Mariah Izzo, 9, killed when the car she was riding in was rear-ended

A sudden car crash shattered the lives of a Modesto family after their 9-year-old girl was killed. Mariah Izzo was riding in a small SUV the day before Christmas Eve on McHenry Road in Modesto. While they were stopped at an intersection, the California Highway Patrol says a 66-year-old woman rear-ended the car. Mariah was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, but doctors couldn’t save her. Officers don’t know why the driver didn’t notice the car stopped at the intersection. The woman behind the wheel told officers she was going about 20 miles below the speed limit. Investigators don’t believe drugs or alcohol were involved.   How can a lawyer help with an auto accident claim? First, having a lawyer on your side levels the playing field.  The person who caused the accident is required to immediately turn the case over to his or her insurance company.  The insurance company uses adjusters and lawyers who are specifically trained to deny or reduce your claim.  This may include denying compensation to family members who are entitled to receive benefits for loss of companionship. Learn more here about what a lawyer does in auto accident cases.