CHP: Jose Depaz Died in Crash on Pearblossom Highway in Llano

FATAL TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

Authorities continue to look into the circumstances that led to the crash, including what caused it.

“Figuring out who is at fault in a car accident comes down to determining whether a driver acted carelessly or negligently,” said Candice Bond, a national analyst for Accident Injury News and Managing Partner at Bond Legal. “In many cases, it’s fairly clear who the responsible party is after a crash. Other times, though, pinpointing the cause can be much more difficult.”

Motor vehicle crashes claim the lives of approximately 36,000 people annually in the U.S. and leave another 1.9 million injured. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has identified speeding as the leading cause of fatal crashes in 2018, with impairment from alcohol, drugs, or medication, improper lane usage, failure to yield, and distracted driving also ranking among the top contributing factors.

“What makes this even more complicated is that different parties — including police and insurance companies — may reach conclusions about fault without conducting a thorough investigation of their own,” Bond said.

That’s why having a law firm conduct an independent investigation can make such a difference.

“Wrongful death attorneys offer both guidance and legal counsel to families who’ve lost someone in an accident,” Bond said. “We work to protect our clients’ rights and make sure their statements to police or insurers aren’t used against them later.”

WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM

Depending on how the investigation unfolds, the family of Jose Depaz may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal, said, “When someone is injured in a collision, they often pursue a personal injury claim to cover medical expenses, ongoing care, lost wages, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. But when a loved one is killed, families have the option to file a wrongful death suit to recover funeral costs, the loss of love and companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.”

Formica added: “Insurance companies aren’t always sympathetic to the financial burden faced by an injured person or a grieving family. That’s where having an attorney matters. We work every day to protect victims and their families, holding insurance companies accountable for their mistakes.”

(This report is based on verified data - learn more on our About Us page.)