Accident on Olive Avenue Near Livingston Results in a Fatality
A head-on crash on May 2 caused the death of a driver when his vehicle collided with a Peterbilt pulling a utility trailer. The collision happened around 12:42 in the morning along Olive Avenue near Cressey Way, east of Livingston. The incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the driver, identified as Jose Nunez, a 42-year-old resident of Winton, crossed the double yellow line on the road in his Honda Civic and struck the Peterbilt head-on.
Accident Being Investigated
The driver of the Peterbilt was identified as 57-year-old Gonzalo Anaya. No information on injuries to the truck driver was released. The accident is under investigation by the CHP to determine why the driver crossed into the path of another vehicle.
Filing a Claim After the Loss of a Family Member
When a loved one is lost because of someone else’s negligence, family members understandably are shocked, grief-stricken, and angry. They often don’t think about filing a claim when negligence was the cause. However, by filing a wrongful death claim, the family can recover damages that can help them go forward.
How Head-On Collisions Occur
Most of the time, a head-on crash is caused because of driver error. It could be the driver was chatting on a cell phone or texting, sleepy from a long day’s work, or other causes. However, there are times when an outside influence results in a head-on crash. These include:
- A mechanical defect in the vehicle caused the crash. A defect in the tire that causes a blowout, problems with the brakes, steering, or the engine itself can lead to a head-on crash when the driver loses control of the vehicle. A product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, and others can be filed.
- Poor maintenance in the roadway can lead to a head-on crash. A pothole, poor lighting, fissures or cracks in the pavement, and other problems can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and cross the centerline, leading to an accident.
- A hit-and-run or aggressive driver can cause an accident: A motorist who strikes another driver’s vehicle, whether by accident or internationally, can cause the driver to lose control.
Placing a Claim for a Wrongful Death
In order to place a claim, an investigation must be conducted by a Merced truck accident lawyer to gather evidence against the at-fault party. Our experienced investigators do everything possible to collect that evidence, including:
- The investigators go to the accident site to collect evidence there, including photographing paint smears on the vehicles, dropped pieces of metal and skidmarks.
- Accident reconstruction is performed. Be recreating how the head-on crash happened, it shows how the vehicles involved were positioned before, the paths they took, and the final crash. This is evidence widely accepted by insurance companies and in courts.
- The vehicle is examined by engineers to look for defective parts that might have led to the accident.
- They look over the CHP traffic report to ensure that it is accurate. Any mistakes in the police report could affect the client’s compensation claim.
- Evidence of another driver is sought in cases of a solo vehicle crash by examining traffic surveillance cameras.
Merced Wrongful Death Attorney
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Merced wrongful death attorney. When family members lose a loved one because of a negligent driver or other entity, they may be able to place a claim for compensation. Please contact me at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 if you would like my free and friendly advice. If you prefer, I can also be contacted online.
For more than 37 years, we’ve gotten fair compensation for our clients for their traffic collision injuries, wrongful death claims, and more.
Discover helpful information about my law firm at the following links:
I’m a proud member of the groups below:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/candle-light-candlelight-flame-2038736/
:cd llo [cs 676]