Man Killed in Fatal Car Wreck in Fresno County
An 81-year-old man from Orosi was killed in a fatal car wreck at Hill Avenue and Adams Avenue in Fresno County on the evening of Wednesday, December 23, 2020. The Fresno car accident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. and involved a Chevrolet Silverado and a Toyota Tacoma. According to the Fresno area California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, the Chevrolet and Toyota were both found in nearby drainage ditches. CHP traffic officers said 81-year-old Gene Butler of Orosi was driving the Toyota northbound on Hill Avenue approaching the intersection at Adams Avenue when he was involved in a crash with the Chevrolet driven by a 41-year-old man. Both vehicles veered off the roadway.
Sadly, Mr. Bulter succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The Toyota driver and his passenger were both transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for treatment of unspecified injuries. Additional information on the Fresno County car accident was not immediately available.
Losing a Loved One to Wrongful Death
Wrongful death is a loss of life caused by another individual’s negligent or careless actions. When the loss of a loved one is considered a wrongful death, the surviving family members of the decedent may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. Doing so allows survivors to seek compensatory damages for the financial losses and intangible harms the family has suffered and experienced firsthand. For a wrongful death claim to be valid for recovery of compensatory damages, it must be demonstrated that the fatal incident causing the death was the direct result of someone else’s negligence or failure to exercise due care.
How a Wrongful Death Claim Can Help Surviving Family Members
The loss of a loved one is one of the most tragic experiences a family may undergo. Our Fresno wrongful death attorneys understand that it can be challenging to think about taking legal action during such a devastating time, but a wrongful death claim may help bring justice and fair compensation for your family. Bringing a wrongful death case can help survivors by covering funeral expenses, medical costs, lost earnings, loss of a close relative’s care, companionship, and protection, and other losses.
Your attorney will conduct a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of your wrongful death case to ensure that every loss your family has experienced is considered when calculating the fair value of your compensation claim. For details on what to look for in the best attorney to handle your case, watch the video below.
Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California and What is the Filing Deadline?
California law is specific on which surviving family members can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. A survivor who has priority for bringing such cases must either be the surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child of the decedent. If no child, domestic partner, or spouse survived the deceased, other relatives may be eligible for the recovery of wrongful death damages. This includes the parent, stepchild, putative spouse, and child of the putative spouse, according to the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60.
Once you know whether you meet the filing criteria for bringing a wrongful death case in California, you must contact an attorney as soon as possible. The statute of limitations or amount of time for which you have to file a lawsuit in California for a loved one’s wrongful death is two years. This means you have just two years from the date of your loved one’s wrongful death to file suit. If the statute of limitations expires before you file the wrongful death lawsuit, the case may be dismissed by the court, and you may lose the right to seek justice and compensation in civil court. However, when you seek the assistance of a skilled attorney immediately after a wrongful death car accident, your Fresno wrongful death lawyer will ensure your suit is filed on time.
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Fresno
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno wrongful death lawyer. There are few things as challenging as the loss of a close relative in a fatal accident. If you have lost a loved one because of wrongful death, it is essential that you contact an attorney immediately to ensure your rights and legal options for financial recovery are protected. Contact our law firm at (559) 377-7676 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a consultation to receive free, friendly advice on your legal rights for recovery and justice. Our team of wrongful death attorneys offer free case evaluations and help families in Fresno County and throughout California.
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