Fatal Two-Vehicle Collision on SR-152
On the morning of Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the California Highway Patrol reported a fatal two-vehicle collision on SR-152 in Madera County. The car crash occurred shortly before 7:00 a.m. at the intersection of Road 16 and State Route 152, officials said.
Details on the Fatal Two-Vehicle Collision on SR-152 in Madera County
CHP traffic officers, in a preliminary report, revealed that the incident involved a 2016 Honda Civic and a 2020 Ford Mustang. The Ford driver, a 20-year-old, was headed northbound on Road 16 and allegedly failed to stop at the stop sign posted at the intersection. The Ford reportedly collided with the driver’s side of the Honda, authorities said.
The Honda driver was taken to Madera Community Hospital. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries during hospitalization. The Madera County Coroner’s Office identified the decedent on December 16, 2022, as Michael Garwel, 56, of Madera. The Ford driver sustained minor injuries but declined medical treatment, according to officials. The incident remains under investigation, and no additional information was immediately available.
What Should Family Members Expect from a Wrongful Death Claim?
There is no greater harm your family may experience than losing someone you love suddenly and unexpectedly. This is especially true if it occurs from a car accident caused by a negligent driver or entity. In these situations, families may seek closure and justice by holding the at-fault party responsible for their negligence or recklessness in a wrongful death claim. This type of case may be brought on behalf of survivors to seek reimbursement for economic and non-economic damages arising from the negligent party’s conduct.
The purpose of a wrongful death action is to compensate the family of the deceased for the intangible harm and financial hardship they have experienced in connection with their loved one’s demise. These include but are not limited to medical costs (recoverable in a survival action), expenses for funeral and burial services, loss of future earnings with regard to what survivors now lack in terms of the decedent’s financial support, mental anguish, and loss of companionship.
Even in the aftermath of a fatal motor vehicle collision, the insurance company representing the at-fault party or your own may do everything in its power to pay as little as possible on a wrongful death claim. This may occur through lowball settlement offers in hopes of the family accepting without realizing the true extent of their losses. In other cases, they may request a recorded statement to use the family’s words against them and pinpoint blame on the deceased. In these situations, it is useful to have an experienced accident attorney on your side. Learn how our legal team can help by watching this video.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Madera
I’m Ed Smith, a Madera personal injury lawyer. Getting into a motor vehicle wreck may be a devastating and life-changing experience if you have suffered injuries. If your loved one lost their life in a tragic crash, your main focus will be being there for your family and grieving, not retaining legal counsel. However, dealing with insurance companies on your own may be an uphill battle, and not all insurers will treat your family fairly.
When you need an attorney, our law firm can help your family protect your rights and best interests during a crucial time in your lives. To receive free, friendly case advice, call (559) 377-7676 or (800) 404-5400. Our legal team can guide your family through the wrongful death claims process from start to finish. We operate on contingency, so you do not have to worry about the upfront costs of legal representation. Attorney’s fees will be due if we successfully resolve your case.
Visit our Avvo, Google, and Yelp pages to view some of the ratings and comments past clients have left about our team of injury attorneys.
The legal team at AutoAccident.com is honored to be a part of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
For your convenience, we have compiled our history of successful case results on our settlements and verdicts page.
Photo Credit: “Rodnae” on Pexels
:ds llo [cs 708]