Cycle Rider Involved in Fatal Hit-and-Run on County Road 102
A fatal hit-and-run occurred near Woodland on November 17 when the rider of an all-terrain cycle, which is pedaled by foot, was struck by a vehicle. The collision happened at the southbound County Road 102 intersection with C.R. 18b around 5:33 p.m. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers and Yolo County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the accident scene.
Cyclist Dies at Scene of Fatality Hit-and-Run
The county coroner was called to the crash site to declare the rider of the ATC deceased. CHP traffic crash detectives are investigating the cause of the accident, and a search is being made for the fleeing motorist. The deceased rider’s name will not be released by the county coroner’s office until the next of kin has been notified.
Locating the Driver in a Hit-and-Run
Locating the driver in a fatal hit-and-run is important, so they can be held responsible for their negligent actions. A personal injury lawyer has the experience, investigators and resources to find a fleeing driver in many cases. By investigating the fatal hit-and-run, they gather evidence to find the missing driver, including the following:
- Investigators go to the accident scene to recover evidence to help identify the vehicle, such as paint chips, metal and plastic. Because the makes and models of vehicles use specific paints, headlight designs and others, it can identify the car that left the scene.
- The accident scene is examined to see if skid marks are present, which shows the driver tried to stop before the fatal hit-and-run occurred.
- The report issued by the police is checked for evidence and to ensure its accuracy.
- The area is searched for surveillance cameras from homes, businesses and traffic lights. If the accident was caught on tape, it could be subpoenaed to use as evidence.
- Forensic reconstruction of the accident is performed, showing the vehicles’ positions and how the crash happened.
Once the driver is found, they can be held liable for the death they caused by using the compiled evidence to construct a strong case against them. This enables the family of the deceased to recover damages by filing a wrongful death claim.
Wrongful Death Damages That Are Recoverable in a Fatal Hit-and-Run
Each family may receive different compensation for a wrongful death claim, depending on a variety of factors. It is common, however, to include the following areas:
- Expenses associated with burials and funerals
- It is not only salary up until retirement age that accounts for lost wages but also pensions, insurance benefits, and bonuses
- The spouse may also claim loss of emotional support and love in addition to loss of consortium
- Children in the family may have lost guidance and nurturing
- Household services that have been lost include things like lawn care, tax preparation, etc.
In the video below, you can learn about wrongful death claims from accident lawyer Ed Smith:
Woodland Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Woodland wrongful death lawyer. Cycling accidents are tragic, but they are made worse when a loved one dies in an accident that should never have happened. Call us at (530) 392-9400 if you would like free and friendly advice about whether your family can file a wrongful death claim. You can also contact us by phone at (800) 404-5400 or by chatting with us online. To discuss your case, answer questions, and find out what options are available to you, either virtually or in person, we can set up a free consultation.
To learn how our injury lawyers have helped others, please visit our Settlements and Verdicts, Yelp, and Google review pages. As injury lawyers in California who belong to the Top One Percent and the Million Dollar Advocates, our membership demonstrates our hard work and dedication to helping injured clients obtain maximum compensation.
Photo attribution: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay
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