Motorcycle Rider Killed in Crash in Patterson
A motorcycle rider from San Jose was killed in a crash on Del Puerto Canyon Road west of Patterson on the morning of Sunday, January 18, 2021. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the fatal motorcycle accident occurred at 11:30 in the morning on Del Puerto Canyon Rd. in the vicinity of Frank Raines Off-Highway Vehicle Park. CHP traffic officers responded to the scene and located a man down along the north shoulder of the roadway close to a damaged bike. Sadly, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A preliminary investigation by the CHP revealed that the man was riding a 2007 Suzuki motorcycle eastbound on Del Puerto Canyon Road. For unknown reasons, he lost control of the bike as he approached a bend in the roadway. The Suzuki veered off the roadway, crashed into a metal pole fence, and ejected the rider. The motorcycle rider has been identified by county officials as 49-year-old John Ku of San Jose.
Loss of a Loved One in a Patterson Motorcycle Rider Crash
The lives of surviving family members are often altered after a loved one’s wrongful death. This time can be traumatic, stressful, and challenging. Survivors may be unsure of who to turn to for legal assistance regarding their case. A Patterson wrongful death lawyer can provide the help that families need in their time of loss and grief by protecting them from difficult insurance companies looking to take advantage of their vulnerable situation. If you have lost someone you love in a fatal accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your loss. Our legal team can help by working diligently to obtain the compensation and justice your family rightfully deserves.
Types of Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Accident Case
No amount of money can undo the pain or bring a lost loved one back. However, in wrongful death motorcycle accident cases, compensatory damages provide financial security for surviving family members. Financial compensation can help survivors recover financially and compensate them for ongoing mental anguish and emotional trauma. In a wrongful death claim, damages can be recovered for:
- Costs of medical care leading up to a loved one’s wrongful death (end of life medical expenses are generally recoverable through a survival action)
- Expenses for funeral and burial services
- Mental anguish and grief
- Loss of future financial support for survivors
- Lost guidance, protection, and care
In some wrongful death cases, a Patterson personal injury lawyer may seek punitive damages on behalf of surviving family members. This is considered a form of financial punishment for the at-fault party and is generally reserved for wrongful death cases involving egregious conduct. A jury awards punitive damages if the case is taken to trial, and they are awarded on top of any economic and non-economic damages. For more details on this type of case, watch the video below.
Importance of Working with a Wrongful Death Lawyer
In the immediate aftermath of a wrongful death motorcycle accident, survivors may experience grief and shock. Taking legal action during such a difficult time may feel stressful and overwhelming. A wrongful death lawyer provides families with space and time to grieve and recover from their loss. An attorney will also become an advocate for surviving family members by managing all aspects of their wrongful death case.
A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years of the fatal motorcycle accident, as outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If the incident occurred because of government entity negligence, like unsafe road design and lack of roadway maintenance to ensure motorcycle rider safety, a notice of claim must be filed with the appropriate government entity within six months or 180 days. That is why it is essential to retain an experienced Patterson wrongful death lawyer immediately after a fatal motorcycle crash. Our legal team can help your family by:
- Conducting an independent investigation of the fatal motorcycle accident and properly determine fault
- Working with expert witnesses like accident reconstruction experts
- Filing claims within the specified deadlines on your behalf
- Negotiating a full and fair wrongful death settlement
- Taking your wrongful death case to court if a fair settlement is not offered by the insurance company
In your time of need, you need an attorney you can trust and who can handle your wrongful death case with the utmost care and compassion it deserves. Our personal injury lawyers can help you and your family by working diligently to recover the financial compensation you all deserve.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Patterson
I’m Ed Smith, a Patterson personal injury lawyer. As a relative who has lost a loved one in a wrongful death motorcycle accident in Patterson, you may have many questions about the claims process. Our attorneys are available anytime to answer your questions and offer compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. To get started today, schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys by calling (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
See client reviews of our law firm and our past case results featured on the links provided below:
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Photograph Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/love-gold-rose-cemetery-grave-dead-4814488/
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