Multiple Injuries and Fatalities Occur in Downtown Sacramento Accident
Two traffic fatalities and multiple injuries were reported in a multiple-vehicle crash in downtown Sacramento on October 31 near the Golden 1 Center. The accident happened at 7th and L streets around 8:20 in the evening. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office reported that Brian Freriks, age 30, died at the accident scene. Mr. Freriks was a resident of Elk Grove.
Second Person Dies at Hospital Following Multiple-Vehicle Crash
A second individual involved in the collision later passed away at the hospital. She was identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s office as 25-year-old Ciara Navarro. Ms. Navarro was a resident of Sacramento. Additionally, four more individuals were hospitalized as a result of this collision. Two people suffered major injuries and two others had moderate trauma, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.
Determining Fault in a Multiple-Vehicle Collision
When multiple vehicles are involved in an accident, and traffic fatalities and injuries occur as a result, those who were at fault have to be determined through an investigation. Your injury lawyer will send out investigators to the crash site to do this. In our office, our investigators do the following:
- They perform accident reconstruction to determine the positioning of the vehicles before, during, and after the accident resulting in traffic fatalities. This type of investigation frequently points toward which driver/drivers were at fault.
- Area traffic cameras are checked to see if the accident was captured on film, which can then be subpoenaed. By replaying the film in slow motion repeatedly, fault can often be determined.
- The police report is checked to ensure its accuracy because errors can affect the family’s ability to file a wrongful death lawsuit in the case of traffic fatalities.
- Any witnesses to the collision are interviewed.
Once all the evidence has been compiled, our injury lawyers go to work to use it in constructing a strong case that supports the family’s wrongful death claim.
Recovery of Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
When a wrongful death occurs, the family members or administrator of the estate can file a claim to recover damages. Although it will not ease their grief, it can help them avoid financial stress. Some of the areas in which compensation can be recovered include:
- The expenses for the funeral and burial can be recovered.
- If the family member contributed to the household income, that can be recovered up to the age of retirement, including any bonuses, insurance or other perks that came with the job. In the event the individual was self-employed, income tax records and receipts can be used to figure the amount.
- The surviving spouse can place a claim for loss of consortium, affection and moral support that the decedent provided.
- Children can place a claim for loss of parental guidance and nurturing. This includes stepchildren and those who were adopted or who received at least 50 percent of their support from the decedent.
- The children of a deceased child of the decedent may place a claim.
- Loss of inheritance may be included, which is the amount the family expected to receive had the individual lived.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. When a family has lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligent actions, they may be able to place a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. You can reach us for our compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We can review your case, answer your questions and tell you about options to recover damages. You can also message us online.
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Since 1982, the legal team at AutoAccident.com has helped many people in Northern California to get the compensation they deserve in all types of traffic accidents, wrongful deaths, and other claims.
Photo attribution: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay
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