Bakersfield, CA – According to KBAK, on January 23, 2024, around 6:03 AM, a woman was killed in a collision with a truck while walking across the eastbound lanes of Rosedale Highway, west of Rudd Avenue, outside of a crosswalk,
The driver of a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, a 37-year-old Bakersfield man, was traveling eastbound at approximately 55 to 57 mph. Despite the driver’s efforts, he struck the woman when she walked into the path of the Chevrolet.
The impact resulted in the woman’s death, and the driver of the Chevrolet remained at the scene until the arrival of the CHP. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be involved in the crash. Investigations into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
Drivers are expected to give pedestrians an extra “duty of care” because of their greater vulnerability in vehicular collisions, which more often lead to pedestrian fatalities. Determining liability in such an accident can vary depending on multiple factors.
If a driver is determined to be at fault in a pedestrian death, families of the victim may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim with that driver’s insurance provider. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation to help cover medical expenses, burial costs, and the loss of support toward any dependents of the deceased.
However, insurance companies work to minimize the payout for any claim they cannot deny, which is where the services of a skilled, knowledgeable personal injury attorney can prove crucial.
