Maison Law of Fresno represents families who have lost a loved one in a tragic pedestrian accident on dangerous local roads. When a careless driver’s mistake is to blame for a fatal accident, those left behind should receive help in paying for a funeral and replacing any income the deceased can no longer provide to support their families. Please contact Maison Law to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a real lawyer and find out about every benefit available to your family.
Do I Need a Lawyer If a Loved One Was Killed in a Fresno Pedestrian Accident?
If a loved one is taken from you after being struck by a careless driver, families have the legal right to demand financial restitution. Families can seek justice and support from car insurance companies, but that doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to get the assistance they need. Insurance adjusters are trained to try to limit what families receive. These giant insurers can even attempt to blame an innocent victim on foot for an accident to escape accountability.
A Fresno Fatal Motorcycle Accident Lawyer safeguards the family’s rights and fights back against these unfair tactics. A skilled lawyer makes sure families are awarded all benefits available. A Maison Law lawyer files a wrongful death claim and protects the family’s interests. Our representative also handles the frustrating negotiations with insurance companies with as little disruption to a grieving family as possible.
Deadly Pedestrian Accident Dangers on Fresno Roads
Fresno roads get very busy, and those on foot can’t always trust that drivers are watching out for them. A speeding motorist or a driver playing with a cellphone can fail to spot a pedestrian in a crosswalk and cause a terrible collision.
Without any protection, pedestrians can suffer catastrophic injuries and be in immediate danger of losing their lives.
It’s no small risk at busy intersections like those along Shields Avenue and Olive Avenue. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reports that in 2024, there were 174 pedestrian accidents in the city involving an injury. Those accidents led to 29 tragic deaths. In the previous year, there were more serious accidents recorded, but fewer deaths. In 2023, there were 188 serious accidents and 21 tragic fatalities.
Drivers in Fresno are supposed to always watch for pedestrians in a crosswalk or outside one. They must slow down at the sight of any person on foot in the street or approaching the street. Motorists are supposed to be going slow enough to jam the brakes if necessary to come safely to a complete stop.
If a driver fails in this duty, they can be held liable for the financial turmoil caused to families who lose a loved one. Unfortunately, a car insurance company will first try every way possible to avoid blame, blame the victim, and limit the money families can ask for. It’s why a Fresno Wrongful Death Lawyer is a strong resource for families at such a terrible time.
Hiring a lawyer is a protective move for your family and your claim. It’s also a financial one. Experienced lawyers can often secure much more for a family’s future than a family can win by filing a claim themselves.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Pedestrian Accident?
California allows a close family member who files a wrongful death claim on behalf of all survivors (remaining family members). A skilled attorney can also represent the family or individuals in the family in a wrongful death case.
Those who would be eligible to receive a share of a wrongful death settlement check would be:
- A spouse or partner
- Children and adopted children of the victim
- The grandchildren of the victim if their parents are no longer living
In some cases, the parents of the victim or anyone financially dependent on the victim would have the right to participate in a wrongful death claim.
Support Available to Family Members After a Deadly Fresno Pedestrian Accident
Your Fresno Pedestrian Accident Attorney handles the frustrating claims process and back-and-forth with purposely unhelpful insurance adjusters. As part of complete care for clients, your Maison Law attorney would also file the wrongful death claim and make sure every hardship was listed.
This is critical because any damage left off a claim would be something the insurer could dismiss and leave for your family to cover.
Your lawyer would demand these and other benefits for your family:
- Money to pay for a funeral service and burial.
- Money to pay any medical bills that remain.
- Money to replace the income the deceased can no longer provide to support loved ones in the future.
- Support for the loss of love and guidance that a loved one can no longer provide in the future.
- Support for the loss of companionship over the coming years.
- Support for loss of intimacy with a spouse.
How Can My Family Back a Fatal Pedestrian Accident Claim With Evidence?
If an unhelpful car insurance company tries to shift blame in a pedestrian accident away from the driver, you’ll want to have the strongest evidence available to fight back.
A police collision report can serve as powerful evidence to show what really happened. If your family has turned a wrongful death case over to an attorney, the attorney will gather these documents. If not, visit our page on how to get a Traffic Accident Report from Fresno Police or the CHP.
Family members might also require the results of an autopsy to back their claim against a giant car insurance company. Families will also need a death certificate to help settle the affairs of a loved one.
Instructions for obtaining documents from the Fresno County Coroner and the Fresno County Health Department
Bereavement Support for Family Members After a Fatal Pedestrian Accident
Any pedestrian accident settlement check should include enough in support so that family members can afford professional mental health care. It’s understandable that those left behind might struggle with the grieving process and letting go. And psychological counseling is available to anyone who can’t handle such an emotional burden alone.
There are many free and low-cost wellness resources available in Fresno for grieving families. They allow individuals to speak with others who have experienced loss.
These are just a few of the options available for those in mourning:
- Saint Agnes Medical Center: Local hospitals have formed several groups to help those who have recently lost someone. Saint Agnes Medical Center holds a meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month. It’s held at the Saint Agnes Administrative Center. Visit their site here for more information.
- Hinds Hospice LifeCare in Fresno offers 12-week classes for individuals and couples working through the stages of grief.
- GriefShare groups meet at several local churches each month, including Northwest Church, The Bridge, and Campus Bible Church near Fresno State.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a wrongful death claim if an at-fault party is facing criminal charges as well?
Yes. If a driver is facing a criminal trial, perhaps over drunk driving charges or even vehicular manslaughter, the criminal proceedings are separate from the civil proceedings. The family can file a wrongful death claim at any time, no matter where the criminal trial stands. The wrongful death case is dealt with as a civil claim. A driver at fault for causing a deadly bicycle impact may have to pay civil damages to families, even if they are found not guilty in a criminal trial.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?
Two years. Families who have lost a loved one should act quickly to hold at-fault drivers responsible. Waiting months to begin building a claim can mean evidence is harder to find and witnesses are harder to locate.
What if my family can’t afford to pay a wrongful death lawyer?
Your family doesn’t need any money to hire Maison Law and secure powerful legal protection. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money that the car insurance company must pay your family members.
Contact a Fresno Fatal Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Families should be allowed the time they need to grieve after a tragic pedestrian accident, but bills and hardships stemming from a tragedy can make a wrongful death lawsuit necessary. A wrongful death attorney can handle your case privately with as little disruption to close family members as possible.
Contact Maison Law for a free and confidential case evaluation for any family after a tragic pedestrian collision in Fresno and the Fresno County area. Our lawyers offer compassionate care to those in mourning to ensure they don’t suffer the financial consequences of someone else’s mistake.
