Wrongful Death Attorney
There is little worse than the sudden death of a loved one. Whether due to illness, traffic accident, medical mistake, or some other event, losing a family member is a terrible experience. While nothing can fill the gap they leave behind, surviving family members can take some measure of comfort in holding the parties responsible accountable for the devastation they have caused. In California, if your family member was killed due to someone else’s negligent or reckless conduct, you have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. We can help.
The zealous Southern California wrongful death legal team at Morris Law Firm is ready to help you and your family get the compensation and the justice that you deserve after the death of a loved one. We fight to make sure that you and your family are taken care of after a sudden loss, and we will not let negligent defendants or stingy insurance companies get out of paying you the damages they owe.
What is a Wrongful Death Claim?
The specific requirements for a wrongful death claim vary by state, but in general, a wrongful death claim is essentially the personal injury claim that a deceased accident victim would have been able to bring had they survived. The claim is brought by the survivors of the deceased. Some wrongful death claims target defendants who may face criminal prosecution for the same conduct (such as a drunk driving accident). Other types of negligent or reckless conduct can be the subject of a wrongful death suit even if there are no criminal charges.
The parties eligible to bring a wrongful death claim vary by state, as do the specific damages available. Depending on the state, surviving family members or a representative of the estate can pursue claims for the compensation that the accident victim would have been able to pursue had they survived (medical bills, pain and suffering, etc.) as well as for their own harms (loss of companionship, etc.)
To bring a wrongful death claim, the plaintiff must show that a defendant committed negligence or some other wrongful act, that there was a correlation between the defendant’s action and the victim’s death, and that the negligence led to some actual damages.
Types of Wrongful Death Incidents
Wrongful death claims can arise from all manner of accidents or incidents. At Morris Law Firm, we help families recover for wrongful death claims involving:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip & fall accidents
- Defective medical devices
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Medical malpractice
- Toxic exposure to chemicals like asbestos
- Premises liability
- And many more
Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
Each state has its own rules concerning wrongful death claims. It’s important to have a savvy wrongful death law practitioner on your side to ensure that you satisfy all of the requirements and keep the door open for maximum recovery.
In California, a wrongful death action can be brought by any of the following parties:
- A representative of the decedent’s estate
- The decedent’s surviving spouse or domestic partner
- The decedent’s surviving children or children of deceased children (grandchildren)
- If there is no spouse, children or grandchildren, then whoever would be next in line to inherit the decedent’s property can sue, such as the decedent’s surviving parents
- Certain other parties, if they can prove they were financially dependent on the deceased, including:
- The decedent’s putative spouse (someone who mistakenly believed they were the decedent’s spouse)
- Children of the putative spouse
- Stepchildren
- Parents of the deceased
- Legal guardians of the deceased
Talk to a seasoned California wrongful death attorney at Morris Law Firm to find out if you are eligible to bring a wrongful death claim. It’s important to start building your case as soon as possible after the accident or death in order to preserve your rights; if you wait too long, you might exceed the “statute of limitations” and lose out on your right to sue.
Call Morris Law Firm After for Help With a Wrongful Death Claim in Los Angeles or Southern California
We understand the severity of your loss, and we know that each case is unique. We fight for the rights of our wrongful death clients and we give each case the individual attention it deserves. Contact our Los Angeles wrongful death attorney today to evaluate your claim. Morris Law Firm will give you a personalized evaluation and help you figure out your legal rights and next steps.
Call us today at 747-283-1144 for a fast response or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
