Two people died and a third was flown to an Escondido hospital after an accident near San Diego.

Two people died and a third was flown to a hospital with major injuries after two cars collided on a backcountry road shortly after noon Wednesday. A 56-year-old Fallbrook woman who was speeding in a 2016 Ford Focus apparently caused the crash when her car drifted into oncoming traffic and struck a 2017 Subaru Impreza. The Fallbrook woman and a male passenger in the Impreza died at the scene and the Impreza’s driver was airlifted to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido with injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Travis Garrow. The head-on crash was reported about 12:15 p.m. on Mussey Grade Road, near Buechner Drive. Garrow reported that the Fallbrook woman was speeding north on Mussey Grade Road approaching Mahogany Ranch Road when her Focus drifted into the opposite lane and struck the southbound Impreza. The woman was not wearing a seat belt, and it was not immediately known if alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. Both occupants of the Impreza were wearing seat belts, and the Impreza passenger who died was in the front passenger seat.

Car accidents and wrongful death.

Car accidents are common in San Diego, often leading to exorbitant medical bills, lost wages due to missed time from work, pain and suffering, burial and funeral expenses related to wrongful death. When an accident victim dies because of another’s actions, their estate, or family can pursue a wrongful death claim against a deceased person’s estate in court. California law requires a wrongful death claim be filed within two years of the date of the decedent’s death. An experienced attorney can help with researching and initiating a wrongful death claim, or any subsequent legal action. If the accidental death was caused by reckless driving, there may be a criminal component which may have an impact on the civil action.

Compensation.

Wrongful death settlements in car accidents are usually paid out by insurance companies who gave liability coverage to the entity, or person who was negligent. Damages may include:

Medical bills
Compensation losses
Pain and suffering
Loss of care, companionship
Estate administration expenses
Funeral expenses when wrongful death occurs

Seek legal counsel.

Seek legal counsel immediately after a car crash that takes the life of a loved one for a consultation. An experienced personal injury attorney, who is familiar with California law at the Law Offices of Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, can help a family with a wrongful death claim against the estate of a negligent driver.

Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, a Professional Law Corporation

501 West Broadway, Suite 1650

San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-233-8021

Fax: 619-233-3730

Sources:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=377.60.&lawCode=CCP

https://statelaws.findlaw.com/california-law/california-accident-and-injury-laws.html

https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/index.cfm