The unexpected loss of a family member is often a shock that many people are financially and emotionally unprepared to handle. Unfortunately, the families of four people in California are coming to terms with the news of such a loss. As with many car accidents, police are working to determine whether alcohol may have played a role in the accident.
Police say that they received calls regarding a car that was going the wrong way on a California highway. Unfortunately, a collision occurred soon after. Reports indicate that a sedan was headed east in the westbound lanes and crashed into an oncoming pickup truck directly. A third vehicle is also believed to have struck the pickup before the truck burst into flames.
The three male occupants of the truck as well as the 19-year-old driver of the sedan died at the scene of the accident. The driver of the third vehicle reportedly suffered minor injuries. Police are now working to determine the cause of the accident, including what role — if any — drugs or alcohol may have played.
While most people are aware of the emotional implications of such a loss, they may be less aware of the financial consequences of car accidents. If a family depended on the income of one of the deceased men to make ends meet, for example, they may be struggling with funeral costs and the day-to-day costs of a household. Many people in California who have lost a loved one as a result of another’s negligence have chosen to seek financial relief in a civil court. A successfully presented case could result in a monetary award that would help a family struggling with the loss of a loved one.
Source: capradio.org, “Authorities Release ID Of Driver Involved In Fatal Wrong-Way Crash On Highway 50“, April 22, 2015