Fatal Accident Occurs on Sunrise Boulevard When Van Hits a Tree
A fatal accident in the Sacramento Metropolitan area occurred on November 20 after a driver struck a tree. The collision happened in Gold River at the Sunrise Boulevard intersection with Gold Country Road around 1:30 in the afternoon. A representative of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said they arrived at the scene of the single-vehicle collision to discover that a motorist in a passenger van had hit a tree.
Investigation Underway to Determine Cause of Fatal Accident
As a result, the vehicle caught fire, and the driver died at the accident scene. The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the fatal accident. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within about 15 minutes. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway by the Rancho Cordova Police Department to determine how it occurred.
Outside Causes of a Fatal Accident
When a loved one is lost in a fatal accident, retaining the vehicle is important because it may contain evidence of why it happened. Some outside influences that can lead to a fatal accident include:
- Auto defects: Defective tires, brakes, accelerator, steering and other mechanical problems can cause a fatality. If this is found to be the cause for your loved one’s fatal accident, the manufacturer can be held responsible by filing an auto product liability claim.
- Road maintenance: Shoddy road maintenance such as potholes, weakened guardrails, poor lighting and others can cause a fatal accident. When investigators uncover evidence of poor road maintenance, the government entity in charge may be held liable. However, because the timeline for filing against a government entity is much shorter than for other personal injury claims, seeking help from an injury lawyer is a good idea. In this way, the paperwork will be filed before the statute of limitations runs out.
- Road rage or an aggressive driver: There are times a hit-and-run driver or motorist with road rage can cause a fatal accident by striking the vehicle and leaving or forcing another driver off the road.
Filing for Wrongful Death
Although most single-vehicle accidents resulting in injuries or a fatality are caused by driver error, not all of them are. By investigating the crash, we can determine what caused the driver to lose control. If an outside influence was the cause, the family may be able to file a wrongful death claim and can recover the following:
- The cost of the funeral and burial expenses can be recovered.
- Wages the decedent would have earned until their age of retirement are recoverable and includes pension, insurance, and other benefits of the job.
- The surviving spouse can recover damages for the loss of companionship and consortium provided by the decedent.
- The family’s children can place a claim for the loss of nurturing and guidance the decedent provided.
- Loss of household services may be claimed, which includes duties performed by the decedent such as mowing the lawn, tax preparation, childcare, and others.
Wrongful Death Attorneys in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. When a negligent driver or other entity costs the life of your loved one, the family can find out whether they can file a wrongful death claim by giving us a call for our free and friendly advice. We can be reached at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. An online message form is available also if you prefer to contact us that way. We can review your case, answer any questions you might have, and tell you about options to obtain damages.
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My injury attorney team and I have helped Northern Californians since 1982 in recovering fair compensation for wrongful cases, all varieties of traffic accidents, and other claims.
Photo attribution: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay
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