San Jose, CA – According to CBS Bay Area News, on the night of Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 25-year-old Justine Rivas of San Jose was arrested for DUI after striking and killing a pedestrian with her vehicle.
The California Highway Patrol Reports that around 9:15 PM on Highway 101 north of McKee Road, Rivas was driving a 2011 Toyota Camry with a 3-year-old boy in the car with her, when her vehicle struck an elderly male pedestrian.
Emergency responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Rivas was arrested on suspicion of DUI and has been detained at the Santa Clara County jail.
Wrongful Death Claims
Even in cases where criminal charges are not brought to bear, families who have lost a loved one in a fatal collision may be able to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver.
The compensation provided by a wrongful death claim can relieve the financial burdens created by medical expenses, burial costs, and the loss of income to support any dependents of the deceased.
Insurance companies will work to reduce any claim they cannot deny, which is where the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can prove invaluable by negotiating on behalf of victims and their families to ensure they receive proper compensation.
