Wrongful Death Claim Attorneys in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, a number of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers are killed as a result of someone else’s irresponsible actions. With traffic deaths on the rise, LA Car Accident Lawyers will make sure that victims are aware of their rights and legal options for seeking just compensation.
When another person’s negligence or recklessness causes the death of a loved one, a wrongful death claim arises. In California, it is considered a civil lawsuit, where a decedent’s survivors can seek compensation for the pain and suffering, and losses that may not have occurred had the decedent lived.
As experienced accident attorneys in Los Angeles, we can handle wrongful death cases for all types of road collisions, including car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle, and bus accidents. We also handle pedestrian cases, as well as class action lawsuits against insurance companies or corporations that do not want to abide by the law.
The case will be analyzed based on the theory of negligence as laid out by Federal and California tort law, which means that the main punishment for the at-fault party will be monetary to deter future wrongdoings and reward the victim/plaintiff for losses.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
A loved one, such as a putative spouse (a person who is unaware a spouse is already married), child of the putative spouse, stepchildren, or parent of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim before a civil court in California.
Unlike criminal cases, wrongful death lawsuits must be brought to court directly by the decedent’s survivors. A family can make the claim even while a lawsuit is being brought to a criminal court by the authorities involved in the case.
Bear in mind that the statutory period for filing a lawsuit is two years from the date of the decedent’s death. It is advisable that the family brings the lawsuit as soon as possible; the lawsuit may take another year, at most, to be resolved.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Claim?
There are several damages available for wrongful death claims in California. These damages can either be attributed to the estate, or losses associated with the death, or to the personal losses of the surviving family.
Here are common damages the decedent’s family can pursue compensation for:
- Medical and hospital bills for the decedent’s final injury or illness
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The value of loss services
- Lost income and potential income of the deceased person should he or she lived
- Loss of anticipated financial support
- Emotional suffering brought about by loss of love, affection, moral support, and guidance
How LA Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can be an emotionally taxing and complicated process for the decedent’s family. You need the help of a wrongful death attorney with extensive experience in handling negligence-based cases, particularly those involving road accidents.
LA Car Accident Lawyers will tirelessly fight for you case and guide you throughout the legal process to ensure that your family achieves an equitable settlement. Because we advocate for the rights of consumers, we work on a contingency basis, which means that we only charge fees for our services if we win the case.
We offer free consultation. Call us today to discuss the details of your case with one of our dedicated attorneys.
