Bakersfield, CA – According to KGET, on the morning of February 20, 2024, one man was killed and his adult passenger was hospitalized when their car struck a tree in southwest Bakersfield.
Around 4:38 AM, officers of the Bakersfield Police Department received calls regarding the accident in the 1500 block of Old River Road near the intersection with Ming Avenue. Investigations indicated that the car had been traveling north when it left the road.
Authorities pronounced the driver dead at the scene and had the passenger transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Overnight rainfall, speed, and driver impairment may all be factors in the crash.
Personal Injury 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 personal injury claim against someone who knew the victim may prove emotionally challenging, the financial burdens resulting from the accident may be hefty.
The responsibility for these costs should fall upon the driver responsible for such injuries and their insurance provider. However, insurance companies will try to minimize the compensation for any claim they cannot deny, which is why having the help of a skilled personal injury attorney can prove crucial in ensuring justice for victims of vehicular accidents.
Wrongful Death Claims in Single-Vehicle Collisions
The compensation provided by a wrongful death claim can help relieve grieving families of the financial burdens associated with the loss of a loved one in a vehicular fatality, addressing medical expenses, burial costs, and even the loss of income to support dependents of the deceased.
In some circumstances, investigations can reveal that some portion of the liability for a single-vehicle collision might fall upon other drivers in the vicinity of the accident or even unsafe roadway structures. Working through the particulars of liability to help those who have lost a loved one find proper compensation for their loss is one of the many services a personal injury attorney can provide.