Two-Vehicle Crash on West Fremont Street Kills Passenger
A Stockton vehicle passenger was killed as the result of a February 17 accident. The collision occurred at about 4:00 p.m. at the West Fremont Street intersection with North Harrison, according to the Stockton Police Department. Although the rear-seat passenger was transported to a hospital by emergency responders, she died there.
Authorities Conducting Investigation into Accident That Killed Stockton Vehicle Passenger
The deceased woman has been identified as 44 years of age. The County Coroner’s Office will release her name following notification of her family. An investigation is underway by Stockton police to determine what happened.
Dangers of Being a Back Seat Passenger
Generally, a Stockton vehicle passenger riding in the back seat is safer from injuries. However, that depends on the type of crash that occurs. Back-seat passengers are at increased risk of injury in a head-on collision because of the lack of safety protection, such as airbags. In addition, a T-bone collision can result in severe injuries to a vehicle passenger in the back seat because the sides of a vehicle are not as heavily reinforced as the front and back.
Wrongful Death Damages
The family of the decedent (spouse and children or others the deceased supported) can join together to file a wrongful death claim. Some of the recoverable damages include:
- The family can recover the death expenses for their loved one, such as the funeral cost and cremation or burial.
- They can recover their loved one’s wages until retirement age, along with compensation for pension and insurance benefits and others.
- The surviving spouse can claim loss of consortium and the love and affection they have lost.
- Children can claim the loss of parental guidance, love, and nurturing the decedent provided.
- Beneficiaries of the decedent’s will may claim loss of inheritance.
- Household assistance the decedent provided can be recovered. Household assistance refers to work the decedent performed around the home, such as cooking, cleaning, lawn, and auto care.
What a Wrongful Death Lawyer Does
When a family has lost a loved one in an accident, the lawyer will review the case to see if the driver of the vehicle or another motorist was at fault. If they were, the family can file a wrongful death claim. Following this, the lawyer will investigate the accident to gather evidence that supports their claim. Evidence often includes witness accounts, accident reconstruction, surveillance camera footage, etc.
The lawyer uses this gathered evidence to construct a compelling wrongful death claim for the family to recover compensation. Then, they will negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on the family’s behalf. If unsuccessful, the lawyer can take that case to court to recover the compensation they deserve.
In the video below, accident lawyer Ed Smith explains the process of filing a wrongful death claim:
Stockton Wrongful Death Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton wrongful death lawyer. When your loved one has died because of a negligent motorist, the family can place a wrongful death claim to recover damages. If you would like free, friendly advice from an injury lawyer, call us at (209) 227-1931 for a case review. You can also contact us at (800) 404-5400 or by completing the online message form.
We are proud to have been chosen as members of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel because we are recognized as working toward obtaining maximum compensation for our clients. Feel free to review comments on how we have helped others at Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
Photo attribution: Image by NoName_13 from Pixabay
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