Vehicle on Jackson Road Overturns, Killing Driver
A traffic fatality was reported in Rancho Murieta on June 22 when a woman lost control of her vehicle. The single-vehicle crash happened along Jackson Road near the Murieta Parkway around 3:00 in the afternoon. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the woman’s driving was erratic as she progressed along Jackson Road.
Traffic Fatality Accident Being Investigated to Determine Cause
The driver overcorrected, causing her car to go off the road, where it experienced a rollover, ending upside down. Both the driver and a child were thrown out of the vehicle. Neither was wearing seat restraints. The driver died at the accident scene, and the child was reported as uninjured. The CHP is looking into the cause of the collision to determine why it happened. The name of the deceased has not been released, pending notification of the family.
Losing Control of a Vehicle
There are many ways a driver can lose control of their vehicle, resulting in a traffic fatality. Many of these single-vehicle accidents are caused by driver error such as:
- Speeding
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Fatigue
- Distracted driving
However, some causes of a solo-vehicle traffic fatality are not caused by the driver but by an outside force. These can include:
- Mechanical defects: When a vehicle has a defect in the steering, accelerator, brakes, or engine, it can cause the driver to lose control of their car and lead to a traffic fatality. This is one of the reasons it is so important to retain a vehicle following a car crash. In this way, our engineers can examine the vehicle to see if a mechanical defect led to the accident. If it did, the manufacturer and others in the production line may be held liable for the death.
- A hit-and-run or aggressive driver: A driver who tailgates, hits a car and leaves the scene or forces another vehicle off the road can be responsible for a traffic fatality. These types of accidents often leave behind tell-tale signs such as paint smudges on the car, broken pieces of metal, tire tracks and others. In these cases, our investigators can look for signs that another vehicle was involved, including checking traffic surveillance cameras and performing accident reconstruction. If the accident was caused by another driver, they can be sought and held responsible for the wrongful death that resulted.
- Lack of roadway maintenance: Sometimes, the government entity in charge of maintaining the roadway can be responsible for a traffic fatality. Areas of danger to a motorist include potholes, upheavals or fissures in the pavement, soft shoulders, poor lighting, and others. If this turns out to be the case, the government entity can be held liable for injuries or fatalities in an accident. Because the statute of limitations to file against a government entity is much shorter, enlisting the help of a personal injury attorney can be a good idea to ensure documents are filled out correctly and filed on time. Once the statute of limitations has passed, the case will not be heard by the court.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
When the loss of a loved one was caused by negligent actions by another, the family may decide to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages. We have successfully handled many of these claims over the years. Although it won’t help ease the grief the family members feel, it can help bring closure knowing the at-fault party is being held responsible and ease the financial stress.
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Rancho Murieta
I am Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Rancho Murieta. There are few things worse than losing a loved one in a tragic accident, especially if it was caused by another’s negligence. When negligence was the cause, the family may be able to file a claim for wrongful death. Call us for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be contacted online.
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Since 1982, we’ve helped Rancho Murieta residents get fair compensation for wrongful deaths, any type of traumatic injury, and all varieties of traffic accidents.
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