Driver Killed After Crash Involving Big Rig on I-205 in Tracy

Home » Driver Killed After Crash Involving Big Rig on I-205 in Tracy
October 08, 2020
Edward Smith

Deadly Crash on Interstate 205 in Tracy

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported a deadly crash on Interstate 205 near the Lathrop and Tracy areas in San Joaquin County on the morning of Wednesday, October 7, 2020. The fatal car accident occurred shortly before 6:00 a.m. on Interstate 205 near the Interstate 5 connector. The CHP said a vehicle was entering the right lanes when, for unknown reasons, it was involved in a collision with a big rig. The vehicle reportedly traveled 30 feet down and landed on a scaffolding site along the northbound Interstate 5. Several bystanders rushed to attempt to rescue the driver of the car before it caught fire. Sadly, their efforts were unsuccessful, and the driver suffered fatal injuries at the scene. County officials have identified the decedent as 32-year-old Gregory Leiva of Stockton.

Losing Someone You Love

When a loved one is taken away in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else, the decedent’s family may face immense emotional and financial hardship. In these situations, surviving family members may seek justice by bringing a wrongful death claim, a civil action brought to court when carelessness or negligence results in a loss of life. With the assistance of an experienced wrongful death lawyer in Tracy, a family can get the peace of mind they need and deserve. An attorney can evaluate the case, determine the types of wrongful death damages available, and discuss the options available to surviving family members.

What Can Be Claimed in a Wrongful Death Case for a Deadly Tracy Crash?

Specific surviving family members may be compensated through a wrongful death claim. Under the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, those relatives include the decedent’s spouse, domestic partner, or children. If these parties are nonexistent, others may be eligible to file for wrongful death. Those who meet the filing requirements may recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as final resting expenses, end of life medical treatment costs, loss of a loved one’s protection, care, affection, and more. Learn more about these cases and what can be recovered by watching the video below by our wrongful death law firm:

Evidence for Proving Fault in a Wrongful Death Claim

As expected, it may be challenging to prove elements of negligence in a wrongful death case as the key witness, the decedent, is no longer alive to provide their account of the incident. There may not be sufficient evidence to prove how the fatal car accident occurred, and difficult insurance companies can use this to their advantage by disputing financial liability for the incident. The same can be said for other potential at-fault parties, such as negligent drivers, truckers, trucking firms, automakers, government entities, and more. For this reason, a family needs to retain an experienced Tracy wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to gather evidence to prove fault, such as:

  • Video surveillance of the scene of the fatal motor vehicle collision
  • CHP traffic accident reports
  • Observations of eyewitnesses
  • Medical and coroner records of the decedent
  • Possession of the vehicle and inspections by an expert to determine if a manufacturing defect caused the wrongful death car accident

How an Attorney Can Help in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

When a family hires a Tracy wrongful death lawyer from AutoAccident.com to handle their case, our legal team will work closely with experts to prove negligence. One of the many experts we work with is accident reconstruction experts, who play a critical role in establishing liability through their extensive backgrounds in sciences to paint a picture of how the incident occurred. They can create a legal animation for the biomechanics of a fatal injury from an auto accident. We provide this expert testimony and other forms of evidence to prove negligence to difficult insurance companies, trucking firms, and defense attorneys, all of whom often dispute financial liability for a loved one’s wrongful death. When you work with our wrongful death law firm, you and your family can rest assured knowing your case will be in good hands while you all focus on what matters most: grieving and recovering from your loss.

Wrongful Death Attorney in Tracy

I’m Ed Smith, a Tracy wrongful death attorney. If you have lost a family member in a fatal motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s fault, reaching out to an experienced attorney can help greatly. When faced with such a tragedy, you and your family need and deserve the time to grieve and process your loss. Our legal team is here to listen to your story and provide compassionate, free, and friendly advice on how to move forward with a wrongful death claim against those responsible for your tragic loss. Contact us anytime at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.

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