Motorcyclist Killed in Hit and Run Crash in Merced
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that a motorcyclist in his 50s was killed in a hit and run crash in the Merced area on Friday, October 23, 2020. The fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Belcher Avenue in the vicinity of Beachwood Drive at approximately 7:00 p.m. The CHP said that a woman driving a mid-2000s green Honda sedan reportedly turned left onto Beachwood Drive in the path of a motorcycle rider. The biker allegedly struck the passenger side of the Honda and suffered fatal injuries at the scene. A woman in her 80s also suffered injuries in the incident as she collided with an embankment because of the initial accident. Officials are still searching for the driver of the Honda who caused this fatal motorcycle crash, and if she is located, she is expected to face felony hit and run charges.
What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One
When a loved one is lost in a fatal motorcycle accident, the family they leave behind deserves time to grieve and recover from their loss. Unfortunately, insurance companies will not be waiting and will often take quick action to dispute financial liability for the deadly incident. Our law firm understands the need for time and can be there for your family to shoulder the burden of dealing with difficult insurance companies. This way, you and your family can focus on building a new future while our team of Merced wrongful death attorneys handles all aspects of your case for justice and fair compensation.
What Types of Wrongful Death Compensation May Survivors Receive?
A family may be eligible for compensation through a wrongful death claim for economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Final Resting Expenses: Funeral and burial expenses may be significant and often cost thousands of dollars to surviving family members who may already be facing financial hardship.
- Medical Treatment and Expenses: For surviving family members, the costs of medical treatment received by their loved one after a motorcycle collision before they succumbed to their injuries may be extremely expensive. An experienced wrongful death attorney in Merced can work to recover end of life medical expenses for survivors through a survival action.
- Lost Future Financial Support: When a member of a family has passed away and was considered the primary provider of the household, the grief suffered by survivors may be compounded by financial pressure. Surviving family members may seek compensation for wages the decedent would have expected to earn in the future if not for the wrongful death motorcycle crash. An experienced lawyer will often retain an economist in a wrongful death claim to estimate total past and future financial loss for survivors.
- Mental Anguish: Survivors may be eligible for compensation for the grief they have experienced due to going on with their lives without their loved ones by their side.
- Punitive Damages: In some wrongful death motorcycle accident cases such as those involving excessive speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), an attorney can seek punitive damages from the at-fault party to punish them for their wrongdoing. This serves to prevent similar situations from occurring to other families.
Watch the video below for additional information on the wrongful death claims process.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A wrongful death case may be brought by the surviving children, domestic partner, or spouse of the deceased. Such claims may be brought against multiple insurance policies, depending upon the facts and circumstances of the deadly accident. For instance, survivors may bring a wrongful death claim for a fatal hit and run motorcycle accident under their insurance policy if they have uninsured motorist coverage. While the claim will be handled by the family’s insurer, that does not necessarily mean that the insurance carrier will have their best interests at heart in terms of fair compensation. At AutoAccident.com, our team of attorneys care about you and your family and will work diligently to obtain justice and fair compensation on your behalf from difficult insurance companies. Contact us today to learn more.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Merced
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced personal injury lawyer. The loss of a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident is devastating for the family left behind. If you have lost someone you love in a deadly motorcycle crash caused by someone else, call our legal team at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a consultation for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice today.
Before contacting our law firm to schedule a free consultation, see our selection of past wrongful death case results and client reviews at the links below:
We are honored to be listed as members of the California chapter of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Photograph Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/red-rose-grey-marble-gravestone-2278915/
:ds llo [cs 833]