In some cases, fatal car accidents are completely unpreventable, while in others, it becomes clear that these tragedies could have been avoided. While there's nothing that can ever truly compensate for the untimely death of loved one, there are instances in which family members of car accident victims can hold responsible parties accountable for their actions, as two California families recently did.
According to the Monterey County Herald, a California news outlet, a multi-vehicle accident on Highway 156 resulted in the deaths of 48-year-old Maria Almanza-Romero and 4-year-old Alex Navarro on November 5, 2010. The source reports that Almanza-Romero had stopped on the highway to make a turn when an 18-wheeler slammed into her. The force of the collision pushed her into oncoming traffic, and she hit the vehicle driven by Navarro's mother.
As a result of this incident, the families of the two victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Bhandal Brothers Trucking, the company whose driver caused the accident. The plaintiffs claimed that "Caltrans knew about a dangerous highway condition for 30 years and didn't take steps to make the two-lane, 55 mph highway safer" and also alleged negligence on behalf of the truck driver, states the news outlet. Earlier this week, the families were awarded $18.7 million.
If someone you love has died in a car accident or any other kind of incident and you're interested in filing a civil lawsuit, the first course of action is to find a personal injury attorney who has experience with cases just like yours. These skilled professionals will give you the compassion and personal attention you deserve while helping you recover damages to which you may be entitled.