Off-Road Crash on Richvale Highway Kills Pickup Driver

Home » Off-Road Crash on Richvale Highway Kills Pickup Driver
October 31, 2023
Edward Smith

Driver Killed in Richvale Highway Off-Road Crash Near Erickson Road

The driver of a Chevy pickup was killed on October 25 in an off-road crash along Richvale Highway. The collision happened just after 3:00 p.m. near Erickson Road east of Oroville. It was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that the driver was speeding before the crash when he struck a pole and went into the canal. 

Driver’s Off-Road Crash Involved Hitting a Power Pole

The vehicle took down a power pole at the scene, and an electric line was wrapped around the vehicle. Butte County Fire Department emergency responders were called to the scene, and a wrecker was called to remove the vehicle from the water. The driver died as a result of the accident. 

Vehicle Involved in Off-Road Crash Reportedly Taken Without Permission

It turned out the pickup did not belong to the person driving it. The pickup owner said it was supposed to be at a body shop in Paradise and had been there for almost two weeks. A determination of how the collision occurred is underway by CHP traffic accident detectives. The county coroner’s office will release the deceased’s name once the family has been notified. 

Liability in an Off-Road Crash

When a loved one dies in an off-road crash, the vehicle’s driver or another entity may be held responsible. An accident lawyer can investigate to determine the accident’s cause and gather evidence to support your family’s wrongful death claim if negligence by another was the cause. This allows the family to recover compensation. Following are some of the areas where damages may be recovered by filing a wrongful death claim in an off-road crash:

  • The cost of the funeral and burial can be recovered.
  • The income the decedent would have received until retirement if they lived can be recouped. In addition to the wages the decedent would have earned, the family can recover the cost of losing the insurance and pension benefits, bonuses, tips and other monies.
  • The deceased’s spouse and children can recover compensation for their personal losses. For example, the spouse may recover compensation for their loss of consortium and moral support the decedent provided. The family’s children may recover compensation for their loss of parental guidance, love and affection.  
  • The cost of chores the deceased performed around the home, such as mowing the lawn or cleaning the house, is recoverable.

Statute of Limitations and Who Can File for Wrongful Death

California’s statute of limitations to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim is two years from the accident date. If it is filed after that, compensation recovery isn’t possible. The immediate family, spouse and children are the first in line to file a claim. If the decedent has no spouse or children, others, such as the parents and siblings, may file.

The following qualities are important to look for in a lawyer, according to accident attorney Ed Smith:

Oroville Wrongful Death Lawyer

I am Ed Smith. I’m an Oroville wrongful death lawyer. Please call us at (530) 392-9400 if you were injured or a loved one died in an accident that was caused by negligence. You can receive free and friendly advice from our injury lawyers. Our long-distance phone number is (800) 404-5400, and you can contact us by completing the online form on our website. We can review your case for free and let you know your options. 

California organizations we are proud to be a part of include the Top 1 Percent and the Million Dollar Advocates. We give you a glimpse of some of the accident injury compensation we’ve helped people obtain when you visit Settlements and Verdicts, Yelp, and Google.

Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-open-candle-candlelight-1926414/

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