A 65-year-old man from British Columbia, Canada died Sunday night, after he was struck by a Acura sedan on Main Street in Willits, the Ukiah Daily Journal reported. The accident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Main Street. The victim, Willey Kurz, was in the crosswalk when he was hit by the Acura, driven by Aaron Dalkse, of Willits. Kurz was taken to Howard Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries. Dalske reportedly suffered minor injuries.
Anyone with relevant information about this accident is urged to contact the Willits Police Department Sgt. Jake Donahue at (707) 459-6122.
Cause of the Fatal Pedestrian Accident
The cause of fatal Willits accident remains under investigation by the Willits Police Department. Based on the news reports, it appears that the driver of the Acura may be responsible for this accident, if he did indeed fail to yield to the right of way of the pedestrian. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection..."
Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability Issues
If authorities make the determination that the driver of the Acura is responsible for causing this fatal Mendocino County pedestrian accident, the family of the victim may be entitled to compensation for their loss in a wrongful death claim. Damages that the family may pursue include funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings or benefits, and loss of love, care, and companionship.
An experienced northern California pedestrian accident lawyer can also look into issues to see if a unsafe or defective roadway condition was a factor in the fatal accident. If that were to be the case, the city or county agency responsible for maintaining and designing the roadway could also be liable. Because any claims against government agencies must be filed within 180 days, family members considering a claim are advised to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
To learn more about your rights following a pedestrian accident, contact a northern California wrongful death attorney at Estey Bomberger for a free consultation.
Sources: Ukiah Daily Journal
Leave a comment