Fair Oaks Accident Results in Falling Tree Storm-Related Death
A falling tree storm-related death occurred in Fair Oaks on February 6, which was the second reported in the county and the fourth in the area of Northern California. The accident took the life of Patricia Slomski, age 63. Medics with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District discovered the woman in her backyard at around 11:00 a.m. A spokesperson for the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office said the woman had died from blunt force trauma caused by the tree when it fell.
Filing a Claim After a Falling Tree Storm-Related Death
If a falling tree storm-related death in Fair Oaks occurs because it was improperly taken care of by a professional company, the family can claim compensation. A wrongful death claim can recover compensation that can not only provide justice for their loved one but can help alleviate financial distress caused by their loss.
Falling Tree Injury and Death Claims Depend on the Circumstances
When a storm causes a tree to fall, insurance companies refer to these events as an act of God and will not pay compensation. These instances are where the services of an accident attorney can be helpful. An accident lawyer can investigate the case to determine if negligence by a tree-trimming company, business or public entity caused the death. If it did, the family can file a wrongful death claim. Inspection protocols must be comprehensive for maintenance companies to avoid falling tree accidents and identify and address risks during inspections.
Investigating the Accident
An accident investigation into a falling tree storm-related death typically begins with obtaining incident reports, witness statements, and arborist expert opinions. The inspector may also need to examine maintenance records, inspect the accident site, and study the weather conditions at the time of the accident. A thorough process ensures the examination of all contributing factors and that the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions or inactions.
Filing a California Wrongful Death Claim
A wrongful death lawsuit can recover damages such as:
- It is possible to recover the funeral and burial expenses.
- Up to retirement age, recovery is possible of the deceased’s wages, pensions, insurance benefits, tips, and bonuses.
- The surviving spouse can recover compensation for their loss of affection, love, moral support and consortium lost by the death of their partner.
- Children who would have received comfort, guidance, and nurturing from a decedent can receive compensation after the death.
- In addition to household chores, the deceased may have been responsible for caring for vehicles, lawns, children, and other family members. In some cases, these expenses are reimbursable.
Ed Smith explains the process of bringing a wrongful death claim in the following video:
Sacramento Tree Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith. I am a Sacramento tree accident lawyer. When a tree or limb falls and causes someone’s death, the family may recover compensation by filing a wrongful death claim if negligence by another was the cause. Contact our injury lawyers for free, friendly advice in a case review at (916) 921-6400. You can also reach us either at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us an online message.
We are long-time members of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and Million Dollar Advocates, which show how hard our accident lawyers fight to get fair compensation for our clients. You can find more information about our firm and how we have helped others by visiting Yelp, Avvo and Google. We also include this link to our page on Verdicts & Settlements, which shows a few of the cases we have handled.
Photo attribution: Image by Katie Phillips from Pixabay
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