DUI Suspected in Fatal Crash on Gertrude Avenue
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) revealed in a report that DUI was suspected as a factor in a fatal crash on Gertrude Avenue just east of Stockton city limits on the night of Sunday, November 14, 2021. The motor vehicle collision occurred around 8:45 p.m. in a residential neighborhood along the 700 block of South Gertrude Avenue and Horner Avenue.
Details by CHP on the Suspected DUI Crash on Gertrude Avenue
CHP traffic officers indicated in a preliminary report that a driver of a pickup truck, a 25-year-old Sacramento man, was allegedly speeding on South Gertrude Avenue. The pickup truck reportedly failed to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection and struck the passenger side of an SUV. The impact of the collision allegedly propelled the SUV into a home, causing injury to three parties that were inside.
The extent of injuries to those inside the house was not immediately clear. The SUV driver, an 81-year-old Stockton man, suffered serious injuries in the traffic collision. Sadly, the 84-year-old Stockton woman riding in the passenger seat succumbed to her injuries in the car accident. Her identity has not yet been released by the San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office due to pending notification of family members.
After the car accident, the driver of the pickup truck and his passenger both allegedly exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Both parties were later found by CHP traffic officers and arrested. The pickup truck driver has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, DUI causing bodily injury, and felony hit and run resulting in injury or death. Authorities also said that the driving under the influence charge is suspected to be from drugs. Additional information on the fatal car accident was not immediately provided by officials due to ongoing investigation.
How Can a Wrongful Death Claim Help Surviving Family Members?
The sudden loss of a close relative is devastating for any family to experience. Feelings of anger and helplessness may overwhelm survivors with the thought that the incident could have been prevented. While a family member may never be replaced, California law allows some assistance for the family of those who have lost their life in accidents caused by the negligence of others. An eligible surviving family member may bring a wrongful death action against the at-fault party for economic and non-economic damages caused by the fatal car accident.
Compensation in a wrongful death claim may consider financial and intangible losses, such as end-of-life medical costs, funeral service expenses, loss of a loved one’s earnings for the household, the value of support or services that the decedent provided, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and more. Aside from this, punitive damages may be sought from the at-fault party if their behavior was particularly egregious, like DUI or excessive speeding. These are intended to hold the negligent party financially accountable for their actions and to deter similar behavior in the future.
The wrongful death claims process may be challenging to navigate. You may have to deal with difficult insurance companies, paperwork, filing deadlines, and defense counsel. Instead of handling these on your own, it is best to retain legal counsel with years of experience handling cases like yours. When you have the right Stockton wrongful death lawyer on your side, you can rest assured knowing that your attorney will make it their priority to protect your rights as a surviving family member and work diligently to obtain the financial compensation you deserve. For information on how to find the best lawyer to handle your claim, watch this video.
What Our Legal Team Can Do for You and Your Family
Since 1982, our accident attorneys have handled personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from car accidents. We are dedicated to providing the cases we handle with the utmost compassion they deserve to help those we represent receive the fair compensation they need to move forward with their lives. We work with experts in the field to build strong and compelling cases for fair financial recoveries. With our approach, we have obtained favorable outcomes in cases on behalf of our clients. To learn how we can help you and your family after a car accident, contact our law firm today to arrange a free consultation.
Personal Injury Attorney in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury attorney. A catastrophic or fatal accident is a traumatic experience like no other. If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle collision caused by a negligent driver or entity, it is essential to understand your rights under California law. While discussing your case with an accident attorney may be the last thing on your mind while recovering from injuries or coping with grief, protecting your rights is essential to the recovery of compensatory damages caused by a tragic accident. To get started today and receive free, friendly case advice, contact our law firm today at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We have over three decades of experience helping injured parties and families of decedents with their cases, and we can help you too.
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Getting help from an experienced injury attorney means obtaining the justice and fair compensation you and your family deserve. To see how we have helped others with their cases and have recovered favorable outcomes on their behalf, visit our Verdicts and Settlements page.
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