Toyota Tundra Causes Fatal Accident After Hitting KIA on State Route 99
A Sacramento fatal accident occurred along northbound State Route 99 on May 31, resulting in the death of a woman. The accident happened at around 2:26 in the morning just past 12th Avenue. A man in a Toyota Tundra, moving at a high rate of speed in the number three lane, hit the rear of a KIA Niro, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) report. The woman was riding in the KIA as a passenger. The impact of the crash caused the Niro to catch on fire, travel northeast, and ended up on the shoulder of the road. Sadly, the woman riding inside, identified as 30-year-old Thelma Barrios of Rancho Cordova, passed away as a result.
KIA Driver Suffers Severe Injuries
The individual driving the KIA was able to get out of the vehicle just before it became engulfed in flames. The driver was then taken by emergency responders with the Sacramento Fire Department to UC Davis Medical Center with what were described as severe burn injuries.
Toyota Driver Arrested in Fatal Accident
The driver of the Toyota was evaluated for driving under the influence and was placed under arrest and taken to the main jail for Sacramento County. He has been charged with felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter. He was uninjured in the fatal accident.
The Dangers of Drunk Driving
Drunk drivers endanger everyone around them because alcohol affects their ability to drive safely. It causes impaired judgment, poor reasoning and affects reflexes and vision. This is one of the reasons that drunk driving causes more than 10,000 traffic accident fatalities each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30 people die in a drunk driving fatal accident every day. An experienced lawyer can help a family who has lost a loved one to a drunk driver or because of another type of negligence to place a claim for wrongful death.
Investigating a Fatal Accident
To place a wrongful death claim, it must be proven that negligence was the cause of the accident. My law firm has successfully handled many such cases over the years. Our investigators go to work right away to collect evidence to support a client’s claim before it disappears or is covered up. They check for surveillance cameras such as those at traffic lights and businesses. They review the police report for inaccuracies and talk to the witnesses. In addition, the investigators perform accident reconstruction, which shows the positioning of the vehicles before the crash, at impact and afterward. When the evidence is all gathered, our lawyers use it to build a strong case for compensation to benefit our client.
How to Help A Family That Is Grieving
When a family is grieving, it is important for friends, other family members and coworkers to be supportive. People who are recently bereaved are flooded with emotions such as a feeling of helplessness, anger, sorrow, and the thought that maybe they could have done something to prevent the tragedy. Some of the ways to help the grieving family are:
- Call and send a sympathy card or flowers if you can’t visit in person.
- Send over a prepared dish or a restaurant order because someone who is heavily grieving will forget to eat.
- When you visit, be a good listener because someone who is grieving needs to talk it out. Join in if it seems acceptable, but do not be judgmental.
- Help out around the house by cutting the grass, vacuuming or washing dishes.
- Offer to go along to lend support when the family is making the funeral arrangements. This is a difficult thing to face, and having someone to lean on at this time is helpful.
Related Article by Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer Ed Smith:
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento. When you’ve lost a loved one, nothing can lessen your grief. However, your family may also be facing the lack of support that was provided by your loved one, and it can cause financial hardship. Please call me for my free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 in the Sacramento area or (800) 404-5400. If you prefer, you can contact me online.
I am honored to have helped Sacramentans for over 38 years to obtain the compensation they deserve for all types of traffic crashes, wrongful deaths, government claims and traumatic injuries.
Following is information about my law firm you might be interested in:
I belong to the Million Dollar Forum and Top One Percent.
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