Fatal Truck Crash on SR-156 in Hollister
The California Highway Patrol reported a fatal truck crash on SR-156 in Hollister on Sunday, August 14, 2022. The incident occurred on State Route 156 near Fairview Road around 8:05 p.m. and reportedly involved a tractor-trailer and a Tesla Model S.
Details on the Fatal Tesla vs. Truck Crash on SR-156 in Hollister
CHP traffic officers reported that a Tesla was traveling eastbound on Highway 156 when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle allegedly entered the oncoming traffic lane. The Tesla reportedly collided head-on with a big rig. Sadly, the four occupants in the Tesla suffered fatal injuries in the traffic collision.
Officials said all four parties in the Tesla were Carmel Valley residents. Officials with Carmel Unified School District indicated that the decedents were a family. One of the deceased parties was the mother and Tesla driver, 53-year-old Lisa Biakanja. The other three decedents were her children. A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of San Jose Fire Station 16 Captain Steve Biakanja, the father of the children, to assist with final resting costs and other forms of support.
Additional information on the fatal Tesla vs. truck crash in Hollister was not immediately available due to an ongoing investigation.
What Types of Compensation Can Surviving Family Members Recover?
Surviving family members can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages in a wrongful death claim. This may include loss of affection, care, and companionship, lost future financial support, funeral costs and other expenses arising from the loss of the loved one, bills for medical treatment associated with the final injury sustained in the crash, and more. An experienced California wrongful death lawyer can collect evidence that supports the resulting damages sought through these cases. This may include evidence such as receipts, bills, and statements of survivors impacted by the loss of life.
Generally speaking, a strict filing deadline applies to wrongful death matters in California. Such cases must be filed in civil court within two years. This time limit is also known as the statute of limitations. However, specific exceptions may apply. For instance, if a wrongful death claim involves a government entity, a notice of claim must be filed with that public agency no later than 180 days from the date of loss. Bear in mind that the case may be dismissed by the court on the grounds of failing to protect the statute of limitations. Therefore, it is essential to work with an experienced accident attorney. For information on how to select the right lawyer for your claim, watch this video.
How Can a Wrongful Death Attorney Help Our Family?
When a family works with a wrongful death lawyer, they can depend on their attorney to protect their rights and best interests in insurance negotiations and the courtroom. An attorney can help build a strong case to explain whom the decedent was to surviving family members and what their loss means to their lives. Survivors can depend on their lawyer to provide valuable services, such as:
- Conduct an independent investigation of the fatal incident to determine whether other entities may have been possibly involved, such as an automaker for faulty vehicle parts and equipment or a truck driver and trucking company for failure to meet safety standards
- Communicate and negotiate with the other side toward a favorable settlement agreement on behalf of surviving family members
- Document the tragedy through coroner’s conclusions, photos and video surveillance of the fatal incident scene, traffic incident reports by law enforcement, and other evidence
- Work with expert witnesses, such as those that handle accident reconstruction and 3-D animation, to demonstrate the sequence of events leading up to the deadly crash and prove the extent of resulting damages
- File the case in civil court to protect the statute of limitations and present the wrongful death matter in front of a judge or jury
In the end, a California wrongful death attorney will build a strong and compelling case for insurance companies and defense counsel to understand, in a human way, how surviving family members have been impacted because of the unexpected loss. Reach out to our legal team at AutoAccident.com to learn how our family can help your family through this difficult time.
Tesla Accident Lawyer in California
I’m Ed Smith, a California Tesla accident lawyer. Getting injured or losing a loved one in a car wreck is devastating and painful, to say the least. If you lost a close relative in a motor vehicle collision, our law firm can help ensure that your family’s best interests and rights are protected. Learn more by dialing (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 to receive free, friendly advice from one of our attorneys today.
At AutoAccident.com, our skilled and compassionate injury lawyers provide many valuable services to seek maximum compensation on behalf of surviving family members. Learn how we have helped others with their wrongful death cases by going to our Settlements and Verdicts page.
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Photograph Credit: “Joey Velasquez” on Pixabay
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