Fatal Three-Vehicle Crash SR-4 Martinez
The California Highway Patrol reported a fatal three-vehicle crash on SR-4 in Vine Hill near Martinez on the evening of Thursday, May 18, 2023. The traffic collision occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m. on eastbound State Route 4 in the vicinity of the northbound I-680 on-ramp.
Details on the Fatal Three-Vehicle Crash on SR-4 Near Martinez
The California Highway Patrol, in a preliminary release, indicated that they were notified of a multi-vehicle collision on eastbound State Route 4 near the northbound Interstate 680 on-ramp in Vine Hill. Upon arrival, CHP traffic officers located two cars with severe damage and a third vehicle in the No. 1 Lane of eastbound SR-4.
One individual was transported to the hospital for treatment. Sadly, they succumbed to injuries at the hospital. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau, their identity has been withheld due to pending notification of close relatives. Additional information on the fatal three-vehicle crash on SR-4 near Martinez was unavailable. An investigation into the collision is ongoing by the CHP.
Obtaining Justice and Financial Recovery in a Fatal Car Accident Case
Survivors seeking compensation through a claim for wrongful death may seek economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages represent financial losses, like funeral costs, loss of financial support, and medical bills (end-of-life treatment expenses are recoverable via survival action). Non-economic damages are not assigned a monetary value and are intangible in nature. These include mental anguish and loss of care, companionship, and protection. In certain cases, punitive damages may be sought. These are recoverable in cases where the other side’s actions were particularly egregious.
Eligible surviving family members must be aware of the statute of limitations that applies to their case. Generally, survivors have up to two years to file their case in civil court. This must be done to protect the statute if they are unable to reach a mutual settlement agreement with the other side as the deadline is approaching. If the incident involved a public entity, like a vehicle owned and operated by a government entity, a different time limit applies. Per the California Government Code Section 911.2, claimants have up to six months to file.
In California, not everyone is eligible to file a claim for wrongful death. The California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60 outlines surviving family members who are eligible and have priority for filing. These generally include the spouse, domestic partner, or child/children of the decedent. If none of those family members exist, the decedent’s parents, putative spouse, and other relatives who depended on them for financial support may bring a wrongful death claim. For additional information on these cases, watch the video below or contact our legal team at AutoAccident.com for a free consultation.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Martinez
A motor vehicle collision may have life-changing consequences for all involved parties. This is particularly the case when the incident involves serious injuries or a loss of life. Suffering injuries or losing a close relative in a car wreck does not have to define your future. Retaining legal counsel can help you hold the other side accountable for their actions and seek the maximum compensation you need so you can move forward in your situation with confidence. Remember that there is a limited amount of time to take legal action based on California’s statute of limitations, so do not delay and call an injury lawyer today.
An accident attorney can help you find stability by providing support, guiding you through the legal process, and bringing negligent parties to justice. If you have been injured or lost a family member in a car wreck or another type of incident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact our Martinez personal injury lawyers for free, friendly case advice at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400. You do not have to stress over the upfront costs of legal representation when you turn to our law office for assistance. We operate on contingency, meaning our legal team does not get paid unless you do.
At our personal injury law firm, our goal is to provide injured parties and surviving family members we represent with the time they need to recover by holding the other side that caused the traumatic incident accountable. We strive to provide excellent client service and successful results through settlements and verdicts. See what our clients have said about working with our compassionate and experienced injury lawyers on Yelp, Avvo, and Google. Our law office is honored to be included in various legal groups for our work, including the Top 1 Percent and the Million Dollar Forum.
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