Previous posts here have noted that the survivors of a person who is killed by the negligence or wrongful act of another may be entitled to damages for loss of support and companionship of the decedent. Such cases are generally known as wrongful death actions. According to a recent report, a 2016 crosswalk accident has triggered such an action in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The decedent was walking west on Lakewood Boulevard and had stopped for a traffic light at the intersection of Willow Street and Lakewood Boulevard. The pedestrian was waiting for a green light that would have allowed her to cross Lakewood Boulevard. When the light changed to green, she began walking in the crosswalk. An auto transport truck that was proceeding west on Willow Street began making a right turn into Lakewood when it struck and killed the woman. The lawsuit is being brought by the five adult children of the decedent.
The defendants are the driver and the owner of the auto transport truck. The truck was transporting nine new Mercedes-Benz vehicles to a dealership when the accident occurred. Neither the driver nor the transportation company has replied to the allegations of the complaint. While the news report of the case did not specify the legal basis for the action, California law requires the plaintiffs in wrongful death cases to prove that the defendant acted in a wrongful manner.
Anyone who has experienced the death of a family member due to another party’s negligence may wish to consider bringing a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation.
Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram, “Company, driver sued by children of woman killed in Long Beach crash,” Jan. 26, 2017
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