Wrongful Death

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wrongful death

Facing the death of a loved one can be devastating, especially when that death was caused by another party’s wrongful act. While there is no amount of money that can replace the loss of a family member or loved one, holding the responsible party accountable can help to bring consolation to a victim’s grieving family. For this reason, our Los Angeles wrongful death attorney is committed to seeking justice for victims’ families through wrongful death lawsuits.

When someone loses a family member, they may face not only substantial sadness and grief, but loss of companionship, emotional support, society, love and financial support. This loss can be even more difficult to bear when it occurs unexpectedly and as the result of another person’s negligent or willful conduct. Wrongful death lawsuits seek to assess liability and compensate the surviving family for losses such as funeral expenses, lost wages from the deceased and lost companionship. Wrongful death claims may result from many different types of fatal personal injuries, such as a medical malpractice claim, a product liability claim, or a fatal automobile, motorcycle or pedestrian collision. Wrongful death actions can also arise where the victim’s death was caused by another person’s willful acts, such as a homicide.

If you have lost a loved one and believe that another person is at fault for their death, our wrongful death attorneys can help you to determine if you a wrongful death suit is appropriate. Our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer has years of experience representing the families of wrongful death victims. We understand the complexity of Wrongful Death cases and frequently work with expert witnesses to prove our claims. Our success rate is directly linked to this comprehensive knowledge.

Who can bring a Wrongful Death Claim?

In order to bring a wrongful death claim under California Law, one must have a certain relationship to the decedent. One must be the decedent’s surviving spouse, child or dependent stepchild or dependent parent. Dependent minors who lived in the decedent’s household for at least six months may also qualify to bring a wrongful death claim under California Law. If there is no surviving spouse and no dependent child, stepchild, minor or parent, then certain other heirs may qualify to bring a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death action cannot be maintained by a friend, coworker or neighbor, no matter how close that individual was with the decedent. If you are uncertain whether you would qualify to bring a California Wrongful death suit, contact our Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys to discuss whether you might be entitled to bring a claim.

Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims

The Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims under California Law is two years. That means that victim’s family members must bring a wrongful death suit within two years from the date of the decedent’s death.

Types of Damages in a California Wrongful Death Claim

Under a California wrongful death action, the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation for certain economic and noneconomic damages. Unfortunately, wrongful death actions in California do not allow compensation for the grief or mental anguish the family has suffered as a result of the decedent’s death.

However, the victim’s family may be entitled to the following damages

  • The loss of financial support the decedent would have contributed to the family during their life expectancy
  • The loss of gifts or benefits the decedent would have contributed
  • The reasonable value of household services the decedent would have provided
  • The loss of the decedent’s love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, moral support and loss of enjoyment of sexual relations
  • The decedent’s children may also compensation for attention and guidance they would have received from the parent who has died.

Consult our Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorneys Today

Free Consultation

We understand that facing the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming and that the decision to hire an attorney is an important one. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyer homepage offers Free Consultations to better enable you to understand your rights and determine whether you have a potential wrongful death claim. During the consultation, we will review the facts of your case and will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions.

If you have unexpectedly lost a loved one as the result of another person’s negligence, you have suffered a profound loss. No amount of compensation can replace your loss, but you can begin to find solace by contacting an attorney to help you bring justice for your deceased loved one. Our seasoned California Wrongful Death lawyers are committed to helping you through every step of the process and to making the legal process as smooth as possible for our clients. We offer personalized service and work hard to ensure that your questions and concerns are addressed. Our attorneys will assist you at every stage of your case and will treat with the compassion and attention that you deserve.

CA Dept of Education (Laws & Regulations)California Legislative Analyst OfficeUSD Law School