Wildomar, California – 18-year-old Michael Stone of Temecula, California, was killed when the vehicle he was driving was struck head-on at a high rate of speed by a pick-up truck being driven by 19-year-old Cory Tavares at the intersection Bundy Canyon Road and Monte Vista Drive in Wildomar. According to police reports, the accident happened shortly before 8:00 p.m. when the vehicle being driven by Tavares crossed the divide into oncoming traffic. The three passengers that were traveling in Michael Stone's vehicle, all of whom are under the age of 18, survived the head-on collision but had to be transported to nearby hospitals for emergency medical treatment. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Michael Stone and the others involved.
Although a tragic and unfortunate accident, in the case of the death of a young person like Michael Stone who is most likely unmarried, his parents would possess a rightful wrongful death against the responsible driver for the loss of their son. To the extent he was married, his wife would posses such claim.
When parents lose a child through the negligent or wrongful acts of another, California law permits the surviving heirs to obtain monetary damages through the filing of a civil, the goal being to compensate the parents for the loss of “love, care, comfort, society and affection” of their child. While such damages are immeasurable, there are no “caps” upon recovery for such claims under California law and it is up to the attorney handling the claim to establish the extent of the loss the parents have suffered. The attorneys with firm Berman & Riedel, LLP, have handled many such claims, with great success, thereby serving to hold the wrongdoing party responsible for their actions.
Berman & Riedel, LLP is a prominent plaintiffs’ personal injury and wrongful death firm located in San Diego, California. The firm is well-known throughout the State of California for obtaining exceptional results on behalf of people who have suffered serious personal injuries or lost a loved one through accident events as well as handling cases on behalf of elderly and dependent adults who have suffered personal injury or wrongful death through acts of abuse or neglect while residing in a nursing home or other care facility for the elderly. The firm can be contacted by calling (858)350-8855, and personal injury and wrongful death consultations are always free of charge.





The first step is to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities. Call 911 if the situation is life-threatening. Otherwise, it can be reported to the police and appropriate agencies. For abuse in the community or a hospital, call Adult Protective Services at 1-833-401-0832. For abuse in a nursing home or long-term care facility, contact your local long-term care ombudsman or call 1-888-452-8609.
The next step is contacting a California elder neglect lawyer to help you safeguard your loved one’s rights, investigate the abuse, and hold the facility accountable.
There is no way to determine the exact value of an elder abuse or personal injury case, especially early in your case. However, an experienced attorney can give you an estimated range based on their experience with similar cases.
There are many factors that may influence the value of your case, such as:
Some damages are easy to calculate, such as lost wages and medical bills. Calculating the value of diminished earnings for the rest of your life or future medical needs, however, may require the help of experts. Non-economic damages like pain and suffering have no intrinsic financial value. These damages are challenging to calculate.
If your case goes before a jury, you may potentially be able to recover more than you could through a settlement. However, this introduces a new element of risk: the jury. The circumstances of your accident and even how sympathetic you or the defendant are can influence the outcome.
During your consultation and throughout your case, we will help you understand how these factors influence your case. We will also work tirelessly to document the value of all your damages and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.




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