Merced County, CA – According to the Merced Sun-Star, on Saturday, February 10, 2024, a single-vehicle rollover near Snelling on La Grange Road north of Field Road resulted in a driver injury and the death of the passenger, identified as 60-year-old Francisco Rodriguez of Merced County.
Around 12:40 AM, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrived at the scene of the accident to find both Rodriguez and the driver, a 58-year-old Merced man, had been ejected from the vehicle, a 2017 Toyota Yaris. The driver received transport to a Modesto-area hospital for treatment, while Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial investigations indicated that the Toyota had been traveling north on La Grange when the driver lost control. The CHP found drugs and paraphernalia in the vehicle.
Wrongful Death Claims
The liability insurance that drivers carry is not just meant to cover accidental harm caused to those outside of the vehicle. A driver is responsible for the safety of those in their vehicle as well. While making a wrongful death claim against someone who knew the victim personally may prove emotionally challenging, the financial burdens left to a grieving family by the loss of a loved one can be hefty.
A good personal injury attorney can help grieving families seek proper compensation for the loss by navigating these tricky issues, as well as negotiating on the victim’s behalf with insurance companies, who routinely work to minimize the payout of any claim they cannot deny.
