Children Keep Dying in Riverside Crashes – Some Parents are Suing
Although every life lost in a Riverside accident represents a tragedy, there is something particularly shocking about child victims. Unfortunately, parents in Riverside are losing their children to car accidents at an alarming rate. Many of these accidents were clearly preventable, and many were caused by acts of clear negligence. If your child was seriously injured or killed in a Riverside car accident, you might be wondering about the best way to pursue legal action. Although criminal cases may be mostly out of your control, you have the right to hold negligent parties accountable in California’s civil courts.
Mother Sues the City of Riverside After Losing Her Eight-Year-Old Son
On December 15, it was reported that a mother was suing the City of Riverside after losing her eight-year-old son in a car crash. She argues that the accident could have been prevented if the municipality had taken better measures to calm traffic along a particularly busy street.
Her son died in a head-on collision that also critically injured three of the woman’s other children. The driver who caused the accident was speeding when he raced down Arlington Avenue. A brief second of distraction was all it took for the driver to drift into oncoming traffic. It was at this moment that he impacted the plaintiff’s vehicle at full speed.
The mother argues that the City of Riverside was fully aware of the issue and yet did nothing to address it.
“The city is the one that should be held responsible because they knew about it, and they did nothing to prevent it,” she claimed. “This roadway has been well documented to be dangerous, as early as 2009, the residents were complaining about the speed on that road, the crashes on that roadway. The lack of signs and traffic controls on that roadway.”
One of her adult children suffered a broken foot and arm. This individual was behind the wheel at the time, and she could do nothing as she watched the vehicle approach at high velocity. Her teen son suffered a serious brain injury that caused intracranial swelling. In the end, he had to have his spine fused in an excruciatingly painful surgery. The mother’s 10-year-old child also suffered a severe brain injury and broke both of her legs.
Apparently, the City has been playing with the idea of putting stoplights in the intersection for many years. However, they never quite got around to it. In 2015, the stoplights were scheduled to be installed. For whatever reason, the upgrade never took place. It was only after the death of an eight-year-old child and three crippling injuries that they finally got their act together. Representatives of the City of Riverside were contacted for a comment, but as of this writing, there was no response.
Riverside Teen Dies After Hit-and-Run
Three days prior, a funeral service was announced for a teen who died in a Riverside hit-and-run. The 14-year-old was crossing the intersection of Woodman Drive and Burkhardt Road when she was struck and killed by a motorist. The driver did not stop to offer assistance or call 9-1-1 – preferring to speed away into the distance.
It is not exactly clear whether the suspect was ever located. Later in December, police announced that they had found a vehicle that matched a description from eyewitnesses. However, the suspect seemingly evaded capture – and police could only confirm that they had spoken to a “person of interest” connected with the crime.
Tragically, the teen survived the initial collision with a serious brain injury. She was subsequently rushed to hospital, where her father was forced to make the tough decision to remove her from life support. Questioned about the incident, her father then provided more details to the public. He explained that she was walking with four other friends when the accident occurred. According to him, the group was walking toward a bus stop when a vehicle approached out of nowhere and completely ran over the victim – crushing her skull in the process.
Can Parents Sue on Behalf of Deceased Children in Riverside?
Parents have no choice but to file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of their deceased children. Even if their children had survived car accidents, they would not be allowed to sue on their own. This is because minors are prohibited from suing, and parents must always file lawsuits on their behalf.
A wrongful death claim may lead to various forms of compensation for families who have lost loved ones. Many children receive extensive medical treatment from doctors attempting to save their lives. Even if this treatment proves unsuccessful, families must still bear the financial burden of these medical expenses.
Parents might also incur additional expenses related to the loss of a loved one. An obvious example is the cost of providing a dignified burial and funeral service for the deceased minor. These affairs can be surprisingly expensive.
Finally, families may struggle with serious, permanent psychological issues after losing a child. These non-economic damages may last longer than any car accident injury, and they may never truly heal.
A wrongful death attorney in California can help families pursue compensation for all of these various damages with efficiency. Often, the negligent party is not exactly clear – and families might not be sure who to sue. For example, city municipalities may have contributed to fatal car accidents by failing to properly maintain roads. To approach this challenging situation with efficiency, it often makes sense to get advice from a legal professional.
Find a Qualified Wrongful Death Lawyer in Riverside
If you have been searching for a wrongful death attorney in Riverside, look no further than Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP. With our assistance, you can discuss various legal options after losing a child in a car accident. Negligent drivers must be held accountable for causing crashes – especially those that endanger the lives of young people in Riverside. Book a consultation today to assess the most appropriate route toward compensation, justice, and closure.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.