Driver Returns to the Scene of a Fatal Novato Accident After Leaving
A pedestrian accident was reported by authorities in Novato on June 8 at the intersection of Redwood Boulevard and Rush Creek Place. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the woman was found lying in the roadway and was unconscious at about 5:00 in the early morning hours. The pedestrian was said to have been walking when she was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by a 48-year-old man. Police said that the motorist left the site of the pedestrian accident initially but returned. He was immediately arrested by authorities on suspicion of hit and run.
Details of the Pedestrian Accident
The pedestrian was transported to Marin General Hospital, where she passed away. She has since been identified as Melissa Hisel, a 25-year-old Santa Rosa resident.
Authorities are investigating the pedestrian accident to determine how and why it occurred. The community is being asked to call Sgt. Chris Andres with information at (415) 897-4361.
Losing a Loved One In a Pedestrian Accident
Losing a loved one is never easy, but there are times when the grief you feel is compounded. This is true for an unexpected fatality. The reason why this type of loss causes additional pain is that it catches family members off guard. This brings with it all types of emotions and questions such as how could I have prevented this from happening. The truth is that in the majority of cases, family members could not have stopped the fatality.
What You Can Do When a Family Member Dies
There are ways to help the surviving family cope with the death of a loved one. Not every idea works in all cases. It is best to use your instincts to choose what will work in a specific situation. Some ideas are:
- The most important thing you can do is let family members know you care. If you can’t visit or if you think it best not to, pick up the phone and let them know you are there for them.
- Let family members talk about how they feel and what happened. It is important that they unburden themselves this way. It is unnecessary to give advice, just being a good listener is essential.
- Offer to do things around the house. This is much appreciated. Tasks can range from picking children up at school to walking the dog, preparing meals or doing the shopping.
- Ask about transportation to and from doctors’ offices or the funeral home. The latter is one of the hardest tasks a family member faces. It helps if you are there with them.
- Remember that grief does not end when the funeral and burial is completed. Coming home without the deceased is hard to endure for many people. Continue to offer your support.
How a Law Firm Can Help
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is most likely the last thing on the family’s mind. However, it gives them a way to seek justice for their loved one’s death. Family members, including a spouse, biological and adopted children, can be included. Those who were supported by the decedent, such as a sibling, can also be part of the lawsuit. Your personal injury lawyer can tell you more about who can file.
Evidence in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A wrongful death lawsuit is one where evidence that someone else was responsible for the person’s demise is needed. To prove that someone else was responsible for a loved one’s death, our firm sends our investigators to the accident site.
They look for clues as to what happened. The investigators speak to witnesses and review police reports to search for inaccuracies. They also obtain videos from traffic surveillance cameras that show the pedestrian accident as it occurred. Finally, the investigators use accident reconstruction techniques to determine liability. Once the evidence has been compiled, it is transferred to our legal team to build a robust case for our client.
Novato Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Novato personal injury attorney. Let me help you when a member of your family dies due to negligence. Call me at (415) 521-2515 in Novato and toll-free by calling (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me by filling out our short online form.
I’ve helped numerous Novato residents in the past 38 years obtain the compensation they deserve in all varieties of car accidents, wrongful death cases and traumatic brain injuries.
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/condolences-trauerkarte-letters-3991589/
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