Riverdale, CA – A devastating car crash Tuesday evening, September 3, 2024, left a man dead and hospitalized a woman and three children close to the rural border of Fresno and Kings counties, according to ABC30.
The accident occurred just before 6 PM at the intersection of Marks and Excelsior Avenues, a quiet area surrounded by farmland.
According to investigators, a pickup truck stopped at a stop sign but then drove into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. The force of the collision resulted in the death of the pickup driver, a man who was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released by authorities.
A woman and three children ages four to ten, were also in the pickup at the time of the crash. They were rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries. The driver of the semi-truck was not harmed in the accident.
The crash caused significant damage to nearby power poles, and PG&E crews have been working to restore power to the area.
Wrongful Death Claims
Establishing fault in a collision can depend on multiple factors. One crucial way a personal injury attorney can assist grieving families is by determining legal liability after the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.
If another party is found to hold some responsibility for the death, the family may be eligible to file a Wrongful Death claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. This claim can provide compensation to help cover hospital fees, burial costs, and the loss of support for the deceased’s dependents.
Stop Sign Laws
California Law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a Stop sign (California Vehicle Code 22450). Drivers may only enter the intersection when it appears safe for all parties to do so (California Vehicle Code 21802).
Comparative Negligence
California Law upholds the concept of Comparative Negligence, which allows more than one party to share blame in a personal injury accident. Injured victims may have their compensation reduced if they are found partially to blame.
