Double Fatality in Napa Auto Accident
On Tuesday, November 19, 2019, a Napa car accident cost two people their lives. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office has identified the decedents as 68-year-old Yountville resident Andress Hatch and 32-year-old Lower Lake resident Jonathan Thorn. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash happened in the early morning on a local highway and did not injure any other individuals. The incident is still under investigation.
Crash Details
CHP reported that the collision happened around 2:10 a.m. on Highway 29. Hatch had been driving a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic westbound on the highway in the area of Bale Lane. For unknown reasons, Hatch’s vehicle drifted left and crossed over the median, entering northbound traffic. Shortly after, the Sonic crashed head-on into a northbound 2010 Toyota Prius driven by Thorn.
Police responded to the incident immediately after being notified. When emergency personnel reached the accident site, they found that both Thorn and Hatch had sustained major trauma as a result of the impact. Tragically, both men were pronounced deceased by medical officials on-site.
Investigation
The highway was reportedly closed to traffic for around three hours while response and initial investigations were being conducted. However, police haven’t said what factors, if any, they suspect were involved in causing the accident. Cases like this can be difficult for investigators because the involved parties are unable to offer testimony about the events leading up to the crash. In many cases, this causes critical factors like roadway defects, phantom vehicles, or malfunctioning vehicle parts to go unnoticed. In turn, these factors going unnoticed can affect the ability of families to claim fair compensation.
Because of this, it’s important to reach out to a local attorney who has plenty of experience handling serious auto accident cases. Your lawyer will be able to fully investigate the collision with the rights of the decedent and your family in mind.
What To Do After a Fatal Crash
After a deadly car accident, families are often left feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Not only is losing a loved one so suddenly very emotionally difficult, but many families are also left with serious financial concerns because of their loss. Recovering emotionally and taking time to process your grief along with your loved ones is very important. Still, many families can’t afford to focus on grieving when they need to worry about loss of income, funeral expenses, and other important matters.
I believe that families deserve to have financial stability during traumatic times and that those who’ve lost somebody in a crash should get in touch with an attorney as soon as they can. While many people are reluctant to begin the process of filing a wrongful death claim, the sooner your lawyer can start working, the more effective they can be. Furthermore, knowing that you have an expert attorney handling your case can afford you the assurance you need to focus on healing and spending time with the people you love.
More Articles by Ed Smith, Napa Wrongful Death Lawyer
- Four Injured in Head-On Napa Accident
- Defining Napa Personal Injury Lawyers
- Napa Man Dies in Car Crash
Napa Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa wrongful death lawyer. If you’ve lost somebody that you care about during a car accident, please take a moment to call me and receive free, friendly legal advice. To reach me, use either (800) 404-5400 or (707) 564-1900.
I’ve assisted people in Napa with wrongful death cases for more than 37 years. You can learn more about my practice by checking out the settlements and verdicts my firm has obtained. Additionally, you can view the many outstanding reviews I’ve received here:
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