Single-Vehicle Crash on County Road 14 Causes Fatalities and Injuries
A multiple-fatality accident with numerous casualties was reported near Woodland in a single-vehicle collision on May 26. The collision was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) along County Road 14, which is located between Interstate 505 and Interstate 5 near Zamora, around 2:55 p.m. According to the incident report, it appeared as though a Ford Econoline van drifted off the roadway, rolled multiple times and struck a tree, knocking it down.
Eleven People Riding in Van in Multiple-Fatality Accident
Authorities do not yet know the speed of the vehicle or why it exited the roadway. Four people died in the multiple-fatality accident, three at the scene and the fourth at a hospital later, including the driver. Authorities counted 11 people who had been riding in the van, and the remaining eight were transported to hospitals in Solano and Sacramento counties, where the fourth fatality occurred.
Multiple-Fatality Accident Being Investigated to Determine Cause
In order to extract the people from the vehicle, the roof had to be cut open. A witness to the collision said one of the passengers told him they were farmworkers who were on their way home. The use of alcohol or drugs has not yet been ruled out as a factor in the fatal crash, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Negligence in an Accident
About 95 percent of all traffic accidents are due to negligence. Some of the most common causes include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Fatigue
- Reckless driving
- Government negligence
- Defective automobile parts
Part of a wrongful death attorney’s job is to determine what type of negligence caused a collision, including in a multiple-fatality accident. In this way, the grieving family can place a claim to recover compensation. Of course, it will not help ease their grief. However, it can help them go forward from their loss without the financial problems that often accompany accident injuries and fatalities. In addition, by filing a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death claim, the family members can obtain some sense of closure and justice by holding the at-fault party responsible.
Compensation Recovered in a Multiple-Fatality Accident
There are two ways in which a wrongful death claim can be filed. The administrator of the deceased person’s estate can file, or the immediate family members can join together to place a claim. By immediate family members, it refers to the spouse or putative spouse and children. If the decedent had no spouse or offspring, the parents and siblings are allowed to file. However, only one claim may be placed. Recovery of damages can include:
- The funeral/burial expenses
- Wages the decedent would have earned until retirement age, including any benefits or bonuses they normally received
- The spouse may claim loss of consortium and the love and affection lost by the death
- Offspring of the deceased may claim the loss of guidance and nurture
- Loss of inheritance may be claimed in some instances
- Loss of household assistance may be recovered, which refers to chores the decedent normally performed around the home
Woodland Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Woodland wrongful death lawyer. If your loved one died in an accident because of a negligent driver, your family might want to consider finding out if they can file a wrongful death claim. Call us for our free and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. We can review your case, discuss whether you can file a claim for wrongful death and tell you about options to recover damages. We can also be contacted online if you prefer.
Helpful links on our website that can tell you how our injury lawyers have assisted others can be found at:
Belonging to the following groups is an honor for us:
Photo attribution: Image by Pexels from Pixabay
:cd llo [673]