Driver Killed in Car Accident Near Dos Palos Area
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Los Banos area office reported that a driver was killed after a car accident near the Dos Palos area on the afternoon of Friday, August 23, 2021. The incident occurred at North Fairfax Avenue and west Nees Avenue just west of Firebaugh and south of Dos Palos in Fresno County.
Details on the Car Accident That Killed a Driver Near the Dos Palos Area
A preliminary investigation by CHP traffic officers revealed that a 37-year-old Lemoore woman was behind the wheel of a 2020 Ford headed westbound on Nees Avenue. At the same time, a man was driving a 1999 Nissan north on Fairfax Avenue. Both vehicles entered the intersection, and the Ford struck the passenger side of the Nissan.
Following the motor vehicle accident, the Nissan came to a rest partially submerged in an irrigation canal while the Ford stopped along the northwest shoulder of the intersection. The Ford driver did not report any injuries. Sadly, the Nissan driver was declared deceased at the scene. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office has identified the decedent as Robert Mendoza, 50, of Thermal in Riverside County. Additional information on the incident was not immediately available.
What You Should Know About Wrongful Death Claims for Car Accidents
After a motor vehicle collision, some people may suffer minor to serious injury and property damage. In some extreme cases, a car accident may result in fatal injuries. If a loved one has lost their life in a crash that was not their fault, surviving family members may have various options available to them for financial recovery. Taking legal action while dealing with grief simultaneously may be challenging, particularly when difficult insurance companies are involved. Fortunately, an experienced Los Banos wrongful death attorney may help survivors recover the compensation they deserve.
Under the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, you must be the spouse, domestic partner, or children to have priority when it comes to seeking financial recovery. If such relatives are nonexistent, others who were dependent on the decedent for financial support may seek damages. This may include the decedent’s stepchildren, putative spouse, and parents. Once this criterion has been met, survivors may seek economic and non-economic damages, such as medical and funeral expenses, the value of lost financial support, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and more.
As with any case, it must be established that another party’s recklessness or negligence has resulted in a traffic collision with devastating results. Establishing negligence in a fatal car accident is required for surviving family members to recover damages in a wrongful death claim. A personal injury lawyer in Los Banos with years of experience handling wrongful death matters may help prove that the loss was the result of someone else’s negligence through an independent investigation, evaluations with expert witnesses, and collection of other supporting evidence. For details on how to find a top-rated wrongful death lawyer, watch this video.
Is There a Time Limit for a Wrongful Death Car Accident Case?
A statute of limitations applies to bringing a wrongful death claim in California. Surviving family members have two years to file a lawsuit in civil court if all attempts at a fair settlement fail with the insurer. While this may seem like a long time, but after a tragedy in the family and a period of grieving, two years may pass by for a family. That is why it is essential to retain legal counsel as soon as possible.
Various exceptions may apply to the two-year statute of limitations. Even when liability is clear, a case may be subject to dismissal by the court if it is filed after the deadline. Conversely, other time limits may apply during the insurance claims process, particularly when bringing a first-party insurance claim through uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM and UIM). Do not wait and discuss your options for recovery with an experienced attorney today. Our legal team is available anytime to meet with you and your family to go over your best course of action moving forward.
Personal Injury Attorney in Los Banos
I’m Ed Smith, a Los Banos personal injury attorney. When a loved one has lost their life in an accident because of another party or entity’s recklessness or negligence, surviving family members may have the grounds to bring a wrongful death action with the assistance of an experienced attorney. Fortunately, there is no cost to working with a lawyer on a wrongful death claim as most handle these cases under a contingency fee basis. This means that fees will only be due in the case if the attorney recovers fair compensation on behalf of survivors. To get started, contact our legal team for free, friendly case advice at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. It costs nothing to learn about your family’s rights and how California law may apply to your situation.
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When you need an experienced, compassionate, and dedicated attorney, look no further than our law firm. We have handled cases like yours since 1982 and are available anytime to help you seek the justice and financial compensation you deserve. To see how we have obtained favorable outcomes in past cases, head over to our Verdicts and Settlements page.
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