Three-Vehicle Accident on Santa Fe Drive
The California Highway Patrol reported at least one fatality in a three-vehicle accident on Santa Fe Drive in Merced County. The crash occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. at Avenue 2 and Santa Fe Drive, authorities said.
Details on the Three-Vehicle Accident on Santa Fe Drive in Merced County
A preliminary report revealed that a 52-year-old Winton woman was behind the wheel of a 2015 Nissan sedan headed eastbound on Avenue 2. At the same time, a 39-year-old man was traveling southbound in a 2007 Ford FJ Cruiser SUV on Santa Fe Drive. Both vehicles allegedly collided at the intersection, CHP traffic officials said.
The impact of the collision reportedly propelled the sedan into a third vehicle, a 2018 BMW, that was stopped on Santa Fe Drive. Sadly, the sedan driver, 52-year-old Araceli Juarez of Winton, was declared deceased at the accident site. The other drivers were uninjured, according to investigators. Additional information on the fatal three-vehicle accident on Santa Fe Drive in Merced County was not immediately available.
How Does a Wrongful Death Action Help Surviving Family Members?
After the unexpected loss of a close relative, survivors are often left to pick up the pieces. Surviving family members may be dealing with grief and trying to make sense of the loss, all while making final resting arrangements and rebuilding their lives. The situation may be more challenging to deal with if the loss of life was preventable. If another party or entity’s negligence led to the demise of a loved one, a family may have grounds for legal action against the other side and their insurer. This will take the form of a wrongful death claim. Compensation through these cases comes in two types: economic and non-economic damages.
Some of the losses recoverable in an action for wrongful death may include funeral and burial service costs, mental anguish, lost income, loss of companionship, and more. A survival action, on the other hand, seeks reimbursement for medical expenses the deceased incurred from the time of the incident until they succumbed to their injuries. While no amount of money may bring a close relative home, obtaining compensation from a jury award or insurance settlement may provide a sense of closure and justice to the situation. It may also assist in mitigating any financial hardship survivors suffer because of the unexpected loss of a loved one.
The statute of limitations is two years for a wrongful death case in California. A lawsuit must be filed within two years of a family member’s death, or the court will not hear the case. Survivors who fail to protect the statute may lose the right to seek compensatory damages from the at-fault party. Since these matters are often challenging to navigate and require substantial time to prepare, it is essential for a family to provide their Merced wrongful death lawyer ample time to build their case. For details on how to select the best attorney for your case, watch this video.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Merced
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced personal injury lawyer. Being deprived of a loved one should not be handled lightly, and the negligent party should be held accountable for their actions. If you lost someone you love to a car accident caused by another party, our family at AutoAccident.com is here for you. Schedule a free case evaluation with one of our compassionate and experienced accident attorneys by calling our law office at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
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