In a tragic accident, two people and one dog were killed on Christmas Eve. Lloyd Irwin Baer and his wife LaVonne Joyce Baer, both 93 years old, died in the crash along with a dog that was in the other car. Both were Lakewood residents and suffered significant blunt force injuries.

The crash occurred at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of S. Wadsworth Boulevard and W. Jewell Avenue. According to Lakewood police, responding officers found people trapped inside of two vehicles that had rolled over. The first vehicle, a sedan, had a man and woman inside. The wife was declared dead at the scene, while the husband was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

The other vehicle involved in the crash, a pickup truck, had a man and dog inside of it. The dog was declared dead at the scene, while the driver of the truck was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to have been a reason for the crash, but the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Cases

When a death occurs during an accident, and that accident is caused by another driver, the surviving family members of the deceased person likely have an actionable claim for wrongful death. Wrongful death actions can be filed by the:

• spouse of the deceased,
• heirs of the deceased,
• a designated beneficiary, or
• the parents of the deceased (for minors or other less common exceptions).

The specific people who may file a wrongful death claim vary depending on the marital status of the deceased and whether he or she has children. Wrongful death claims are designed to compensate the surviving family for the injuries they incur as a result of the other person's death. They are not specifically designed to compensate the deceased person for his or her injuries that occur before death.

Damages in Wrongful Death Claim

Economic damages are generally those that cost the family or estate money after a fatal accident. This includes the costs directly related to the accident as well as future and continuing costs caused by the person no longer being alive or able to contribute to the family. Economic damages in a wrongful death claim can include:

• Medical bills,
• Property damage,
• Funeral expenses,
• Burial costs,
• Loss of the decedent's services,
• Loss of the decedent's income, and
• Loss of the benefits.

Non-economic damages you can win include but are not necessarily limited to:

• pain and suffering,
• loss of support, and
• loss of consortium.

The specific damages that you can be awarded depending on the nature of your exact case. An experienced wrongful death attorney can help evaluate your case and get you all of the financial compensation you deserve.

Consult an Experienced Denver Auto Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in any sort of motor vehicle accident in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact us today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.