Car Accident Lawyer Mickey Fine Serves Bakersfield & Surrounding Areas of California
If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation well beyond the initial offerings of insurance companies. Bakersfield car accident lawyer Mickey Fine has years of experience helping families navigate the often complex and frustrating legal system to secure maximum compensation. It costs nothing to meet with Mickey Fine to discuss your case, your rights, and the most effective way to get the justice you are due.
To schedule your free consultation at the Bakersfield office of Mickey Fine, please contact us online or call (661) 333-3333 today.
Fatal Accidents on the Rise
Fatal motor vehicle accidents are on the rise in the United States, and much of this increase has been attributed to distracted driving. In fact, deaths from accidents caused by distracted drivers are now more common than those caused by drunk drivers, yet distracted drivers are not faced with anywhere near the criminal penalties of those who are intoxicated at the time of an accident.
A fatal motor vehicle accident can occur on a motorcycle, car, or truck. Unfortunately, too many people across California and the rest of the United States die each year due to these accidents leaving their loved ones behind, wondering what to do.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics in California
Overall, California traffic fatalities in 2019 decreased by 5.1% from 3,798 in 2018 to 3,606. However, the state of California witnessed 3,723 motor vehicle deaths in 2020 – slightly increasing again from the previous year.
Nearly 55% of fatal car accidents that happen nationwide occur in rural areas. The opposite is true for California. In fact, nearly 62% of car accident fatalities that occur in California happen in urban areas, and slightly less than 40% happen in rural areas.
California Has More Fatal Car Accidents Than Any Other State
There are more fatal car accidents in California than anywhere else in the United States. A contributing factor to this statistic is the fact that California has such a massive population with heavily trafficked roads. With that said, California is, without a doubt, the most dangerous state to drive in.
California Motor Vehicle Laws
Fatal car accident lawyers know that local law can affect how auto accidents are handled in personal injury claims. A knowledgeable Bakersfield car accident attorney can determine how these elements can be assimilated into a wrongful death claim.
Seat belt law
Seat belt use is mandatory in California for all drivers and passengers over the age of 16. Failure to properly use a seat belt is sometimes used as a defense in auto accident cases. However, being that California is a comparative fault state, you can still recover fair financial compensation even if the car wreck victim had a degree of fault for the accident.
Headset law
California drivers are prohibited from using headsets or earplugs in both ears while operating a vehicle. Such use can be considered negligence if a driver involved in a deadly collision was found to be engaging in distracted driving. Traffic safety violations do not always lead to serious car accidents. However, when they do, it’s important to have a lawyer by your side who can ensure that all the facts and circumstances of an accident are duly considered.
Common Causes of Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents in California
When passing a car accident on the road, we often wonder what caused it. The leading causes of fatal motor vehicle accidents in California include:
Drunk Driving
Driving drunk has proven to be one of the most common causes of auto accident deaths nationwide. According to traffic safety reports, accidents involving intoxicated drivers have also increased in Kern County, with fatalities often peaking during the holiday season. In 2015, nearly 596 residents of California were killed in drunk driving accidents.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous. In 2015, 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured in distracted driving accidents nationwide. It is against the law in California to use your phone under any circumstances while driving your vehicle. Even with this law, nearly 500 motor vehicle accident deaths occur in this state due to distracted driving each year.
Collisions with Commercial Trucks
Commercial trucks are much larger than the rest of the vehicles on the road. Because of this, accidents involving large commercial trucks are more likely to be fatal. According to the DMV, in 2015, there were 290 fatal accidents that involved trucks in California.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous. In 2015, 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured in distracted driving accidents nationwide. It is against the law in California to use your phone under any circumstances while driving your vehicle. Even with this law, nearly 500 motor vehicle accident deaths occur in this state due to distracted driving each year.
Poorly Maintained Roadways
A hazardous public roadway or a poorly marked sign could create conditions for severe injury or even death. If a driver is involved in a fatal accident due to a road that’s deemed unsafe, there may be a reason to assign fault to those responsible for maintaining it.
Mechanical Defects
Sometimes, defective vehicles and their manufacturers are to blame in the case of a fatal car accident. For example, a car with defective brakes could lead to a single-car accident with the potential to cause a great degree of personal injury. A vehicle that’s been improperly serviced could also be prey to mechanical errors, leading to an accident that costs lives.
Compensation for Fatal Car Accidents
Surviving families of fatal car crashes can pursue damages for financial losses and physical and emotional pain. The Bakersfield car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Mickey Fine can assess these losses in order to get an accurate idea of their total value. Mickey is an experienced fatal car accident lawyer who is committed to helping families who have lost a loved one get compensation for all of their damages. These can include:
Outstanding medical bills
End-of-life expenses
Projected future earnings and financial contributions
Lost retirement and investment income
Loss of insurance
Loss of other financial benefits
Emotional pain and suffering.
Occasionally, punitive or “exemplary damages” are awarded in a fatal car accident case if the at-fault driver was found to have acted with malice. If you have reason to believe that a loved one’s car accident fatality was the result of actions carried out maliciously, a qualified lawyer can help you determine the best course of action to take.
Do I Need a Fatal Car Accident Attorney?
Fatal car accident claims can involve various unique factors and potentially liable parties. At times, a fatal accident caused by someone else’s negligence may require an involved investigation, a negotiation process, or possibly a car accident lawsuit, should your claim not be able to meet a resolution out of court.
Regardless of whether a law was broken by a distracted driver, a drunk driver, or another act of negligence, when they cause a serious fatal car accident, they are responsible for the damages. The best way to make sure a victim’s family is compensated for wrongful death is through aggressive legal action from a dedicated and experienced attorney.
Experienced Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
Bakersfield car accident lawyer Mickey Fine has over three decades of experience helping injured victims and survivors of traffic fatalities receive financial compensation for their losses. Mr. Fine knows the tragedy and hardship that a serious car accident can bring and will stop at nothing to help you and your family members get support and the firm legal foothold that will allow you to preserver during difficult times.
If you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, you don’t have to face the future alone. Call Bakersfield wrongful death attorney Mickey Fine at (661) 333-3333 to learn how we can help. Or contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fatal Car Accidents in California
How do I file a fatal car accident claim in Bakersfield, CA?
If your loved one has been killed in a motor vehicle accident in Bakersfield, CA, you need to contact Mickey Fine, so he can help you pursue justice on behalf of your loved one. Mickey Fine cannot heal the wounds of losing a loved one, but he can help your family get the compensation necessary to move forward. He will work hard to prove that the at-fault party in your case behaved negligently, and because of this negligence, your loved one was killed.
Who will pay compensation in a fatal car accident claim in Bakersfield, CA?
In most fatal motor vehicle accidents in California, the insurance company that covers the at-fault party in an accident pays compensation. No matter if the responsible party was a trucker, car driver, or motorcyclist, Mickey Fine will make sure that he does everything in his power to ensure that the compensation your family deserves is paid in full.
How much compensation is available in a fatal car accident claim?
The amount of compensation available to the family of a deceased person in a fatal motor vehicle accident claim varies on a case-to-case basis. Compensation that may be available in a fatal motor vehicle accident includes:
Funeral and burial expenses
Medical and hospital bills
Loss of potential income that the deceased person would have been expected to earn
Loss of anticipated financial support
Loss of consortium
Mental anguish
How long will my fatal car accident case take to complete?
The length that your loved one’s case will take to complete is uncertain. A full investigation into your loved one’s accident will be the first step in the process. A detailed investigation can take time and should never be rushed because it will reveal essential evidence to your loved one’s case. You will feel comfortable knowing that Mickey Fine will ensure the success of your case.
Should I accept a settlement on behalf of my loved one before speaking with a lawyer?
We strongly recommend that you not accept any insurance settlement or speak with any insurance representative about your loved one’s case until you have first spoken with Mickey Fine. Insurance companies will almost never offer you a fair settlement. To ensure that this doesn't happen to you, contact The Law Offices of Mickey Fine and talk with us about your case.