Accident victims should seek legal counsel after a DUI fatal accident in San Diego.

CALIFORNIA –  January 4, 2020

A young woman suffered fatal injury when a suspected drunken driver was driving on the wrong side of the highway on Route 78, causing a head-on collision, according to California Highway Patrol. The 36-year-old man was heading east in the westbound lanes about 10:20 p.m. when his 2009 Toyota Tacoma crashed into the woman’s 2004 Toyota Matrix east of Sycamore Avenue.  Both drivers suffered significant injury and were taken to the hospital where the young woman later died. An experienced accident attorney can help victims with insurance questions as to timely insurance payments to address funeral and burial expenses when individuals suffer fatal injury after a car accident.

Negligent wrongful death.

Over 3,500 individuals lost their lives in California motor vehicle accidents in 2018.  Accident victims, or loves ones may have questions as to their rights to pursue compensation for damages after a motor vehicle accident.  When wrongful death occurs, a personal representative, or specific family members will have to file legal action on behalf of the individual that died.  Drunken driving is a blatantly negligent act, and may result in pending criminal action to be undertaken before, or during the civil action proceedings. An experienced attorney can help with the intricacies of a complex accident case by addressing criminal components, insurance coverage limits, degrees of fault and the severity of the accident damages toward a timely award.

Accidental death insurance.

 The accidental death benefit, as part of a car insurance policy which may not be required,  pays for death expenses if, in a covered auto accident, bodily injury causes the death of a policy holder, or a covered family member died in a single vehicle crash.  An experienced accident attorney can help surviving loved ones by reviewing insurance policies, and communicating with carriers to process claims when necessary.  Since California is not a no fault state, but offers personal injury protection Med Pay coverages as an option, the policy’s death benefit may cover funeral expenses in advance of a settlement from a negligent driver. It is always best to speak with a car accident attorney who understands insurance laws.

Insurance law.

 California car accident attorneys can answer questions about how the laws will affect the replacement of property and address personal injury when multiple vehicles are involved.  California is a “fault” state with regard to accidents, meaning that a victim can bring a claim against the responsible party before they file a claim against their own personal injury insurance, and there is a two year time period to file a suit after an accident.  Experienced car accident lawyers can build a case against negligent parties on behalf of injured parties

Damages.

Total awards can include economic damages for present and future loss of earnings, medical bills, future medical care, household expenses and non-economic damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of companionship, as well as funeral and burial expenses when someone dies.  Punitive damages may be considered but reckless, intentional, and egregious acts must have caused the harm.

Negligence.

California auto accident lawyers can prove other individuals, or entities caused the injury and owed a duty of care to victims in many cases.  It is important to seek legal counsel shortly after an accident.  Contact the Law Offices of Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, who can assist after a motor vehicle accident results in property damage, or personal injury loss of life.

Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, a Professional Law Corporation

501 West Broadway, Suite 1650

San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-233-8021

Fax: 619-233-3730

Sources:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2021-01-04/24-year-old-woman-dies-in-head-on-crash-on-state-route-78-in-vista

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=23152

https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/index.cfm

https://www.courts.ca.gov/9618.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=en

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/