Officers arriving on the scene of a fatal accident on a California road would notify the County Coroner. The coroner would usually investigate the scene.
The coroner would be relied on to determine the cause of death, especially if the cause of death were unknown or a medical emergency or a criminal act was suspected of causing the death. Then the body would be transported to the morgue for cause of death certification and a possible autopsy.
The Investigation Into a Fatal California Roadway Accident
911 operators should be notified immediately of any accident that involves an injury or a fatality. This duty required of drivers is state law and covered in California Vehicle Codes.
“(a) …The driver also shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including transporting, or making arrangements for transporting, any injured person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if that transportation is requested by any injured person.”
If a driver left the scene of a deadly accident they could face both imprisonment and fines. Locating the responsible driver would become part of the fatal accident investigation.
A city police officer, a sheriff’s deputy, or a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer would arrive on the scene and work with paramedics and other first responders to determine if any victims have succumbed to injuries. If a fatality is certain, the officer would contact the county coroner.
The coroner will usually respond to the scene, especially if the cause of death isn’t readily apparent. However, officers on the scene would still be investigating to determine what led to the accident and what caused the injuries or death to occur.
The Highway Patrol’s MAIT Fatal Accident Team
The Highway Patrol can also call out an additional investigative team for major accidents that involve a fatality.
The Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Teams (MAIT) would use accident reconstruction, mechanical inspections, and environmental investigation to determine what happened and why to the best of their knowledge.
They would also investigate every driver’s record and medical health in case a health emergency caused the crash. Autopsy results would also factor in. MAIT officers would want to know the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for each driver in case drug or alcohol use factored into the collisions.
The Coroner’s Responsibility After a Fatal California Accident
Every California county has a coroner. The coroner can be the Sheriff or a medical examiner. The coroner certifies the cause of death after an accident. An autopsy could be performed if it’s important to the investigation.
Family members generally wouldn’t be allowed to view a loved one at the morgue. They’d have to wait until the body was transported to a mortuary. The cause of death could be certified and reported in around a day. But when additional investigation is needed into the cause of an investigation or the cause of death, certification can take longer.
You can find out more about the coroner’s duties after an accident by visiting our informational page.
Contact a California Wrongful Death Lawyer
Speak with a skilled California wrongful death lawyer after any tragic accident claims the life of a loved one. If another driver contributed to the deadly crash, families may seek justice and support. A Maison Law attorney can help them file a wrongful death claim and ask for help with funeral expenses and leftover medical expenses. A lawyer would also demand help for the family in the future when they’ll be without the income the victim may have provided.
Contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your family should do to rebuild their lives and secure their futures. If you require our help to seek what’s fair, your family won’t need any money to hire Maison Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for your family. Then, our fee comes out of the settlement money a car insurance company must provide.
