On June 15, 2018, a family of four experienced a devastating morning. On Friday morning, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the family’s blue SUV stalled on the 405-freeway southbound. In the vehicle, there were four occupants—a 39-year-old father, a mother of an undisclosed age, a 10-year-old daughter, and a 3-year-old son.
After the SUV stalled, the father exited the vehicle with his son. Shortly after, another SUV struck the disabled vehicle. The 39-year-old man, identified as Tarun Katara, and his 3-year-old son were killed at the scene of the accident. The other two occupants of the vehicle, a mother and her daughter, suffered many injuries but survived the fatal crash. The woman suffered moderate injuries, while the young girl suffered serious injuries.
The driver of the vehicle who struck the family’s blue SUV, a 47-year-old woman from Santa Ana, was also injured and was hospitalized.
If you or a member of your family were injured or killed in an accident similar to the fatal crash described above, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit and be compensated. You must seek legal assistance as soon as possible. If you are interested in learning more about your rights to file a lawsuit after you suffered injuries or a member of your family was killed in a crash in a California freeway, you must contact the attorneys at Normandie Law Firm immediately.
Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of all victims affected by unexpected accidents that result in injuries and death. Our lawyers have many years of experience handling claims for auto accidents that resulted in both injuries and fatalities. When you allow our law firm to handle your auto accident claim, you can be certain that our lawyers will incessantly fight for your right to sue and be compensated.
Common Causes of Auto Accidents
Why do auto accidents occur? Accidents can occur for many reasons. In the incident described above, the accident likely occurred due to a combination of mechanical issues and negligence. The blue SUV that was struck was stalled on the freeway. Considering that the vehicle did not make a sudden stop and the man was able to exit the vehicle with his son, the driver who struck the stalled vehicle was likely distracted and failed to avoid the stalled SUV. However, every auto accident happens under differed circumstances. In the lost below, you can find some of the most common causes of auto accidents:
- Mechanical problems
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic signals and laws
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving recklessly
- Weather conditions
- Lighting conditions
- Inexperienced drivers
- Defective vehicles
- Defective roads
- Hazards on the road
What caused the accident in which you suffered injuries and a member of your family lost his or her life? Whatever the cause, you could have the right to sue. Auto accident claims are often based on negligence and liability. All drivers have a duty of care to drive cautiously to ensure that no parties suffer injuries. If they breach their duty of care and cause an accident that results in injuries, they could be found negligent and liable for damages. If you are unsure about whether your accident was caused by negligent actions, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible. Our attorneys will evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information you need to better understand your right to file a lawsuit.
Common Injuries Suffered in Auto Accidents
In many instances, auto accidents result in fatalities. However, the majority of victims of auto accidents survive and suffer injuries. The injuries sustained during car accidents depend on many factors, such as the force of impact, the type of accident, and whether the occupants of the vehicle were properly restrained, for example. Victims could suffer many of the injuries listed below:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Leg and foot injuries
- Arm and hand injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Nerve damage
- Lacerations
- Scrapes and bruises
No matter the injuries you sustained, you likely had to receive medical treatment which created medical bills. If your injuries were severe enough to require surgery or physical therapy, your medical costs likely skyrocketed. If you have found yourself dealing with financial difficulties after your accident, you might be relieved to learn that you might be eligible to receive compensation.
The Compensation Available for Recovery
If you suffered injuries or if a member of your family was killed in a car accident, you could be eligible to receive compensation. Although monetary compensation cannot reverse your injuries or return the life to your deceased family members, compensation can help you overcome this difficult chapter of your life.
Every claim is different; however, many claimants are eligible to receive the following forms of compensation:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral costs
- Burial costs
- Punitive damages
As you can see, there are many categories of compensation available for recovery. When you contact Normandie Law Firm and allow our skilled auto accident lawyers to handle your claim, you can have the certainty that you will recover the compensation that you rightfully deserve. Our attorneys are experienced in negotiation with insurance companies and will not rest until you recover the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim.
Deadlines to Sue
To preserve your right to sue and be compensated, you must file your claim within the statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a deadline to sue; it establishes the length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If claims are not filed within the deadline, they risk losing their right to sue. If you suffered injuries, you will likely be subjected to a two-year statute of limitations. This two-year timeline starts the day of the accident or the day that the victim discovered his or her injuries. If you are interested in filing a claim for the death of a member of your family, you would have to file a wrongful death claim. If you file a wrongful death claim, you have two years from the date of death to file a claim. Since these deadlines to sue vary depending on the specific details of your claim, it is essential that you seek legal assistance immediately. Some car accidents often involve city vehicles or name a government entity as a defendant; these claims are often subject to a much shorter time to file claims. Because of this, you must contact our law firm immediately.
Normandie Law Firm
If you or a member of your family were injured in an auto accident, you must seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Without a doubt, you might be dealing with emotional, mental, and physical difficulties immediately after your car accident. However, you must contact our law firm and allow our auto accident attorneys to help you during this difficult time. Our attorneys understand how you are feeling, and they are ready to guide you through the legal process of filing a claim against the party liable for your injuries and the wrongful death of your loved ones.
To remain accessible to all victims, our law firm offers free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our experienced lawyers are available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with the legal information necessary to pursue an auto accident claim. Even if you have previously spoken with an attorney whose incompetence negatively affected your claim, you can be certain that our auto accident experts will guide your claim towards a successful outcome.
Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee, a guarantee which ensures that our clients never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees. This policy ensures that all victims of auto accidents have access to legal assistance and can get the legal guidance necessary to fight to be compensated for their injuries or the wrongful death of their family members. Our law firm is also based on contingency; therefore, our clients will never be required to pay legal expenses until after their claims reach successful verdicts or settlements. If your claim does not reach a positive outcome, you will not be required to make any payments whatsoever. Do not hesitate—if you are ready to begin your legal process, contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.
