According to KTLA news and the Belmont Shore-Naples Dispatch, two men were instantly killed and a third died in the hospital as a result of a traffic collision in Long Beach Saturday night. The first two victims, Mark Martineau, 36, and Richard McAleavey, 54, were declared at the scene of the accident in the 2900 block of Redondo Avenue. Reportedly, Martineau lost control of his Dodge Ram when trying to change lanes, causing the vehicle to careen over a sidewalk and into a pylon beneath the 405 Freeway. Another passenger, 36-year-old Terrence Harris, was badly injured and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday afternoon. The crash is under investigation, but the driver may have been speeding and lost control in wet weather. The Long Beach Police Department would like witnesses to call them at (562) 570-7355.
LONG BEACH TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the City of Long Beach ranks 10th/9th out of the 13 cities in Los Angeles County with a population of more than 250,000 residents, in terms of injury and fatal accidents. In 2010, there were 1,874 injury or fatal accidents in Long Beach. Of those accidents, 254 were reportedly speed related, as may have been the case in the accident above. From a quick review of the scene via Google Maps, there does not appear to be anything unusual or dangerous about this particular area of Redondo Avenue. To the contrary, the roadway appears flat and straight with virtually no obstacles of any kind. Absent other information to the contrary, this tragic, triple-fatality accident would appear to be the result of driver negligence.
WRONGFUL DEATH RECOVERY
The families of McAleavey and Harris would appear to have the right to pursue claims for wrongful death against the insurance carrier for Martineau and/or his estate. Under California law, surviving family members (typically the spouse and children) have the right to pursue claims for the loss of the society, care, comfort, affection, love and support their loved one would otherwise have provided. Claims such as this are generally unlimited in terms of the amount the family can recover, except in the context of a medical malpractice case. What does impact the recoverable compensation are factors such as the amount the deceased provided in the way of financial support and the closeness of the relationship with the family left behind.
An experienced Orange County personal injury attorney is perhaps in the best position to assess the above factors and the best approach to a wrongful death claim.
LONG BEACH TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the City of Long Beach ranks 10th/9th out of the 13 cities in Los Angeles County with a population of more than 250,000 residents, in terms of injury and fatal accidents. In 2010, there were 1,874 injury or fatal accidents in Long Beach. Of those accidents, 254 were reportedly speed related, as may have been the case in the accident above. From a quick review of the scene via Google Maps, there does not appear to be anything unusual or dangerous about this particular area of Redondo Avenue. To the contrary, the roadway appears flat and straight with virtually no obstacles of any kind. Absent other information to the contrary, this tragic, triple-fatality accident would appear to be the result of driver negligence.
WRONGFUL DEATH RECOVERY
The families of McAleavey and Harris would appear to have the right to pursue claims for wrongful death against the insurance carrier for Martineau and/or his estate. Under California law, surviving family members (typically the spouse and children) have the right to pursue claims for the loss of the society, care, comfort, affection, love and support their loved one would otherwise have provided. Claims such as this are generally unlimited in terms of the amount the family can recover, except in the context of a medical malpractice case. What does impact the recoverable compensation are factors such as the amount the deceased provided in the way of financial support and the closeness of the relationship with the family left behind.
An experienced Orange County personal injury attorney is perhaps in the best position to assess the above factors and the best approach to a wrongful death claim.
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