Ventura County Jury Awards Family of Teen Killed in Distracted Driving Accident $9 Million
A Ventura County jury has awarded parents Jon and Michele Gambill $9 million in a wrongful death lawsuit involving their son and a negligent driver who was driving a work truck. The jury awarded $9 million after finding that the driver involved in the fatal car accident and his employer were responsible for the death of their son, Austin Gambill, a Ventura High School student. According to local news reports, the jury agreed that distracted driving led to a collision that killed the teenager, holding both the individual who caused the crash and the employer accountable. The recent verdict highlights just how serious the consequences of distracted driving can be. If you have lost someone in a car accident, it can help to understand how wrongful death laws work in Ventura County, what you may be able to recover, and how to get legal help. Here we explain the basics of the process, and where you can turn for legal help in Ventura.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits Under California Laws: Holding Distracted and Negligent Drivers Accountable
It is important for Ventura families to know the basics of California wrongful death laws. Under California wrongful death laws, certain family members of individuals killed in fatal accidents are entitled to file a lawsuit asking the court to hold at-fault parties liable for damages when their loved one’s death was caused by another person or party’s negligence or wrongful act. For example, if a Ventura driver is using a phone, texting, or is otherwise distracted and causes a fatal accident, certain family members of the deceased person may file a wrongful death claim. The eligible plaintiffs usually include the surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, or other dependents. Sometimes parents may bring a wrongful death claim for the deceased if the deceased child has no surviving spouse or partner and other elements are met. These heirs can request compensation for different types of damages, including funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of love and companionship, to name a few.
Employer Liability in Ventura Wrongful Death Cases
Another thing to keep in mind is that if the distracted driving accident involved an employee in the course and scope of their employment, (for example, a commercial truck driver driving a load for their company) a wrongful death lawsuit may also name the employer. Discussing your case with an experienced Ventura wrongful death lawyer can help you better understand the claims in your case and the parties that should be named in the lawsuit.
Getting Legal Help in Ventura
If you are in the Ventura area and you need legal help with your Ventura wrongful death lawsuit, contact the experienced Ventura wrongful death lawyers at Zavala Law, PC. There is a limited time to file a case, so contact Zavala Law, PC today and speak with an experienced lawyer now.
Source:
vcstar.com/story/news/local/2025/08/21/austin-gambill-distracted-driving-death-civil-trial/85745451007/
