When on California roadways, not even the safest drivers are immune from encountering a drunk driver and its accompanying consequences. With any motor vehicle accident, including those involving a drunk driver, there is the potential for serious injuries and fatalities. Along with that are the inevitable challenges surviving family members have to confront after the loss of a loved one. Because of this, after a fatal car accident it is important to have advice from an attorney to determine what steps need to be taken next in hopes of recovering damages suffered.
One family may need to do this now after an alleged drunk driver in a Mercedes-Benz crashed into two other vehicles that were stopped on the freeway, killing one. Law enforcement and emergency crews were called shortly after midnight. The woman who died was driving a 2011 Toyota Corolla that was disabled and stopped in the road. She was 52. According to the investigation, the driver of the Mercedes, a 26-year-old man, was speeding too fast for the road conditions and rear-ended the vehicle of the woman who died. After hitting the Corolla, the Mercedes continued on and rear-ended a 2014 Kia Optima that was sitting on the shoulder of the road. The driver and passenger in the Optima were unhurt. The driver of the Mercedes was arrested on suspected driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter.
With a fatal car accident, the family who has suffered the loss will first have to come to terms with the reality that a family member is no longer there. After that, other issues will come to the forefront. Whether the victim was a significant financial contributor to the household, a stay-at-home parent, or a young person beginning his or her life, there will be a multitude of financial concerns that must be addressed. Insurance companies might try to make an offer to avoid a costly legal case, but a surviving family needs to make certain that a full investigation is done. This is especially true if it is believed to have been a fatal drunk driving accident.
Considering the circumstances of this crash, the woman’s family needs to make certain that it protects itself by discussing the case with an experienced attorney. By doing so, they may be able to develop a legal strategy that affords them the opportunity to find accountability and compensation for their losses.
Source: Culver City Patch, “Man Killed in 3-Car Crash on 405 Freeway Near Culver City,” Nov. 3, 2016
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