Fatality and Injuries Reported in 42nd Street Major Accident
A major accident in Sacramento on November 17 cost the life of one person and injured two others in a three-vehicle collision. The crash happened at 42nd and Broadway at about 5:30 p.m. in the Oak Park area, according to authorities with the Sacramento Police Department. Two parties involved in the collision were reported to have suffered major injuries. Motorists were cautioned to use an alternate route as an investigation was carried out by police to determine how the major accident occurred.
Filing a Claim for Wrongful Death
When a family member dies due to another’s negligence such as in a major accident, their loved ones are left with feelings of shock and disbelief that this could have happened. Because of their grief, it sometimes takes a while for them to consider the financial impact that loss could have, especially if that person contributed to the family’s income. By filing a wrongful death claim, the family can recover needed finances so they can go forward without stress, and it can help bring them a sense of closure and justice for their loss.
Who Can File for Wrongful Death?
Either the administrator of the deceased person’s estate or immediate family members may place a wrongful death claim. This can include:
- The spouse or putative spouse
- Children of the deceased, including those who are adopted or stepchildren receiving 50 percent or more of their support from the decedent
- Grandchildren of a deceased child of the decedent
- Other family members who obtained at least half their support from the decedent, such as parents
Types of Negligence That Can Lead to a Wrongful Death
Negligence of some type must be proven for a family to file a wrongful death claim. Almost all accidents are due to some type of negligence, such as:
- Speeding
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Fatigue
- Tailgating
- Poorly maintained roadways
- Auto defects
What Can Be Recovered by Filing a Wrongful Death Claim?
Your injury lawyer can explain what a wrongful death claim entails and negotiate for you either with the at-fault party’s insurance company or take the case to court if necessary. The family may be able to recover the following by filing a wrongful death claim:
- Funeral and burial expenses are recoverable.
- Wages the loved one would have earned until retirement, including pension, insurance coverage, and bonuses can be claimed.
- The loss of inheritance, which is the amount that beneficiaries would have received had the person lived, can be recovered.
- Children may recover damages for the loss of guidance and nurturing provided by the decedent.
- The spouse may recover damages for the loss of consortium and emotional support the decedent provided.
- The loss of assistance in the household provided by the deceased loved one is recoverable. This varies from household to household but may include lawn and auto care, tax preparation, care of the children, cooking, and others.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. When a loved one in your family is lost due to someone else’s negligent actions, the family might want to find out if they can file a wrongful death claim. You are welcome to contact us for our compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400. We can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us a message online.
Information about how my legal team and I have assisted others can be found at the links that follow below:
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My team of injury attorneys and I have helped many people get fair compensation for all types of traffic accident injuries, cases involving wrongful deaths, and others since 1982.
Photo attribution: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay
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