Accident on Watt Avenue Results in Pedestrian Death
A fatal pedestrian accident was reported in Sacramento County on May 23. The accident happened in the area of Arden-Arcade around 4:45 a.m. on Watt Avenue and Lynne Way. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the pedestrian was struck by a driver who was on his way to work and that the walker stepped into the oncoming traffic.
Driver Cooperating With Authorities in Pedestrian Accident
The driver, age 20, remained at the fatal pedestrian accident scene and was cooperating with investigators into the cause of the crash. Authorities said it was unlikely the young man would face any charges in the fatal accident. One lane along Watt Avenue was shut down partially for around two hours while the investigation was conducted. The name of the deceased pedestrian has not yet been released.
A Wrongful Death Claim Can Help Surviving Members of the Family
Many people don’t initially consider filing a claim for wrongful death, however, they soon realize that they may be facing financial hardship unless they do, especially if the loved one contributed to their support. Our injury attorneys have helped many families over the years who have lost a loved one due to a negligent driver to receive a fair settlement. Helping a family deal with the financial stress that comes with the sudden death of a loved one by recovering damages can help them move forward, although it won’t help ease their sense of loss. Additionally, by bringing a claim for compensation, the family is able to obtain justice for their loved one and a sense of closure.
Wrongful Death Damages in a Pedestrian Accident That Are Recoverable
Wrongful death claims can be brought by the surviving spouse and children of the deceased. The administrator of the decedent’s estate may also place a claim, but only one can be filed. They may be entitled to recover:
- Expenses associated with the funeral and burial can be recouped.
- Wages that the decedent earned can be recovered until the age at which they would have retired. Pensions, insurance benefits, bonuses and the value of the other perks of the decedent’s job are also included in the recoverable amount. If the decedent was self-employed, their earnings can be shown by using receipts, tax returns and other documents.
- A surviving spouse can receive compensation for the loss of consortium, support, and companionship provided by the deceased.
- Compensation may be awarded to children whose parents have died because of their loss of nurturing and guidance. Children who were born naturally or adopted as well as stepchildren who received at least 50 percent of their support from the deceased are included.
- The value of tax preparation, lawn care and other household services the decedent provided can be recovered because the family will have to pay someone to perform those duties.
- In some cases, lost inheritance can be recovered. If the decedent had lived, this would be what their will would have left to their beneficiaries.
- If the loved one lived for a time and incurred medical expenses, it may be possible to file a survival action.
- If the loved one died due to another person’s egregious negligence, such as drunk driving with a previous conviction, they may ask the court to award punitive damages. Punitive damages are not meant as an award to the family. Instead, they are meant as a punishment to the offending party.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento wrongful death attorney. Your family may be able to recover compensation when you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person. We have free and friendly advice to offer you when you contact us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also fill out our online contact form.
Click on the following links if you would like to find out how our injury lawyers have assisted others:
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Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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