Earlier in February of this year, a 19-year-old student attending Cal State Northridge was killed when his car was struck by people suspected of a robbery. The incident happened at White Oak Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard in Northridge around 12:30 a.m. when police tried to stop a vehicle they suspected was involved in a robbery. The vehicle continued driving, causing the police to pursue it.
The robbery suspects ran a red light at Lindley Avenue and, in doing so, crashed into another vehicle. The driver of this second vehicle was Erick Barbosa-Guardado of Reseda, a student of CSUN who was 19. Unfortunately, the student was pronounced dead at the scene. The student was studying theater and civil engineering, and he also worked at TJ Maxx in Tarzana.
The two suspects fled on foot, but police quickly located the driver. In the suspect’s vehicle, there was a loaded rifle. This crash marks the second crash within two weeks in the area. Prior to this crash, a reported stolen black Toyota Tacoma pickup crashed into a Honda Civic, killing two bystanders.
Car crashes related to criminal activities happen more often than we would want to believe. The two robbery suspects will most likely be charged with offenses that can include, at the very least, manslaughter on top of aggressive driving and robbery. However, being charged with criminal offenses often isn’t enough to help the family of a victim grieve.
In this situation, the family of the killed CSUN student could pursue a wrongful death case, which is a type of personal injury. While nothing can bring their loved ones back, a wrongful death case can help families mourn their loss.
Furthermore, many unexpected expenses come up after a person’s death. For example, if the victim was rushed to the hospital and given medical treatment, their family may likely be responsible for paying the medical bills. There are also funeral expenses, and if a victim provided a significant amount of income to the household, a family could also seek lost wages.
Especially losing a family member who was so young is likely to create emotional distress for the family. Pain and suffering, the inability to move on from the loss, and a loss of enjoyment of life are just some examples. These problems can even manifest into other issues like eating disorders or addictions.
Receiving compensation after a wrongful death case often requires legal action. Even in a situation where there’s clear criminal wrongdoing, obtaining compensation without an attorney can turn into an uphill battle. A personal injury lawyer can help families gain the compensation they need by handling crucial legal matters like negotiating with insurance companies. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to “lowball” a victim by providing an amount that doesn’t accurately reflect their situation. For a Northridge, CA personal injury lawyer, we can help you at Barry P. Goldberg when you call us today, and together we can ensure you’re well represented!
