Rocklin Teen Killed in Solo Vehicle Accident
A solo vehicle accident in Rocklin recently cost the life of a young man. He was identified as 17-year-old Logan Rafter. Rafter had been hailed a Good Samaritan when he and his friends stopped to help four senior citizens who had an accident along Highway 65 just two months prior. Rafter was a senior at Rocklin High School. I would like to offer my prayers and sympathy to this young man’s family and friends for their loss.
Details of the Accident
The solo vehicle accident happened at about 2:30 in the morning on March 16 when the car being driven by Rafter hit a brick wall on Wyckford Boulevard, according to Rocklin police. His friends reported that he had attended a party on Friday night. His memory is being honored by a parking spot for seniors that will be decorated.
Watch YouTube Video: Memorial Growing for Rocklin High School Senior Killed in Crash. The news video from CBS Sacramento shows the community coming together to remember Logan Rafter.
Causes of Single-Vehicle Crashes
Not all single-vehicle collisions are caused by driver negligence. Some of them are caused by outside influences that can result in a solo vehicle accident. Driver error and external causes include:
- Fatigue: A sleepy driver is more likely to become involved in a motor vehicle crash. This can be caused by staying up late, doing shift work or by having certain medical conditions.
- Speed: Excessive speed can cause a solo vehicle accident because the driver has less control over the car and less ability to react quickly in an emergency situation.
- Road defects: Potholes, debris in the roadway and other conditions that affect driving can result in a crash. Poor design of the roadway can be a contributing factor also.
- Distracted driving: Talking on a cell phone or texting are common distractions when driving. Others include eating while driving, checking GPS or talking with passengers.
- Animals: Animals in the roadway such as a cow, horse or dog may cause the driver to swerve, resulting in a crash.
- Defective auto parts: Defects in the steering, brakes or accelerator can lead to an accident. In these cases, the family may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturer, parts supplier and others.
Recovering Compensation After an Accident
Those who lose a loved one in an accident that has been caused by negligence may be able to obtain fair compensation for that loss. A personal injury lawyer with experience can help by compiling evidence for a wrongful death lawsuit. Accident reconstruction techniques and expert witnesses can be used, in addition to the police report and eyewitness accounts, to build a strong case for compensation. Although this does not help the family get through the grief they feel, it can pay for the funeral and burial expenses and other hardships caused by the loss.
Rocklin Wrongful Death Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Rocklin wrongful death lawyer. The loss of a loved one is a difficult time that shouldn’t have to involve financial worries when the cause was negligence. If your family experienced that loss, I would be honored to offer you my free and friendly advice. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 in the Rocklin area or (800) 404-5400 if you are phoning from another part of Northern California. I also have a convenient contact form on my website, AutoAccident.com, which some prefer.
I am proud to belong to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, founded to recognize lawyers with the highest standards of legal excellence. I also belong to the Million Dollar Forum, which is for trial attorneys who have obtained over $1 million for a client.
Since 1982, I’ve helped Rocklin residents, along with others from California, in obtaining fair compensation for traumas such as brain injuries and in pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.
Seeking legal advice can be a challenge with so many personal injury attorneys to choose from. This is why I like to include links to cases that my firm has handled in the past along with comments and reviews left by my previous clients below:
Photo Attribution: pixabay.com
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