his injuries. He and his fiancee plan to get married this April. They were initially scheduled last fall but had to postpone the event following the accident.
While the victim in this case is very lucky to have survived, he will likely be dealing with the repercussions of the accident for the rest of his life. Although he is recovering, there is no way to know how the injuries he sustained will affect his quality of life as he ages and how expensive his medical care may be. Hopefully, Mr. Smith has contacted an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the possibility of a filing a civil claim for damages.
Motorcycle accident victims in the San Diego area can get the expert legal help they need to prove their injury claim by contacting the law firm of Nadrich & Cohen LLP. We specializing in assisting accident victims and their families in getting the full amount of compensation they deserve.
Call our Injury Hotline today at 1-800-718-4658 to schedule your free initial case evaluation. We work on a contingency basis, meaning there is never a fee unless we recover a judgment on your behalf. Call us today to put our team of motorcycle accident injury experts to work on your behalf.
