Ceres Motorcyclist Killed in Fatal Crash
A motorcyclist from Ceres was killed in a fatal crash at Lombardo Avenue and Ninth Street in Modesto on the night of October 31, 2020. The motorcycle accident on Halloween occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. and involved a 1995 Harley-Davidson and a 2007 Chevrolet. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that a 51-year-old man from Ceres was riding the Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound on Ninth Street. At the same time, a 56-year-old Modesto man was driving the Chevrolet southbound on Ninth Street. The Chevrolet driver reportedly made a left-hand turn in front of the motorcycle, and the biker crashed into the right rear of the car. The motorcyclist was transported to Doctors Medical Center for immediate treatment. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries during hospitalization. The motorcycle collision remains under investigation by the CHP traffic division, and further details on the incident, including the name of the deceased biker, were not immediately available.
Losing a Loved One to Wrongful Death
When an individual or entity fails in their duty of care owed to others, they may be deemed negligent and may be held financially accountable for any harm they have caused, even if it was by accident. If the reckless conduct claims a loved one’s life, the family of the decedent may file a wrongful death claim. Such cases must be filed within the two-year statute of limitations. To show that a person was negligent in a fatal motorcycle accident, the family must show that the at-fault party owed their loved one a duty of care and breached that duty through negligence. The breach was the direct cause of the loss of a loved one, from which wrongful death damages have arisen.
How are Wrongful Death Settlements Paid Out?
A wrongful death claim in California seeks compensation from the at-fault party as a way of holding them accountable for their negligence and to make the family whole again. These cases are generally paid for by insurance companies representing negligent parties. If the negligent individual did not have insurance or carried insufficient coverage, survivors may resort to their insurance plan if they have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to help pay for their losses. An attorney can obtain full and fair compensation for families left behind, including wrongful death damages for:
- End of Life Medical Treatment: For surviving family members, the medical bills incurred between the time of the fatal accident and a loved one’s passing can be extremely expensive. An experienced lawyer can help recover those costs for your family.
- Final Resting Costs: Bills related to a loved one’s funeral and burial service may be significant and often cost thousands of dollars to surviving family members that may be experiencing other financial concerns. An experienced attorney can recover expenses for the fair and reasonable value of funeral expenses.
- Lost Future Financial Support: When the decedent was the primary provider of the household, the grieving process for survivors may be compounded by economic hardship. The family may seek compensation for the wages that the close relative would have expected to earn in the future if not for the wrongful death motorcycle accident. A personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling wrongful death claims often retains economists to calculate the total present and future loss of future financial support for surviving family members.
- Mental Anguish: Survivors may be eligible to receive compensation for the emotional suffering, pain, and grief they have endured due to their loved one’s wrongful death.
- Punitive Damages: In wrongful death motorcycle accidents involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) or excessive speeding, punitive damages may be recovered on behalf of survivors through the legal system. These serve to punish the negligent party for their egregious conduct and to prevent similar situations from happening to other families in the community.
Our law firm has created a brief video on the wrongful death claims process, and you may view it below.
Importance of Working with an Attorney on a Fatal Ceres Crash
No surviving family member should file a wrongful death claim without legal representation, especially when dealing with legal paperwork and difficult insurance companies who often take advantage of families in their time of loss and grief. The attorneys of AutoAccident.com can meet with you and your family, discuss the best course of action in your case, and seek the justice and fair compensation you all need for a more secure future. For details on bringing a wrongful death lawsuit in Stanislaus County or elsewhere in California, contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys today.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Modesto
I’m Ed Smith, a Modesto motorcycle accident lawyer. At our law firm, your loss is not just a lawsuit or case to us. We recognize that surviving family members grieving and recovering from such a loss need more than just an attorney. A family needs someone they can depend on to answer their questions surrounding their loss, address their immediate concerns, and provide them reassurance and peace of mind when they need it most. When you schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team, we will take the time to listen to your story and provide you with compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. To get started today, call us at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
Learn more about our legal practice by visiting the sites below:
I am honored to be listed as a California member of:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/guy-man-people-dark-shadow-hands-2617866/
:ds llo [cs 957]