Sacramento, CA – Around 4:35 PM on Sunday, February 11, 2024, a fatal collision on Highway 50 cost Sacramento woman Yari Quirarte her son, 9-year-old Alexander Cooper, and sent her daughter, 8-year-old Jasmine Cooper, to the hospital, according to KCRA.
Just before the crash, Quirarte’s vehicle, a black Toyota, experienced a tire blowout that left the vehicle disabled in the fast lane of westbound Highway 50 east of 65th Street. Fearing for her children’s safety as they stood outside the Toyota with traffic all around them, Quirarte sent her children to wait in the construction zone in the middle of the freeway.
Before they could reach it, however, a Ford being driven by a 30-year-old man at an unknown speed suddenly came upon the disabled Toyota. Although Quirarte had her hazard lights turned on, the Ford was unable to decelerate without swerving to avoid a collision.
The swerve sent the Ford into the median, where it tragically struck both Alexander and Jasmine. Alexander died at the scene. Jasmine received treatment at UC Davis Medical Center. The Ford driver was unharmed in the crash.
Duty of Care toward Pedestrians
Drivers are expected to provide a special “duty of care” toward pedestrians, who have greater vulnerability and are more likely to receive fatal injuries in traffic collisions. However, establishing liability can depend on multiple factors. Sorting through these complexities to determine fault is one of the services a personal injury attorney can provide.
Even after fault is established, insurance companies will attempt to minimize any claim they cannot deny. That is another place where a personal injury attorney can prove valuable by negotiating on behalf of victims to win for them the full compensation they are due.
Wrongful Death Claims
While no amount of money can bring back those who lose their lives in a vehicular fatality, the emotional burden of their loss is often accompanied by a financial burden that falls on their surviving family members.
A wrongful death claim filed with the insurance provider of an at-fault driver can provide compensation to help cover medical expenses, burial costs, and even the loss of support for dependents of the deceased.
However, because insurance companies carry the incentive to reduce the payout for any claim they cannot deny, the services of a skilled personal injury attorney can prove crucial in securing justice for the deceased.
