Fleeing Driver Arrested in Deadly Accident Involving Caltrans Worker
A Caltrans worker was killed on June 3 near Vacaville by a hit-and-run driver, who was later apprehended by authorities. The accident occurred along west I-80 near Lagoon Valley Road around 10:00 a.m, where the Caltrans employee was working, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The woman who was killed was identified by Caltrans as Quanda McGadney, 51, of Vallejo. She had been working for Caltrans since 2018, however, had worked as a public servant for the state for 18 years. A young daughter and two sisters are left behind. A GoFundMe page has been established on behalf of Ms. McGadney to support her young daughter.
San Francisco Man Identified as Hit-and-Run Driver
A San Francisco man, 31, has been placed under arrest by the CHP and Fairfield Police Department as a suspect in the hit-and-run crash that took the life of the Caltrans worker. He was driving a Mazda 3 at the time of the accident and has been charged with vehicular manslaughter as well as a hit-and-run. The accident is currently being investigated by the Solano area CHP office as well as the CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team with the Golden Gate Division. People with any information about the crash or investigation are asked to contact the CHP Tip Line at (707) 917-4491.
Recovering Compensation Following a Wrongful Death
A wrongful death occurs when someone is killed either accidentally due to negligence such as in a hit-and-run or in an intentional act. When this happens, either the representative for the deceased’s estate or the surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim. Although placing a claim for damages doesn’t always occur to family members right away, they soon realize that the loss of the loved one’s earnings and funeral expenses can be overwhelming.
Filing a Claim for Wrongful Death
Filing a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party does not ease their sense of loss and grief over their loved one, however, it can help them avoid the financial strain and provide for the surviving children or spouse. Over the years, our injury lawyers have successfully handled many wrongful death claims both in Vacaville and in the rest of Northern California that involved fleeing drivers. We firmly believe that someone who causes the death of another should be held responsible for their actions.
Although filing a claim will not ease the family’s grief and sense of great loss, it can help them avoid the financial repercussions and provide them with a way to move forward. Damages that are recoverable by filing for wrongful death include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The surviving spouse may claim loss of consortium
- Children in the family may claim the loss of nurture, guidance and emotional support
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of household tasks the decedent performed
Death Benefits Provided by Workers’ Compensation
Under California workers’ compensation laws, the dependents of the deceased government employee may receive 75 percent of the worker’s take-home pay up to the maximum of $792 per week. The annual cost of living adjustments are made to the benefits. Medical care the decedent received before their death is recoverable also. In addition, the death benefits include $4,000 for the burial. An injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation that you deserve and will fight for the maximum.
Vacaville Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Vacaville personal injury lawyer. When your loved one dies because of a negligent driver, the family may decide to place a wrongful death claim. Feel free to contact us for our compassionate, free and friendly advice at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400. We can schedule a free consultation with one of our injury lawyers to review your claim and can tell you what options are available to recover damages. You can also connect with us online.
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Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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