I-80 Shut Down as Police Investigate Traffic Fatality
An accident in Vallejo that resulted in a traffic fatality shut down westbound I-80 for about two hours. The collision occurred near the on-ramp for Magazine Street, according to the report issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at around 12:33 a.m. The other driver involved in the fatal crash was reportedly driving a white pickup and lost the vehicle’s license plate at the accident scene.
Police Seek Driver of Pickup in Hit-and-Run Fatality Accident
The truck in question was located later in Vacaville. The roadway was reopened around 2:39 a.m. The CHP is investigating the accident and conducting a search for the hit-and-run driver.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Survivors of a loved one who died due to someone else’s carelessness or a violent act can seek justice by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Sometimes the claim is filed by members of the immediate family. It may also be filed by the administrator of the deceased’s estate to recover damages for the traffic fatality.
Recovery of Damages in a Wrongful Death
By filing a wrongful death claim, the grieving family can recover damages, which not only helps them avoid financial stress and move on after their loss but can also help bring them closure and justice. Recovery of damages in a wrongful death claim includes the following:
- Expenses associated with the funeral
- Costs associated with the burial
- Income that was lost up to the age of retirement, including pension/insurance benefits and others.
- The surviving spouse can claim the loss of consortium, love, moral support and companionship.
- Loss of inheritance, which is the amount the deceased’s beneficiaries would have been given if the decedent had lived.
- The loss of protection, guidance and nurturing the decedent provided to the family’s children.
- Loss of household services the deceased provided can be recovered.
When a Hit-and-Run Driver Is Involved
Obviously, in order to hold a hit-and-run driver responsible for the death of someone you love, they have to be found first. At our firm, we have a good record of locating fleeing drivers who cause a traffic fatality. We do this by conducting an investigation to collect the evidence to find them. From checking surveillance cameras, talking to witnesses to performing accident reconstruction, it is often possible to locate the vehicle and driver.
When the Fleeing Driver Cannot Be Located
In some cases, the hit-and-run driver responsible for the traffic fatality cannot be located. When this happens, the family has the option to use their uninsured/underinsured motorist policy to pay for their loss up to the limit of the coverage. This type of add-on policy is offered to all California drivers when they first take out car insurance. Many drivers opt for this add-on insurance due to the high number of uninsured or underinsured drivers in the state because it offers additional protection.
Wrongful Death Lawyers in Vallejo
I’m Ed Smith, a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Vallejo. The loss of a loved one is devastating and even more so when it didn’t have to happen. If your family is interested in finding out whether they can place a wrongful death claim, call us for our compassionate, free and friendly advice at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be reached online. We can set up a virtual or in-person consultation in which one of our injury lawyers can review your claim, answer any questions you might have and tell you how you can recover damages.
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Photo attribution: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay
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