Fatality Reported in Car Crash in Central Stockton
Local authorities reported a fatality after a car crash on New Year’s Eve in central Stockton. The Stockton car accident occurred at approximately 11:50 p.m. on December 31, 2020, near Middlefield Avenue and Pershing Avenue. According to the Stockton Police Department (Stockton PD), a two-vehicle collision occurred at the intersection, and responding officers located a passenger in one of the involved cars unresponsive. Sadly, the passenger, a 65-year-old man, succumbed to his injuries after being taken to a local hospital for treatment, Stockton PD reported.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 34-year-old man, suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was hospitalized. Authorities determined that the driver was driving under the influence at the time of the traffic collision. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Further details on the incident were not immediately available.
Loss of a Loved One in a Central Stockton Car Crash
If you have lost a member of your family in a fatal car accident because of negligent actions, you should know that you may be entitled to financial compensation for your loss from the at-fault party. Since 1982, our Stockton wrongful death attorneys have successfully recovered fair compensation for families in Northern California, including those from San Joaquin County, who have unjustly lost close relatives. We understand that these losses can leave holes in the family that can never be filled. However, bringing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a lost loved one can help bring a sense of justice to surviving family members and potentially deter similar situations from happening to other families in the future.
How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?
Surviving family members generally have two years from the date of a loved one’s death to bring a claim for financial compensation of medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future financial support, and loss of a loved one’s care, protection, and companionship. Punitive damages may also be sought in wrongful death cases involving egregious conduct like DUI or excessive speeding. However, this statute of limitations may vary depending upon the circumstances of the wrongful death case.
While it is essential to understand that just because you and your family have two years to bring a wrongful death lawsuit, that does not necessarily mean you should wait to contact a lawyer for legal assistance. Our experienced attorneys can start gathering evidence and building a strong wrongful death car accident case to ensure all filing criteria and deadlines are met in your claim. The longer you wait to get started on your claim, the higher the possibility that compelling evidence will get destroyed or disappear, making it more challenging to prove your case later down the road. For more information on what you should know about the wrongful death claims process after a fatal accident, watch the video below.
How a Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help You and Your Family
The insurance company representing the at-fault party may be quick to deny responsibility for the fatal car accident, argue that surviving family members do not have a wrongful death claim, or offer survivors an insultingly low wrongful death settlement. The last thing you and your family need to be burdened with is dealing with an unsympathetic insurance claims adjuster while coping with the unexpected death of a loved one. Let an injury lawyer who is experienced in handling cases like yours take on that burden for you.
At our law firm, our skilled attorneys have decades of experience handling wrongful death claims and obtaining fair compensation for grieving families. Our legal team works diligently to identify any persons or entities whose negligence contributed to the death of a loved one, protect you and your family from difficult insurance companies, build a strong case by collecting compelling evidence and retaining expert witnesses, and calculating what fair compensation should be in your wrongful death case. Do not put yourself and your family at risk of not receiving the compensatory damages you all deserve by handling the claim on your own. Our experienced and compassionate lawyers are here to help. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation and let us start seeking justice on behalf of your loved one.
Personal Injury Attorney in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury attorney. Car accidents caused by DUI can cause serious injuries and fatalities. If you were hurt in a motor vehicle collision or lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, you and your family may benefit from advice by legal counsel on how to recover compensation for your loss. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We are available anytime to go over the details of your case and provide free, friendly legal advice.
Additional details about our law firm may be discovered at the links provided below:
We are listed as California members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Picture Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/love-gold-rose-cemetery-grave-dead-4814488/
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