Orange County Food Truck Rollover Tragedy: Your Rights After a Fatal Crash

On October 7, 2025, the Orange County community was heartbroken to learn of the death of Ricardo “Richard” Ayala, the beloved 67-year-old owner of Ayala’s Food Service. According to a KTLA report, Mr. Ayala’s food truck was struck by another vehicle as he was making a left turn on Warner Avenue in Santa Ana. The impact caused the truck to overturn, and Mr. Ayala was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. His family, now grappling with an immeasurable loss, has been left to navigate the financial and emotional aftermath, a situation no family should ever face alone.

The sudden loss of a loved one in a traffic collision is a devastating experience. While no amount of money can replace a family member, a wrongful death claim can provide financial stability and a measure of justice for the surviving family. At Walch Law, we have dedicated our careers to helping families through these unimaginable times and know how to make sure that these cases are settled for the most money as possible. Call us now to learn more about an Orange County wrongful death car accident lawsuit: 1-844-999-5342

(Incident details are based on a KTLA news report from October 9, 2025.)

Understanding a California Wrongful Death Claim

When a person’s death is caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another, California law allows certain surviving family members (heirs) to file a Orange County wrongful death car accident lawsuit. This is a civil claim, separate from any criminal charges, designed to compensate the heirs for their own losses stemming from the death.

In a case like the tragic food truck crash, a wrongful death claim is not just a lawsuit against the other driver. A thorough investigation is required to identify all potentially responsible parties, which could include:

• The Other Driver: For negligent acts such as speeding, distraction, or failure to pay attention.
• A Public Entity: The City of Santa Ana or Orange County could be liable if a dangerous road design, poor intersection visibility, or malfunctioning traffic signal contributed to the crash.
• Equipment Manufacturers or Maintenance Companies: If a vehicle defect, such as faulty brakes or a tire blowout, played a role in the collision.
• An Employer: If either driver was operating a vehicle as part of their job, their employer could be held vicariously liable.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, the right to file a wrongful death claim is strictly limited to specific heirs, typically in this order:

• The deceased’s surviving spouse or domestic partner.
• The deceased’s surviving children.
• The deceased’s surviving grandchildren (if the children are also deceased).

If there are no survivors in this line, the right may pass to other relatives who were dependent on the deceased, such as parents or siblings.

Survival Actions vs. Wrongful Death Damages

Two types of claims are often brought together after a fatal accident:

1. Wrongful Death Claim: This compensates the heirs for their own personal losses. Damages can include:
2. • The loss of the deceased’s financial support.
   • The loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, and guidance.
   • The value of household services the deceased would have provided.
   • Funeral and burial expenses.
2. Survival Action: This is a claim brought on behalf of the deceased person’s estate to recover the damages they would have been entitled to had they survived. This typically includes economic losses like medical bills incurred before death and, in some cases, punitive damages if the at-fault party’s conduct was malicious or reckless.

Left-Turn Accidents and Comparative Fault

The news report stated that Mr. Ayala was making a left turn when his truck was struck. In any left-turn accident, the insurance company for the other driver will almost always try to blame the turning driver. However, the law is not that simple. A driver making a left turn has a duty to yield, but the oncoming driver also has a duty to drive at a safe speed and pay attention.

An immediate and independent investigation is crucial to determine the facts. A skilled accident reconstruction expert can analyze:

• The speed of the oncoming vehicle.
• The timing of the traffic signals (signal phasing).
• Visibility issues at the intersection.
• Data from each vehicle’s “black box” or event data recorder (EDR).

This evidence can prove that even though a left turn was being made, the oncoming driver’s negligence was the primary cause of the collision.

Critical Steps for the Family to Take

In the days following a fatal crash, it is vital to act quickly to preserve evidence and protect your legal rights.

• Preserve the Vehicle: Do not allow the food truck or any involved vehicle to be destroyed or repaired. It is the most important piece of evidence.
• Obtain the Official Reports: Get copies of the Traffic Collision Report from the police and the coroner’s report.
• Identify All Witnesses and Camera Footage: Canvass the area for any businesses with surveillance cameras that may have captured the crash.
• Send Preservation Letters: Your attorney will immediately send legal notices to all involved parties, including the city, demanding they preserve all evidence, such as vehicle data, intersection camera footage, and driver logs.
• Avoid All Contact with Insurance Adjusters: Insurance companies will contact you quickly, acting with sympathy while trying to get a statement to devalue or deny the claim. Do not speak with them. Direct all communication to your attorney.

Navigating Commercial Vehicle and Workers’ Compensation Claims

A crash involving a commercial vehicle like a food truck can involve multiple layers of insurance and legal issues:

• Commercial Auto Insurance: The at-fault driver’s policy is the primary source of recovery.
• Workers’ Compensation: If Mr. Ayala was operating as an employee of a larger company, his family may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits. This is a separate claim from a third-party wrongful death lawsuit.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: If the family had a personal or commercial auto policy with UM/UIM coverage, it could provide an additional source of recovery if the at-fault driver had insufficient insurance.

Walch Law: Compassionate Guidance for Grieving Families Following a Wrongful Death Car Accident

The loss of a hardworking father and grandfather like Ricardo “Richard” Ayala is a tragedy that no family should endure. During this time of immense grief, the last thing you should have to worry about is a legal battle with insurance companies.

The compassionate family-run team at Walch Law has been supporting grieving families in Southern California for over 45 years. We will handle every aspect of the wrongful death claim—from the investigation and evidence preservation to fighting for the full compensation your family deserves—so you can focus on honoring your loved one’s memory. We are proud to serve all members of our community and can provide support in both English and Spanish.

We handle all wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing unless and until we secure a recovery for your family. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to learn how we can help you through this difficult time. 1-844-999-5342