Teenager From Ukiah Fatally Injured in Local Car Accident
On Monday, August 31, 2020, a teenager from Ukiah tragically lost his life during a local auto accident. The decedent was reportedly a 19-year-old resident of Ukiah and was involved in a single-vehicle collision that took place on State Route 20 in the early morning. No other individuals were involved in the accident and the cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
Crash Information
California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the accident happened at around 5:12 a.m. on the westbound side of State Route 20 in the small Mendocino town of Calpella. The teenager was driving a Mercury Mariner just west of the Marina Drive exit at an unknown speed. For reasons that have not been determined, the Mercury veered onto the right-hand shoulder of the highway before leaving the road entirely, traveling north until it crashed head-on with a steep dirt embankment.
After the accident was reported, CHP dispatched an emergency response team. Officials arriving at the accident location discovered that the teenage driver had been critically injured. Sadly, the young man passed away on-scene. MCSO is reportedly withholding the man’s identity until his family is properly notified about the incident.
Investigation
As officials from MCSO continue to investigate this crash, no suspected causes have been reported. Even accidents that only involve a single vehicle can involve multiple causes, and many of the factors that cause these collisions aren’t controlled by drivers. Non-driver vehicle accident factors commonly include things such as defective car products or roadway hazards like defective pavement or inadequate signage.
Furthermore, the process of investigating fatal accidents can be difficult for police, especially if there are no surviving vehicle occupants. Without being able to interview drivers and passengers about what happened, it’s possible that investigating officers will not uncover critical evidence that could be a major part of a wrongful death case. To ensure your family’s rights are prioritized during investigations, it’s critical to reach out to a wrongful death lawyer who can privately investigate the crash.
Contacting An Attorney
The period of time directly following a deadly accident can be very hard for families. Often, people feel overwhelmed and unable to keep up with their normal lives. For this reason, many think of calling a lawyer as an added stress factor. However, negligent parties typically act quickly in order to protect themselves from financial responsibility, and having a lawyer as soon as possible is often a crucial part of recovering the compensation that you and your family deserve.
One of the main reasons that families feel stressed over calling a lawyer is because they aren’t sure how they can get in touch with a trustworthy, experienced lawyer. However, finding a compassionate and skilled attorney to help you doesn’t need to be difficult. Learn more by watching this video:
Other Blogs by Ed A. Smith, Ukiah Wrongful Death Lawyer
- Deadly Ukiah Car Crash Causes Fire
- What is a Ukiah Personal Injury Lawyer?
- Serious Trauma in Ukiah Rollover Accident
Ukiah Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Ukiah wrongful death lawyer. Car crashes can be tragedies. If you lost somebody to a fatal crash, call me at (800) 404-5400 or (707) 564-1900 for free, friendly advice about your wrongful death case.
I’ve been helping Ukiah area families with fatal injury cases for 38 years and am proud to have obtained many excellent verdicts and settlements. For details about me and my practice, take a moment to read the feedback I have received on:
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