Pedestrian Struck and Killed While Walking in the Roadway
A Rocklin pedestrian fatality occurred during the evening of March 18 after a male was hit by a vehicle. The accident happened around 8:30 in the evening along Lonetree Boulevard at Adams Drive, which is close to Blue Oaks Town Center. A report issued by the Rocklin Police Department said that the man was in the roadway walking when the fatal accident happened.
Driver Who Struck Walker Remains at Scene of Pedestrian Fatality
The pedestrian was transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center and pronounced dead there. The driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian stayed at the accident site and helped investigators, who were there to determine the cause of the crash.
The Sudden Loss of a Loved One
Losing a loved one is a terrible experience, especially if the death was unexpected. It is even worse if the loved one’s life was taken by a negligent driver or in an intentional act. It leaves the family members not only grief-stricken and confused but wondering why it had to happen and if anyone could have prevented it. Because it was a sudden pedestrian fatality, it doesn’t occur to them until later that the financial impact to their family can be terrible. They are not only faced with funeral and burial costs but may have lost the income the loved one provided.
Why File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
When a loved one dies due to negligence by another person or entity or through an intentional act, the family has the right to file a wrongful death claim. No, it won’t help ease their grief but can assist them in avoiding the financial distress they may face. By filing a wrongful death claim, the family may also obtain a sense of closure and justice for their loss.
Eligible Family Members and Recovery of Damages
Immediate family members of the decedent, such as the spouse and children who received at least half their support from the deceased, can join in a wrongful death claim. The representative of the estate may file instead, however, only one lawsuit is allowed. The following damages may be recovered:
- The cost of the funeral and burial expenses can be recovered.
- Earnings the deceased would have made while employed until their retirement age can be recovered. The value of the benefits the employee received while working, such as insurance and pension benefits, tips, bonuses and other perks, is included in the compensation.
- Often, beneficiaries are compensated for the loss of inheritance they would have received if the deceased had lived.
- The surviving spouse or putative spouse can recover the consortium losses, comfort, affection and moral support.
- The family’s children can recover losses incurred by their lost care, training, nurturing, and guidance due to the death of the decedent.
- Additional compensation will also be provided to the estate for the loss of household services such as lawn care, vehicle maintenance, and childcare.
- If the loved one lived for a time before expiring, the family can place a survival action, which recovers the medical expenses they incurred before their demise.
- In civil court, the family may be able to ask for punitive damages if the death was deliberate or egregious. An award of punitive damages is meant as a punishment to the offender and to discourage this type of behavior.
Rocklin Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rocklin wrongful death lawyer. Losing a loved one is difficult for the entire family but even more so when it was due to an accident that caused a pedestrian fatality. If your family wants to find out whether they can file a wrongful death lawsuit, our injury lawyers can offer you free, friendly advice. You can contact us at (916) 921-6400. We can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us an online message.
At the links below, you can find out how our injury lawyers have helped others in obtaining the compensation they deserve:
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Photo attribution: Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
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