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Fresno, CA – Rachel Westfall Fatally Struck While Crossing Hwy 99

Torem & Associates

Fresno, CA (December 31, 2021) – A woman carrying a suitcase was struck and killed as she attempted to cross Highway 99 in Fresno on Sunday, December 26th.

The accident took place at about 6:00 p.m. in the area of Belmont Avenue.   

Several lanes of the highway were closed down for a few hours while authorities investigated.

One vehicle struck her suitcase and sent her belongings all over the roadway. She was trying to gather her items when she was fatally struck by a second vehicle. 

The victim has since been identified as 41-year-old Rachel Westfall.

Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in this crash. The driver who struck the woman stayed on the scene and is cooperating with officers.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim, Ms. Rachel Westfall, at this time.

Pedestrian Deaths in California

Each year, around 900 pedestrians lose their lives in traffic-related incidents throughout California. Given the drastic increase in the number of people we see walking, jogging, and getting out on foot, it is no surprise that California’s fatality rate for pedestrian accidents is nearly 25% higher than the national average. 

Regardless of how many actions are taken to protect pedestrians traveling through our state, the number of deaths each year continues to rise.

In many cases, pedestrians are struck by vehicles operated by distracted, impaired, and reckless drivers. Although we can be vigilant to protect others who are sharing the road, there is no guarantee that other motorists are going to take us into consideration while driving. As a result, we see numerous people fatally injured in accidents in California that could have been prevented. 

Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

These accidents often have an overwhelming impact on families who are left to endure the mental, physical, and financial challenges of an unexpected loss. When victims are injured in auto accidents as a result of another person’s actions, it is crucial that they contact a personal injury attorney in Fresno soon as possible. 

Surviving relatives may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the costs they face moving forward after enduring an unexpected loss.

Fresno pedestrian accident attorneys at Torem & Associates have extensive experience helping families recover after losing loved ones in preventable accidents. Unlike other types of personal injury lawsuits, wrongful death claims are filed in civil court by surviving relatives to recover compensation to alleviate the costs of funeral arrangements, recover lost wages, and obtain compensation for various other economic and non-economic losses. 

If your loved one lost their life in a preventable accident, contact our personal injury attorneys in California at your earliest convenience by calling (888) 500-5000 to discuss legal options available to help you recover.

Note: Our team of writers utilizes secondary sources when creating these posts.  These sources include but are not limited to local news reports, police accident reports, and eyewitness accounts about serious injury accidents in Fresno.  For that reason, the details surrounding the incident have not been independently verified by our team of writers.  If you locate any information that is not correct in our post, please contact our firm right away so that we correct the post to reflect the most accurate information available.  

Disclaimer: Our firm, Torem & Associates, has worked hard to become valued members of the local business community.  We write these posts as a way to bring awareness to the dangers of driving or being a passenger in any type of automobile accident. We hope that through awareness, people will use additional caution when out on the roadways in Fresno and throughout California to prevent being seriously injured in a crash. This post is not intended to be a solicitation for business. The information provided in this post is meant to be informational and is not intended to be misconstrued as legal or medical advice. The photos used in the post are not representative of the actual accident scene. 

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