Two Killed After Truck Accident Near Sonora Pass
Two men from San Jose were killed after a truck accident near the top of Sonora Pass on June 16, 2020. The incident occurred on Highway 108 in Tuolumne County. A preliminary investigation by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) revealed that a 2006 International box truck the two men were traveling in was transporting household items from the east side of Sonora Pass in the Bridgeport area. According to authorities, the truck reportedly veered off a steep curve and went down a 75-foot embankment. A driver who was passing by the area discovered the crashed truck and contacted emergency personnel. Sadly, the two occupants of the box truck were pronounced deceased at the scene. Officials have identified the decedents as 47-year-old Salvador Ponce-Espinoza and 29-year-old Jorge Alberto Maciel, both residents of San Jose. A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of Jorge Maciel and his family to help cover his funeral expenses.
Who is Responsible for a Sonora Pass Truck Accident?
Motor vehicle accidents are sometimes caused by factors other than driver error, such as a defective vehicle or roadways in poor conditions. A public road may be deemed dangerous when there is poor design, lack of routine maintenance, or failure to repair a hazardous condition. Traffic accident reports by police rarely determine a roadway in poor condition as a cause of a motor vehicle collision. When a loved one has been killed in a fatal truck accident, the family of the decedent should contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to determine if the cause of the crash was a dangerous condition, maintenance issue, or poor roadway design. The physical evidence at the scene of the collision must be documented and preserved to be successful in a government entity claim. Some of the dangerous conditions in which a government entity may be held financially accountable for include:
- Failure to install traffic signals or guardrails
- Insufficient shoulders on the road
- Lack of roadway lighting
- Missing reflective markers and faded center lines
- Poorly designed banking turns
- Shoulder edge drop-offs
- Uneven pavement and potholes
- Vegetation or overhanging trees causing obstruction and reduced visibility
Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
A wrongful death claim for damages from the loss of a loved one in a motor vehicle accident because of a poorly designed or maintained roadway can be extremely challenging. This is due to the special procedures and rules that are involved when bringing claims against public entities like city, county, state, or federal departments or agencies. Some of the damages that may be recovered through a successful government entity claim for a loved one’s wrongful death include:
- The costs related to the treatment of the decedent’s final injury before they passed away (this may be recovered through a survival action)
- Bills related to a loved one’s funeral and burial
- Loss of guidance, affection, protection, and companionship
- Projected losses in future earnings if the deceased was the primary provider of the family
- Mental anguish and emotional pain
- Any other calculable or tangible loss associated with a loved one’s wrongful death
For more details on wrongful death lawsuits, watch the video below.
Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Government Entity Claim?
Poorly maintained and designed public roadways are one of the many causes of motor vehicle collisions. A public entity is responsible for designing and maintaining roadways that do not pose reasonably foreseeable risks of causing accidents. If there is a history of crashes occurring on a particular stretch of road, this may help prove that the government entity was aware of the issue. An experienced Sonora wrongful death lawyer should be consulted before filing a claim against a government entity. These types of cases can be challenging to handle on your own, especially when dealing with grief and unexpected expenses related to a loved one’s sudden death. An attorney will investigate whether the public entity has fulfilled its duty to design and maintain roadways that are in a safe condition. Your lawyer will also be familiar with the specific filing criteria and procedures that are involved in government entity claims, including the six-month statute of limitations.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sonora
I’m Ed Smith, a Sonora car accident lawyer. Whenever a catastrophic injury or death results from a motor vehicle collision on a public road, an inspection of the roadway by an experienced attorney and their team of experts is necessary for obtaining justice and full and fair compensation. If you have lost a loved one after a car accident in the Sonora area and would like to discuss your options for justice and recovery, please call me at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. I am available to speak with you anytime to provide my compassionate, free, and friendly advice on how to move forward in your situation.
Look at our client comments and ratings on the following sites:
I am proud to be listed as a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and the Million Dollar Advocates.
At our personal injury law firm, it is our goal to protect the rights of families who have lost loved ones after motor vehicle accidents in Sonora and across California. To see how we have helped resolve wrongful death cases for others in the past, go to our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Image Source: By “GoranH” via Pixabay
:ds llo [cs 911]