Placer County Woman Dies in Single-Vehicle Fatality Accident
A fatality accident occurred in Yolo County near Clarksburg on April 19 when a vehicle crashed and ended up in the Sacramento River. The accident happened along South River Road close to County Road 131 at about 2:35 p.m. Officers with the Woodland division of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the vehicle was discovered in the river. According to the incident report, a young woman, 24-year-old Taylor Smith of Roseville, went through the intersection in her Honda and hit a guardrail prior to going down an embankment when her vehicle became submerged in the river. The young woman died in the accident. An investigation is underway to determine what happened.
Deaths Caused by a Single-Vehicle Fatality Accident
Speeding, distracted driving, and fatigue are among the leading causes of injury and fatal accidents. Other causes can, however, result in traffic fatalities for which a wrongful death claim can be filed by the family. Among them are:
- Defects in vehicles: Defects in brakes, accelerators, tires and other auto parts can result in a fatality accident. An auto product liability claim can hold the manufacturer and others responsible financially. After a traffic accident, retaining the vehicle is important, so it can be examined for defects.
- Driving aggressively or committing a hit-and-run: An aggressive driver commits actions that endanger other motorists, such as tailgating or even forcing another vehicle off the road, causing it to crash. When a driver hits and runs, he or she simply leaves the scene. Injury attorneys can investigate a traffic fatality accident to see whether other vehicles were involved and locate them in order to hold them accountable.
- Roadway negligence: Potholes, fissures, upheavals, and oil slicks can cause cars to crash and cause fatalities. Additionally, inadequate overhead lighting and other issues may contribute to a fatality accident. Poor maintenance may lead to injuries or fatalities for which the government entity may be held responsible. Since the time limit for bringing a claim against a government entity is much shorter than other types of personal injury, having a lawyer help you may be beneficial. However, there is a much shorter timeline to file a claim against the city, and if you exceed this six-month time limit, your claim will not be heard.
Bringing a Lawsuit for Wrongful Death
When a loved one dies in a traffic accident, the family members often suffer emotions such as grief and confusion as well as anger. A claim for wrongful death is often not considered by survivors until they are faced with funeral expenses, burial costs, and lost income due to the loss of a loved one. A wrongful death claim can provide the family members with closure and the feeling that the at-fault party will be held accountable. Compensation may be available in the following areas:
- A decedent’s pension, insurance, and bonuses accumulated until retirement age are recoverable by the surviving spouse or others.
- Funeral service expenses and burial costs can be recouped.
- The spouse is entitled to claim loss of consortium and companionship.
- A family’s children may claim to have lost parental guidance and nurturing.
- It is possible to claim inheritance loss in some cases.
- The family may claim the loss of household services such as child care and others.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. The loss of a loved one is a painful experience, and even more so if you don’t know how they died. Call to arrange a free and friendly consultation with one of our injury lawyers at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can contact us online also. During your consultation, which can be held in-person or virtually, your case will be reviewed, questions answered, and you can find out about options to get compensation.
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Over the years, our injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com have recovered compensation for many people who have either been injured or have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligent actions:
Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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