Davis, CA – According to the Davis Enterprise, on Monday, March 11, 2024, 18-year-old Julina “Juny” Gow-Smith, a student at UC Davis, was struck by another vehicle while riding her bicycle, placing her in a coma.
The crash occurred on Russell Boulevard at County Road 97, leaving Gow-Smith with severe head trauma. Among her other academic accolades, Gow-Smith was on her school’s cycling team and volunteered to coach for the Davis Composite Mountain Bike Team.
The California Highway Patrol reports that Gow-Smith had been riding on the designated bicycle path that runs alongside Russell. However, at County Road 97 bicyclists must cross Russell to continue on the other side. It was there that Gow-Smith was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound. The driver who crashed into her stopped to stay with Gow-Smith and cooperated with authorities.
According to her sister Olivia Gow-Smith, Julina is currently battling pneumonia, and there is question whether she will be able to speak after her recovery, due to the damage to her vocal cords. The family has created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her treatment.
Personal Injury Claims
Even in collisions where criminal charges are not brought to bear, another driver may be held to be at-fault for the injuries received by another. Some portion of liability may even be borne by the city itself, should a judge determine that roadway conditions for which it is responsible contributed to the crash. The help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can prove crucial in sorting out issues of liability for victims and their families to ensure proper compensation is received.
