Losing a loved one suddenly is heartbreaking. Families not only endure emotional suffering, but also struggle a lot with financial hardships, from arranging medical bills to funeral costs. In such circumstances, consulting a professional wrongful death attorney in California is crucial to secure compensation for the family. In this blog, let’s understand how a lawyer helps you to secure justice for your loved one.
What is a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit which is completely different from a criminal case. Most criminal prosecution carries penalties, including fines or prison for a crime. While a wrongful death claim seeks financial compensation for the family. It includes death cases like car accidents, sporting incidents, fall or slip injuries, medical mistakes, and more.
A knowledgeable injury lawyer or malpractice lawyer helps the surviving relatives to prove the fault of the third party that caused someone’s death. If the claim is successful, the family receives compensation for both emotional and financial loss.
California law determined that the following have the right to bring a lawsuit:
The suffering family members or relatives of the victim need to take these steps immediately.
Some of the common cases of wrongful deaths are detailed here:
Medical negligence is a reason for wrongful death. In this case, the malpractice lawyer will investigate whether a hospital or medical provider failed to provide standard care.
Thousands of fatalities occur annually on California roads. A qualified injury lawyer works by your side to hold negligent drivers, businesses, or even government entities.
A wrongful death suit can also stem from intentional acts, even if criminal proceedings are ongoing or have concluded. Civil claims are handled separately and focus on financial recovery for the family.
Workplace incidents, product defects, and dangerous property conditions may also lead to a wrongful death claim.
Solving a wrongful death case can be complicated for the loved ones. That’s why connecting with a professional wrongful death attorney in California is crucial to securing your rights.
Your selected Orange County wrongful death lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation by reviewing the accident properly, collecting medical reports and policies, analyzing insurance policies, and interviewing witnesses.
After establishing the liability, the wrongful death attorneys demand formal compensation for the family. If they agree, the case can be settled at this phase only.
The lawyer files a lawsuit on behalf of the family members if the negotiation fails. Here, the case proceeds to pre-trial discovery, mediation, and a courtroom trial if required.
Finally, the qualified plaintiffs receive the compensation, depending on the outcomes. It may include medical expenses for prior death, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and future income and benefit loss.
A qualified wrongful death lawyer can pursue different types of compensation for the victim’s family. The compensation generally includes-
Medical Expenses: Costs of the medical care related to the injury that caused death.
Funeral & Burial Expenses: Reasonable compensation for the expenses of the funeral and burial.
Loss of Financial Support: Over their expected lifetime, the estimated income and financial support would have been provided to the family members.
Loss of Services: Compensation for the value of household services and contributions your loved one would have made, such as childcare, maintenance, or guidance.
Other Benefits Loss: benefits like health insurance, retirement income, or pension plans that the surviving family has lost due to sudden death.
Connecting with the right lawyer significantly influences the wrongful death case. Make sure your wrongful death attorney in California should have-
The right wrongful death lawyers, like Larson, Larson & Dauer, will fight from your side to recover the maximum compensation. It allows families to move towards financial stability and justice.
Navigating the complexity of a wrongful death case can be daunting for the family and friends of the victim. In this challenging situation, the right legal support enables families and relatives to seek accountability and start healing.Consulting with the best wrongful death attorney in California is a necessary step to secure your family’s rights and future.
No. Wrongful death is a civil matter, independent of any criminal charges that might also be brought after a fatal incident. However, one event can result in both a criminal prosecution and a civil wrongful death suit.
Some states restrict wrongful death suits to one representative (usually the next of kin or estate executor). In California, several qualified family members can be named in a single suit. Courts typically consolidate multiple actions into one case.
If there is no spouse, parents, or children to survive, then more distant relatives and other representatives can be eligible. Consult with an expert lawyer to clarify who can file the case and receive compensation.
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