Stanislaus County, CA – According to the Modesto Bee, on the morning of Thursday, March 7, 2024, 50-year-old Byron Gonzalez was struck and killed while walking along Highway 33.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports that the accident occurred around 5 AM near McCracken Road. The vehicle that killed Gonzalez was a Nissan pickup driven by a Stockton resident who was traveling southbound on Highway 33.
Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene.
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.
Should the driver escape justice, compensation may be available from a family member’s uninsured driver coverage. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help determine what the best options are.
