Pickup Truck Accident Causes a Fatality
A pickup truck accident fatality in Folsom occurred on December 31, 2019, along westbound U.S. Route 50 during the early morning hours. The accident happened just west of the northbound Scott Road entrance ramp. It was reported around 5:16 a.m., according to a police report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The pickup accident happened when a full-size pickup went off the road and crashed into a tree about 20 feet off the roadway. One person found in the vehicle was declared dead at the accident scene by the Sacramento County Coroner. The decedent has been identified by officials as 38-year-old Todd James Kern of El Dorado Hills. A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of Mr. Kern’s family to help cover emergency expenses.
Sudden Bereavement
Losing a loved one suddenly is traumatic. Without preparation, the mind searches for answers it does not always have. Family members wonder why something like an unexpected accident happened and why their loved one had to die. In the midst of such questions, grieving persons try to find solace. Initially, they feel alone and isolated. They want justice for the person who was taken from them. In some cases, such as a single-vehicle crash, the cause of the accident may be hidden. For example, a pickup may have been pushed off the road by another vehicle, or the brakes might be defective due to a manufacturer shortcut. Your wrongful death lawyer will be able to find out how the pickup accident happened and take the negligent party to task.
What You Can Do to Help a Grieving Person
The following are ways friends and family can help a grieving person:
- Listen: It is important to be present and listen to the bereaved person. Don’t lead the conversation. Let the grieving individual take over.
- Many times, the bereaved person is too confused to tell you what they need you to do. Think of specific tasks such as grocery shopping, and check to see what is needed.
- Bring prepared meals to the house. It is important to ask what they like to eat or if they have any food allergies.
- Be ready to deal with emotional changes.
- Don’t assume the person will be worried about common problems. Their loved one’s death takes center stage.
- Understand that they may vacillate between one thing and another quickly. Just allow them to do it.
- Don’t offer advice unless the person asks for it.
- Expect the bereaved person to be angry on occasion. They have lost someone who is important to them and may be angry that happened. This response is even more likely if a negligent party caused their demise.
What an Attorney Can Do to Help
It is essential to determine how and why the pickup truck accident happened. In some cases, it is due to driver error. However, in many cases, another driver may have instigated the crash, or defective auto equipment may be the culprit. Since the deceased can no longer speak for themselves, our firm becomes their voice. It is possible to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. This will not only help with the financial loss that accompanies the person’s death but also provide justice for the deceased.
At our firm, we leave no stone unturned to find out how the accident happened. We send our investigators out to the accident site immediately to collect evidence of liability. They speak to witnesses who may have seen the pickup truck accident fatality and use crash reconstruction techniques to determine liability. We check for defective auto parts and look for roadway marks that were made by another vehicle. Our investigators also review police reports for errors and look to see if roadway conditions caused the pickup truck crash. If so, the government agency in charge of road maintenance may be liable. Once this data is collected, it is turned over to our legal team to use in building a strong case for a wrongful death claim.
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Folsom
I’m Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Folsom. Not all single-vehicle accidents are caused by driver error. When you suspect your loved one died because of another person’s negligence or that of a government entity, I have free and friendly advice to offer you. You can reach me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. If you prefer, you can message me at AutoAccident.com.
I’ve helped Folsom residents since 1982 receive compensation in all types of car accidents, pedestrian injuries, and traumatic brain injury.
Learn about my practice by using the following pages:
I am a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/candle-lit-light-funeral-flame-4719019/
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