Pedestrian Hit and Killed in Brentwood
On Monday, June 29, 2020, the Brentwood Police Department (Brentwood PD) responded to a report of a pedestrian being hit and killed on Brentwood Boulevard at Harvest Park Drive at 10:15 p.m. Upon arrival, officials pronounced the pedestrian, 63-year-old Timothy Faulk of Berkeley, deceased at the scene.
Investigation of the Brentwood Pedestrian Accident
A preliminary investigation by Brentwood PD revealed that the vehicle driver that struck and killed Mr. Faulk, a 31-year-old Brentwood man, was traveling southbound on Brentwood Blvd. in the No. 2 lane. The motorist claimed that he could not avoid Mr. Faulk and crashed into him. The driver immediately pulled over and stayed at the scene to cooperate with investigators. Officials said he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Losing a Loved One to Wrongful Death
When a loved one is killed because of someone else’s negligence, the decedent’s family may file a wrongful death claim to seek justice and compensation for their loss. These cases can arise in civil matters such as car crashes, trucking collisions, pedestrian accidents, etc. A Brentwood wrongful death lawyer understands that no amount of money can undo the pain related to the unexpected death of a close relative. However, compensation from a wrongful death case can give a grieving family a sense of closure and a secure future.
Types of Wrongful Death Compensation
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child must file a wrongful death claim first. If the decedent is not survived by a spouse, domestic partner, or child, then the parents, putative spouse, stepchildren, or children of the putative spouse may bring a wrongful death lawsuit. A settlement for a wrongful death case generally includes economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Expenses for medical treatment received by the decedent between the time of the pedestrian accident and their death (recoverable through a survival action)
- Funeral and burial bills
- Mental anguish and emotional suffering caused by a loved one’s wrongful death
- Loss of financial and emotional support, employment benefits, and household services the decedent would have provided to the family if not for the wrongful death pedestrian accident
- Lost companionship, care, and protection
- The court may allow Punitive damages to punish the at-fault party for their wrongdoing, such as excessive speeding or DUI.
If you want to know more about the wrongful death claims process after losing your loved one, watch the video below.
Other Options for Recovery After Wrongful Death Accident
When a driver causes a fatal pedestrian accident, their insurance company is usually responsible for wrongful death damages incurred. If the at-fault party does not have insurance or state minimum coverage, the decedent’s surviving family members may find themselves in a financial predicament. Fortunately, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) may help. UM coverage can protect pedestrians who are injured or killed in accidents caused by drivers who do not have bodily injury liability insurance. UIM coverage can supplement any damages not fully covered by the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits. What is particularly useful about UM/UIM coverage is that it may be extended to other household members so long as they are not listed as excluded drivers of the car insurance plan.
How a Lawyer Can Help a Family
At AutoAccident.com, our Brentwood wrongful death lawyers treat each case with the utmost respect and compassion for every family we represent. We can collect the evidence necessary for proving your wrongful death case, including gathering essential documents and conducting independent investigations as needed. We understand that your loved one was wrongfully taken away from you due to someone else’s negligence and want to offer our legal services to make things right to the fullest extent under California law.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Brentwood
I’m Ed Smith, a Brentwood personal injury lawyer. If you have been injured or lost a loved one after a pedestrian accident in Brentwood, please call me at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 to receive my compassionate, free, and friendly advice on how to move forward in your situation.
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