Stockton Woman Killed in Crash in Fresno
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicated in a recent report that a woman from Stockton was killed in a recent multi-vehicle crash in Fresno. The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at approximately 3:15 a.m. in the area of northbound Highway 99 near North Avenue.
Details on the Fresno Crash That Killed a Stockton Woman
A preliminary report by officials revealed that a woman from Stockton was driving a Dodge Stratus northbound on State Route 99. For reasons not yet known, the Dodge allegedly veered off the road and collided with the center median. The Dodge driver reportedly overcorrected the vehicle by traveling across all lanes of travel and struck a concrete wall along the right shoulder of the highway. The vehicle became disabled as a result of the initial crash. The Dodge driver allegedly exited the car, attempted to remove the rear bumper that was damaged, and received assistance from a 58-year-old Fresno man who pulled over behind the Dodge in a Nissan Murano.
A 62-year-old Fresno woman was behind the wheel of a Jeep Cherokee and allegedly did not see the Nissan and Dodge that was stopped ahead of her vehicle. The Jeep driver reportedly collided with the rear of the Nissan, causing that vehicle to be propelled forward and into the Dodge. The Jeep came to a rest in the center divider after overturning and the Dodge driver was pushed into the No. 1 traffic lane. A Chevrolet Silverado and a Hyundai Sonata also collided with the rear of the Nissan. Sadly, the Nissan driver was declared deceased at the scene. Officials have identified her as Aloma Waith, 66, of Stockton. CHP traffic officers also said the other parties involved in the multi-vehicle crash suffered injuries described as minor.
How Can Wrongful Death Claims Help Surviving Family Members?
When a person loses their life in a crash in California, survivors may have the right to seek compensation for resulting losses through a wrongful death claim. This type of case may be initiated when the loss of life resulted from an act that was negligent. Not any relative may bring a claim forward. Under the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, this right is reserved for the surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children. If the decedent did not share such relationships, other close relatives may be eligible for filing. This may include but is not limited to the deceased person’s parents, stepchildren, putative spouse, and putative spouse’s children.
The purpose of a wrongful death claim is to provide compensation to survivors who were directly impacted by the loss through financial hardship and intangible harms. This may include costs of medical care incurred before the decedent succumbed to their final injuries, costs of a funeral and burial, the earnings the decedent would have provided to the family if not for the fatal car accident, the value of services the deceased would have contributed had they lived, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and more. Conversely, survivors may also seek punitive damages if the loss of life occurred because of an egregious action like excessive speeding or drunk driving. Remember that punitive damages are awarded separately from economic and non-economic damages and are solely meant to punish the other side for their acts that were particularly egregious.
Wrongful death cases are subject to strict filing criteria and deadlines. One of which includes the statute of limitations being two years, as outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. While this may seem like sufficient time to file a lawsuit in civil court, the reality is that there is substantial time and effort that is involved in building these cases. That is because the insurance company representing the other party may not be willing to make things right with survivors by providing them with the fair compensation they deserve. Insurers are in the business of paying as little as possible on claims as a way of maximizing their profit margins. One may also experience such situations with their insurance carrier. A good way of protecting your rights and interests as a survivor is to work with an experienced Stockton car accident lawyer. For information on how to select an experienced and skilled accident attorney in your area, watch this video.
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton wrongful death lawyer. Unfortunately, in some catastrophic cases, the injuries from a motor vehicle collision may prove fatal. When a family loses a loved one in an accident caused by the negligence of another, they may seek compensation from the other side for their losses. Bringing such cases forward may be challenging without the help of a skilled attorney. All your family has to do is reach out to our legal team and ask for assistance. We are available anytime to review the details of your case and provide compassionate, free, and friendly advice. Get started now by calling (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
When you have lost someone you love in an accident, working with an attorney who has a history of helping others facing similar situations may work to the benefit of your case. Client ratings and reviews are a good indicator of that. See ours at the following links:
Our legal team is dedicated to obtaining the best outcome possible in accident cases we handle on behalf of our clients. We are especially proud of the results we have obtained over the years and even more so for being recognized by the Top 1 Percent and Million Dollar Advocates. We are California members of both of these groups.
At our law firm, we understand how challenging it is to cope with losing a loved one as we have helped other families facing similar situations. Our goal is to help ease the burden on surviving family members while ensuring that they have every opportunity to seek full and fair compensation for their loss. See how we have resolved past fatal accident cases by visiting our Settlements and Verdicts page.
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