Fatal Hit and Run on Highway 99 On-Ramp in Fresno
The Fresno Police Department (Fresno PD) is investigating a fatal hit and run accident that occurred at an on-ramp to Highway 99 on Sunday, October 18, 2020. The deadly incident occurred on the State Route 99 on-ramp at Olive Avenue around 2:40 a.m. A 37-year-old man in a wheelchair crossed the street at the on-ramp when he was hit and killed by an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the car, described as a dark-colored Mitsubishi, reportedly fled the scene. No other details on the fatal pedestrian accident were immediately available, and the collision remains under investigation by Fresno PD.
Loss of a Loved One to Wrongful Death
The loss of a close relative is not something any family would ever like to think about. The grief experienced by a family is often greater when the cause of a loved one’s death resulted from someone else’s negligence. During such a difficult time, surviving family members may face financial hardship all while dealing with the legal burden of a wrongful death case. An experienced attorney can help put a family at ease by handling all aspects of their case to allow them to spend more time focusing on recovering and grieving from their loss and less time worrying about legal burdens.
Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Case in California?
Under California law, surviving family members of a decedent are provided a way to avoid the financial consequences of a loved one’s wrongful death. However, specific survivors are granted priority when it comes to filing a wrongful death claim. This includes the surviving children, domestic partner, or spouse of the deceased, as outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If the decedent was not survived by any of these parties, other relatives may be able to bring a case, like the parents, stepchildren, putative spouse, or children of the putative spouse. To determine your eligibility for a wrongful death case, reach out to an experienced lawyer today.
What Type of Compensation is Available in a Wrongful Death Claim?
Our accident attorneys conduct a thorough investigation of each wrongful death case we handle to determine the best course of action. At our law firm, it is our goal to obtain the justice and fair compensation a family rightfully deserves. Depending on the circumstances of the case, surviving family members may be entitled to financial compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Costs of treatment for medical care related to the fatal accident
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of protection, care, and companionship
- Lost inheritance, financial support, and benefits like pension or health insurance
- Mental anguish associated with the loss of a loved one
In a wrongful death claim, the insurance company representing the at-fault party may use defense tactics as a way of downplaying the value of a case or denying it altogether. In other situations, the insurer may claim that a loved one was somehow responsible for the accident and their fatal injuries. Both of these instances could happen with your insurance company when seeking compensation for a hit and run through an uninsured motorist claim. Our Fresno car accident lawyers have decades of experience dealing with difficult insurance carriers. We have the skills and resources needed to prove negligence and determine liability on all parties involved in the wrongful death of a loved one. If you would like to learn more about the wrongful death claims process, watch the brief video below by our law firm.
How a Fresno Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help After a Fatal Hit and Run
During such a difficult time, a family needs an experienced and compassionate legal advocate on their side. At AutoAccident.com, our team of Fresno car accident lawyers works diligently on behalf of families who have lost loved ones in fatal crashes. We treat each family we represent as our own and protect their best interests against difficult and unsympathetic insurance companies on their behalf. To learn more about how we can help your family with the wrongful death claims process, contact our law firm for a free, confidential consultation today.
Car Accident Lawyer in Fresno
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno car accident lawyer. Did you lose a loved one because of someone else’s negligence? You deserve to hold the at-fault party financially accountable, and a wrongful death claim can help provide your family with the compensation and justice you all deserve. Handling the wrongful death claims process can be challenging and fortunately, you do not have to go about it alone. Our team of attorneys can help you and your family through this difficult time. Call us anytime to tell us your story, and we can provide free, friendly advice on how to move forward at (559) 377-7676 or (800) 404-5400 today.
Our law firm has represented families of California and helped them obtain the justice and fair compensation they deserve since 1982. To see the comments and ratings our former clients have left about working with us and our past case results, visit the links below:
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