Court orders firm to pay $17.5-M in damages for 'negligence' of elderly Filipino in California By DAVE LLAVANES JR., GMA Integrated News

The Los Angeles County jury has ordered a transportation company to pay Guillermo Aviles a sum of $17.5 million for damages due to negligence that resulted in his death. According to court records, the driver of the Access Service van neglected and abandoned Aviles, a 61-year-old Filipino, who tripped upon exiting the vehicle, causing his head to hit the pavement and his eventual demise. The incident happened in 2020 after Aviles underwent dialysis treatment and was being transported back to his home in Long Beach, California. The order comes after the Los Angeles County Superior Court jury sided with the arguments presented by Aviles family's lawyers, emphasizing the driver's responsibility to ensure the safe return of their passengers. In a video sent by Attorney Raphael Javid of The Javid Trial Firm to GMA Integrated News, it can be seen that the driver did not assist or escort the victim into the house, despite knowing that the victim was disabled. The video also shows the victim's bag being casually dropped on the ground, causing him to stumble when he bent down to pick it up. The victim stayed in the hospital for several months, but after some time, he passed away due to the trauma sustained to his head and body. In a message, Atty. Javid stated that Aviles was a proud Filipino dearly loved by his family, and his death was a result of the negligence of the Access Service company. “At the time of the accident, Guillermo Aviles was a 61-year-old proud Phillipino who was loved by his family and had deep ties to his family in the Phillipines," Javid said. "His life tragically came to an end due to the failure of Access Services to properly train their drivers in transporting disabled riders like Guillermo. Hopefully this accident and the verdict that followed serve as a reminder to transportation companies to properly train their staff so this never happens again,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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