Fatal Car Accident on Cooper Avenue
Officials in Merced County reported a fatal car accident on Ashby Road and Cooper Avenue on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The crash was reported to the California Highway Patrol at approximately 12:35 p.m. and was said to have involved two vehicles.
Details on the Fatal Car Accident on Cooper Avenue
CHP traffic officers reported that a 22-year-old Fresno woman was driving a car westbound on Ashby Road. At the same time, an 85-year-old Merced resident was driving a 2019 Volkswagen on Cooper Avenue. Both vehicles were involved in a collision at the intersection. The impact of the crash was said to have caused the Volkswagen to overturn.
Both drivers sustained injuries described as minor in the car accident and received treatment at Mercy Medical Center in Merced. Sadly, the front seat passenger of the Volkswagen, Barbara Guth, 75, was declared deceased at the crash site. Officials have not yet released further details about the incident due to an ongoing investigation.
How Can a Wrongful Death Claim Help Survivors?
When a family loses a loved one in a car accident, they are often met with overwhelming pain and grief. It is challenging to quantify the devastation and losses that they have experienced because of their close relative’s unexpected passing. Surviving family members facing such situations should consider the impact that the tragedy has had on their lives now and in the future. While it may seem insensitive to bring a wrongful death claim to seek financial compensation, loved ones are irreplaceable, and the at-fault party should be held accountable for the harm that their actions have caused.
Economic and non-economic damages may be available in these cases that often include loss of future financial support that the deceased would have provided to the family over the course of their life if not for the fatal crash, funeral expenses, medical bills, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and more. Only specific family members are eligible for bringing such cases forward. The filing criterion is set forth in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. Those with priority for filing wrongful death lawsuits include the surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children of the deceased individual.
A good way to determine whether you are eligible and have grounds to bring this type of case forward is to consult with a top-rated Merced wrongful death lawyer. Given that your loved one is no longer around to provide their account of the incident, you need to be their voice, and your accident attorney can assist with that. When you hire a lawyer to represent your family, you can depend on them to conduct a thorough investigation of the fatal crash, work with experts in the field to determine fault and damages, and negotiate with insurers and defense counsel on your behalf. Watch the video below for tips on what qualities you should look for in a lawyer to handle your claim.
Car Accident Lawyer in Merced
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced car accident lawyer. When a loved one loses their life suddenly, it may leave surviving family members feeling as though their lives have been turned upside down. If the loss was the result of a traffic collision caused by a negligent party or entity, our law firm is here to help. At AutoAccident.com, we have decades of combined experience handling wrongful death matters. For free, friendly case advice, dial (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
If you would like to learn more about our injury attorneys and how we have assisted past clients, visit these links:
We are proud to be included in several legal organizations, including the Million Dollar Forum and Top 1 Percent.
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