Man Killed in Pedestrian Intersection Accident on Travis Boulevard
A fatal pedestrian intersection accident was reported in Fairfield recently when a man was struck by a vehicle. The collision occurred at about 10:43 p.m. at the Travis Boulevard intersection with Clay Street. The Fairfield Police Department said paramedics declared the pedestrian deceased at the accident scene.
Pedestrian Intersection Accident May Have Involved DUI Driver
The vehicle driver, a Fairfield man, age 60, was detained for suspicion of DUI after the pedestrian accident and is facing charges of gross vehicular manslaughter. The County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the deceased man once the family has received notification.
Causes of a Pedestrian Intersection Accident
Although everyone using a roadway must be cautious to avoid harming others, some are not. This often leads to a pedestrian intersection accident. Common causes of collisions involving pedestrians are that the driver is distracted, intoxicated, speeding or committing another form of negligence. When a loved one dies because of that negligence, they have the right to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages.
Helpful tips on what you should look for when seeking legal advice is offered below by accident attorney Ed Smith:
What Losses a Wrongful Death Claim Can Recover
Typically, a wrongful death action is filed by the administrator of the deceased’s estate or his or her immediate family following a fatal accident. Immediate family generally includes the spouse and children of the decedent. If the deceased pedestrian had no spouse or children, parents and siblings may file a claim for wrongful death. A choice must be made between the two options. There are a number of compensation types that may be recoverable, which may vary from case to case:
- A decedent can recover the wages he or she would have earned by the retirement age. The benefits they received in their previous jobs that may be recoverable include pensions, insurance, bonuses and other perks.
- It is possible to recover the funeral and burial expenses.
- The surviving spouse’s loss of consortium, support, love and companionship the decedent provided is entitled to compensation.
- If the decedent provided nurturing and financial support to the children in the family, whether adopted or natural, the children might claim compensation.
- It may be possible for stepchildren who received at least 50 percent of their financial support from the decedent to join the suit.
- Some cases of lost inheritance can be claimed.
- If the family has to pay someone to perform tasks at home on a regular basis, such as taking care of children or mowing the lawn, the loss of help provided by the decedent can be recovered.
- Punitive damages may be awarded if the death was caused intentionally or by an egregious action such as drunk driving. Your injury lawyer can discuss this with you and tell you whether punitive damages might be awarded in your case.
Fairfield Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Fairfield personal injury attorney. Your family may want to file a claim for wrongful death when your loved one was killed by a negligent motorist or entity in a fatal pedestrian accident. If you have any questions or want to find out whether you can file a claim, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be reached using our online contact form.
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Photo attribution: Image by Brian Merrill from Pixabay
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