Two People Killed in Collision With Tractor-Trailer
A pickup truck and semi collision in Yolo County near Woodland on July 15 ended up as a double fatality accident. The collision occurred at about 7:00 a.m. along southbound Interstate 5 near County Road 96. Officers with the Woodland office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the call where they discovered that a 2018 Freightliner and 2004 Dodge had collided. The driver and a passenger in the Dodge, both Redding residents, died in the collision.
Authorities Investigating Cause of Double Fatality Accident
Officers do not think that either drugs or alcohol factored into the cause of the fatality accident. Investigators are determining what caused the accident and are asking that anyone who has information about it contact the CHP office in Woodland at (530) 662-4685.
Accidents That Involve Big Rigs
A fatality accident is common when a big rig is involved. Because the semi is much larger, higher and heavier, those in smaller vehicles frequently suffer serious injuries or end up fatalities. If the driver of the big truck is determined to be at fault for the fatal collision, the family may wish to consider filing a wrongful death claim to recover damages. Although it won’t ease the grief and sense of loss they feel, it can hold the trucker and potentially the company that employs them, responsible financially.
Damages That Can Be Recovered in a Fatality Accident
Truck drivers and their companies are all required to carry large insurance policies, but that doesn’t mean they want to pay more for an injury claim than they absolutely have to. An injury attorney can help the family by collecting the evidence needed to support a claim for wrongful death where they can recover fair compensation. Recoverable damages can include:
- The expenses for the loved one’s funeral and burial can be recovered.
- Wages the individual would have earned up until retirement age are recoverable, including any regular bonuses, pension and insurance benefits and others.
- The surviving spouse or putative spouse may recover compensation for the loss of consortium, companionship and love the decedent provided.
- Natural and adopted children may recover compensation for the loss of nurturing and guidance the deceased parent provided. In addition, if stepchildren obtained at least half of their support from the decedent, they may claim that loss also.
- If any of the offspring of the deceased died themselves, their own children may join in the claim to recover damages.
- Loss of inheritance is recoverable in some cases.
- Loss of household help the decedent provided can be recovered. This area of compensation includes chores the decedent regularly performed around the home, such as gardening, auto care, tax preparation, cooking, cleaning and others. The reason this area can be compensated is because the surviving family may have to hire someone to perform those duties in the future.
- Punitive damages may be sought in civil court if the death was especially egregious or intentional. A criminal conviction is not necessary, however, this is a matter to discuss with your injury attorney since punitive damages are seldom awarded.
Contact Woodland Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Woodland personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney. When your loved one died due to negligence by another individual or entity, your family may want to find out about filing a wrongful death claim. You can call us for free and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or at (800) 404-5400. An online form to contact us is available also.
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Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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