One Dead, Five Injured in Head-On Collision
A head-on collision along Eagles Nest Road in Sacramento County resulted in one fatality and injuries to five people on January 22. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the accident occurred around 7:30 in the morning. It happened between Jackson and Kiefer roads when one vehicle attempted to pass another and collided head-on with a car carrying five students. Authorities reported that the woman veered from the northbound lane she was traveling in and into the southbound lane. It is unknown whether the woman suffered a medical emergency before the crash.
Details of the Head-On Collision
The woman, who was said to be alone in her vehicle, died in the crash. Officials with the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office have identified her as 29-year-old Antoinette Windom of Sacramento. The other vehicle’s occupants included a driver who was a minor and four other minors. All five students at Pleasant Grove High School were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment. The driver and one passenger were reportedly in serious condition, while the other occupants had less traumatic injuries. Delays occurred throughout the area as the accident was investigated by officers with the CHP and cleared.
Losing a Loved One in an Accident
According to the National Safety Council, 40,000 people die in accidents yearly. Although we know it can happen, most people do not think a crash fatality will occur to a family member. Hearing the news that a loved one has died suddenly in a car accident is devastating. Family members experience feelings of shock, vulnerability, grief, and loneliness. They may experience anger over what has happened or a sense of vulnerability that it could occur again. It is essential that close friends and family rally and provide both emotional and practical support in the following ways:
- Spend time talking to the bereaved person. Many times, people faced with an unexpected death will want to go over the details repeatedly. This helps them accept that the loved one’s death really happened.
- The bereaved may tire quickly. Offer to do routine things such as preparing meals or shopping.
- Offer to drive them to appointments or the funeral parlor. The latter can be especially disturbing for the bereaved.
- Make sure that all telephone calls have been made. This includes other family members and friends, and an employer.
Wrongful Death Claims
A person’s demise may bring financial harm, along with emotional trauma. This is particularly true when the deceased helps support the family. The wrongful death lawsuit can help with funeral and burial expenses and cover lost wages the deceased earned before dying and might have earned in the future. An attorney can tell you whether you are eligible to file a claim.
How an Attorney Can Help
Our firm’s investigative team and personal injury lawyers explore all possibilities when an accident occurs to determine why it happened. For example, a person will often experience a medical emergency, or a defective auto part may cause a crash. We dispatch our investigative team to the crash site to examine the evidence and collect other information. By using accident reconstruction techniques, it is possible to determine the speed of both vehicles in a two-car collision. We obtain videos taken by traffic cameras or those on commercial or residential buildings that will show the accident as it happened. Our investigators will also review police reports for inaccuracies. Once this information is compiled, it is released to our lawyers to build a strong case for our client.
Rancho Cordova Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rancho Cordova wrongful death lawyer. When someone is injured or killed in your family, you may be able to obtain financial compensation. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. I can also be reached online.
I am a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
I’ve helped clients obtain the damages they deserve in wrongful death cases, auto accidents, and other traumatic injuries.
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
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