Fatality and Injuries Reported in I-80 Accident
Distracted driving was reported by authorities as contributing to a fatal interstate crash with injuries on January 27 near Penryn. The accident occurred along Interstate 80 eastbound sometime before 4:00 p.m. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers arrived at the accident site to discover the driver of a Toyota Highlander, age 57, unresponsive. Although attempts by the officers to save the man’s life were performed, Auburn fire personnel declared him dead at the scene.
Negligent Driver May Have Caused Interstate Crash
According to police, a Meadow Vista driver, age 66, was traveling in a GMC pickup and operating his vehicle at a speed that was unsafe and then glanced down at his cell phone. Traffic slowed suddenly in front of the driver, and he rear-ended the Highlander, pushing it into a Toyota Sienna. Those riding in the Sienna were identified as Meadow Vista residents Oleksandr Borysov, age 44, Hanna Borysova, age 30, and two young minors. Both the man and woman in the Sienna sustained minor injuries, with none reported to the children.
Driver Arrested in Fatal Interstate Crash
The driver of the GMC was placed under arrest for suspected drugged driving in the interstate crash. He was transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center with injuries to his ribs. Both the number one and two lanes of the highway going eastbound were closed for around three hours while the scene was cleared and an investigation conducted.
Wrongful Death Claims
When a negligent driver causes the demise of your loved one in an interstate crash, your family may be able to receive compensation through a wrongful death claim. The sense of loss that many families experience and the need to make funeral arrangements unexpectedly lead to the consideration of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. This holds the negligent party accountable for the act that resulted in the loss of their loved one.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
The immediate family of the deceased can bring a claim for wrongful death in California. In order to file, spouses and children in the decedent’s family who received at least half of their support from the deceased can join forces. There is also the possibility of filing by the estate administrator. Family members and estate administrators should discuss the details since only one lawsuit can be filed.
Recoverable Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
The age of the deceased is taken into account following the interstate crash as well as salary and other factors when filing a claim for wrongful death. There are two types of damages awarded: economic and non-economic. The former has a monetary value, while the latter is intangible. However, most damages are awarded as follows:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Earnings a deceased person would have earned until retirement age, insurance benefits and pensions, among other things
- A spouse is entitled to compensation for the loss of companionship, consortium and social interaction provided by the deceased
- If a parent passes away, their children are left without guidance, advice or nurturing, which can be compensated
- Loss of inheritance
- Performing household duties such as cleaning, car care, tax preparation, and maintenance performed by the decedent
Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Contact us to consult our car crash attorneys either by calling us at (800) 404-5400 or by reaching out to us at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. It is also possible to contact us online.
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Photo attribution: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay
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