Bakersfield, CA – According to KBAK, on Monday night, April 22, 2024, a woman identified by the Kern County Coroner’s Office as 30-year-old Antoinette Andrea Rodriguez of Bakersfield lost her life in a devastating collision on Niles Street.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the fatal accident occurred around 11 PM near Niles Street, east of Vale Street. Rodriguez was apparently walking northbound across the east lanes of Niles Street when tragedy struck.
Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries at Kern Medical early Tuesday morning, approximately at 2:30 AM.
Authorities have ruled out alcohol and drugs as contributing factors in the crash. The CHP is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
While no amount of money can heal the pain of losing a loved one to a vehicular fatality, their sudden and unexpected passing often brings equally unexpected costs in the form of medical bills, burial fees, and the loss of income to support any dependents of the deceased.
However, a Wrongful Death Claim, made with the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, can provide compensation to address that financial burden. Should the at-fault 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.
Those involved in a pedestrian crash should know that 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.
