Fresno, CA – According to KFSN with additional reporting by FOX26, on Wednesday, January 7, 2024, at 1:30 AM, a collision behind the Dollar Tree on Maroa and Fern killed one pedestrian and hospitalized another.
Around 1:35 AM, officers from the Fresno Police Department received notice of the accident through 911 calls. They arrived to find a driver in her 20s who had lost control of her Ford Fiesta and struck an unhoused man and woman in the Dollar Tree parking lot.
The woman who was struck received transport to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities determined the driver to have been intoxicated and arrested her for DUI.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
Motorists are required to exercise an additional “duty of care” towards pedestrians due to their heightened vulnerability in car accidents, which more often result in pedestrian fatalities.
In cases where a driver is found responsible for a pedestrian fatality, the victim’s family may have grounds to initiate a wrongful death claim through the driver’s insurance provider. Compensation from a wrongful death claim can help cover medical costs, burial expenses, and the financial support lost by dependents of the deceased.
Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts for claims they cannot outright deny. That is why the services of a proficient personal injury attorney can prove crucial for grieving families through the complexities of seeking justice for their loved ones.
