Man Killed After Central Fresno Car Accident
A man was killed after a recent car accident involving two vehicles in central Fresno. The crash occurred in the area of Illinois Avenue and Blackstone Avenue around 9:30 a.m. According to the Fresno Police Department, a Mercedes-Benz sedan was involved in a broadside collision with a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz, identified as a Fresno man, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His passenger was hospitalized for unspecified injuries and is expected to survive. Additional details, including the identity of the decedent, was not immediately available.
Loss of a Loved One After a Fatal Car Accident in Central Fresno
The loss of a loved one in a car wreck may be devastating both emotionally and financially for surviving family members. California law recognizes this and provides grieving families with the right to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim. This type of case can help cover expenses and losses related to a loved one’s death, providing a family with the financial security and time they need to grieve in their time of loss.
Recoverable Damages for Wrongful Death in California
The loss of a close relative is often an expensive proposition. While no amount of money can replace a loved one or reverse the pain that a wrongful death has caused, it can help deal with many of the losses related to a loved one’s passing. This includes:
- Costs of a funeral and burial
- Expenses for a loved one’s end of life medical care, including hospital bills incurred for treatment of their injuries before they passed away (these may be claimed through a survival action)
- Loss of a close relative’s care, companionship, and protection
- Lost income and benefits, such as pension and health insurance
- Mental anguish and emotional distress resulting from the wrongful death car accident
- The reasonable value of household contributions the decedent would have provided for their family if not for the fatal auto accident
The wrongful death of a close relative may bring unexpected financial hardship, anxiety, and stress during already devastating circumstances. Such burdens may be eased by obtaining monetary damages from the party responsible for the loss through a wrongful death claim. To learn more, watch the video below.
Who Can File for Wrongful Death After a Central Fresno Car Accident?
California has strict laws on who is eligible to file a wrongful death action. Generally, the immediate family of the decedent may bring a wrongful death suit. This includes a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child. However, others who were supported by the decedent may also be eligible to file for wrongful death, such as parents, stepchildren, or putative spouses. An excellent way to determine whether you qualify to file a wrongful death claim is to contact a Fresno wrongful death attorney. An attorney can investigate the details of your case and advise you and your family accordingly.
Is There a Time Limit on Wrongful Death Claims?
There is a statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in California. This is the amount of time a family must bring a case. Such claims must be filed within two years of a loved one’s death. Since it can be challenging for surviving family members to know how to proceed in these cases, it is best to have an experienced attorney handle the claims process to ensure all applicable deadlines and criteria are met.
How Can a Lawyer Help Our Family?
Wrongful death lawyers in Fresno often spend a lot of their time negotiating with unsympathetic insurance companies who refuse to give families what they need and deserve. Insurers are focused on their bottom line and often hire defense attorneys to dispute every aspect of a wrongful death claim. An experienced Fresno wrongful death lawyer knows how to overcome tactics insurance companies and their defense attorneys use to recover fair compensation on a family’s behalf.
Fresno Wrongful Death Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno wrongful death lawyer. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by another driver and are unsure whether you have the grounds to file a wrongful death claim, call me at (559) 377-7676 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400. I can provide you with my free, friendly advice on the wrongful death claims process and filing criteria.
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I am proud to be listed as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Our personal injury law firm has advocated for injured people and families of decedents since 1982. To see past case results we have obtained for others, go to our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Image Source: By “webandi” via Pixabay
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