Man and Woman Fatally Injured in Pedestrian Accident
Two pedestrians were killed on Watt Avenue in the vicinity of Jackson Road on December 13, 2019, at about 11:30 at night in Sacramento. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that two pedestrians were involved in the incident along with a Volkswagen. The man and woman were reported to be standing in the road prior to the accident and suffered major, life-threatening injuries. By the time police arrived, they were lying on the road. The man was pronounced dead at the accident scene. The woman was transported to the hospital where she died. Officials have identified the decedents as 38-year-old Marquist Allen and 46-year-old Maricela Aguilar, both residents of Sacramento. A GoFundMe account has been established on behalf of Ms. Aguilar’s family to cover her medical and funeral expenses.
Details of the Accident
Sacramento Police collected the physical evidence, spoke to witnesses, and saw the stand-alone vehicle. According to reports from the scene, it appeared as though the man and woman had left their vehicle and were arguing in the middle of the street. The Volkswagen was traveling south on South Watt Avenue and hit both pedestrians. Police reported the driver did not appear to be impaired, and speed was not seen as a contributing factor. The driver remained behind and was cooperating with the police. There are no crosswalks in the area. At the time of this report, authorities are actively investigating the accident as to why and how it occurred and to assign fault. It is uncertain if drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident, and no one has been arrested.
Unexpected Death of a Loved One
Dealing with the sudden death of a loved one can be overwhelming for family members. Without warning, the person is sometimes brutally torn from their lives, often through an act of negligence, either intentional or accidental. This sets in motion a cascade of emotions such as grief, disbelief, fear, and loneliness. More than ever, grieving family members need help to deal with the many end-of-life details an unexpected death involves. Here are a few things that might be helpful:
- Let the family know you are there if they need you. Don’t make a general statement asking them what they need since, at that moment, they may not be able to think of anything. Instead, ask for a grocery list or how the children will get to school the next day.
- Ask when they will be going to the funeral parlor or to the morgue for identification purposes. Be firm and tell them you will drive and accompany them if they would like. These are difficult tasks, and the person may appreciate your company.
- Offer to take children out for a while, or bring their pets to your home if possible. People have many responsibilities, and lightening the load is helpful.
- Check if the grieving person has enough prescription medications. Offer to pick up a refill for them.
- Let them talk about the accident if they wish. This will help the grieving person cope.
- Don’t offer advice unless asked for it. Everyone has their own way of dealing with grief.
Justice When Pedestrians Are Killed
Family members often wonder how a reckless driver can be so uncaring about others. Beyond that, they wonder if they will do it again and why it happened. At our law firm, we understand this feeling and need to seek justice for your loved one. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party is one way to do it. The negligent party will realize that their behavior has consequences. In the event that the accident was caused by egregious behavior such as repeated drunk driving, the jury may be able to award damages above and beyond the monetary costs.
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
While filing a lawsuit cannot replace the deceased, it can help with the financial issues associated with their demise. Family members such as a spouse, children, and stepchildren living with and supported by the deceased can file a claim against the negligent party. They can be compensated for the loss of the deceased’s income, now and in the future, the cost of household jobs they performed, and the loss of companionship.
What an Attorney Can Do
At our firm, we empathize with the grief you feel after a loved one’s death. We use all our resources to find out why the accident happened and who was at fault. We interview witnesses, use traffic surveillance video footage, and review police reports for mistakes to establish negligence. Once all the evidence is accumulated, our investigators turn it over to our legal team to build a strong wrongful death case.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. If you would like free and friendly advice after a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped clients in Sacramento since 1982 obtain the compensation they deserve in car accidents, wrongful deaths, and traumatic injuries.
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You can learn more about my practice on the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/condolences-trauerkarte-letters-3991589/
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