Tragedy occurred recently when a young boy suffers a fatal injury in a Newport Beach truck accident. The accident occurred in the afternoon on Wednesday May 25, near the intersection of 15th Street and Michael Place in Newport Beach. Apparently the boy was riding a bicycle at the time he was struck by the commercial trash truck, that is owned by CR&R, a Stanton company that contracts with the city for trash collection services. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident, and have not yet determined how the accident has occurred. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the boy and the community in this senseless tragedy.
Unfortunately, tragedies like this sometimes occur involving municipal or privately contracted companies that work for the city. Trash trucks, public buses, and street sweepers are examples of some vehicles that are city owned (or contract with the city) and are sometimes involved in accidents. Due to their larger sizes, accidents involving these types of vehicles can lead to very severe injuries. In California, when someone loses their life due to the negligence of another it is known as a “wrongful death.” This child should not have lost his life, and the I’m sure the family will ultimately consider their legal options. The most important we can do in a situation like this is to remove the burden of having to work with the insurance companies, government entities and other agencies regarding legal paperwork and any potential wrongful death claim. This frees the family of painful burdens that remind them of the accident, so that they may focus on supporting one another and grieving the loss of this child.
Claims against government entities, especially in the case of a fatal accident have very specific rules and have complexities that regular personal injury claims do not have. As a result, it is highly recommended to seek legal representation if you are planning to make a claim against a city or governmental entity. For example, most people are unaware that prior to making a claim against a governmental entity, you must file a formal claim putting them on notice before proceeding with a formal lawsuit. There are very strict statutory requirements including the Government Claims Act that must be followed. It is important to work with a Newport Beach injury attorney with extensive experience and expertise in these cases.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal injury in a Newport Beach truck accident or any fatal accident across Southern California, please contact the Law Firm of Rivers Morrell for a free consultation at (949)305-1400 to discuss your claims. Rivers Morrell has more than 40 years of experience dealing with government claims against government defendants and wrongful death actions. We can answer all of your questions and help you determine the best legal options available.
