Fatal California pickup truck accident

A single-vehicle accident in San Joaquin Valley resulted in the death of three people. The early morning crash appears to have occurred after the driver of a pickup truck lost control of the vehicle. The accident happened on a recent Monday on Highway 198.

Accident details

The crash took place a little before 4 a.m. The California Highway Patrol reported that a pickup truck occupied by two men and a woman suddenly struck the median. The driver apparently overcorrected, causing the pickup to flip several times.

According to law enforcement authorities, the driver and a female passenger in the pickup were ejected. It appears they were not wearing seat belts and were killed. Another passenger, a 30-year-old man, was wearing a seat belt but also did not survive. He was found the CHP in the vehicle. Officials continue to investigate the collision’s cause.

Legal recourse

This California crash appears to have been caused by driver negligence, though authorities were not immediately sure whether drugs or alcohol also played a part in the crash. Regardless, the surviving loved ones of the two deceased passengers may opt to file wrongful death claims, seeking the reimbursement of monetary damages sustained due to the collision. Even though the driver who caused the crash was killed, wrongful death claims may still be filed against the driver’s estate and anyone else with an ownership interest in the pickup.

Once liability is formally established, based upon a showing of negligence, a court will adjudicate claims for monetary damages. Plaintiffs who are successful in court typically receive monetary judgments to cover documented financial losses. A judgment may also help cover the loss of support for surviving dependents.