Few things are more painful than losing someone you love. Whether the loss is a child, parent, brother, sister, relative, or friend, it can seem unbearable. You may ask yourself, “How could this happen?” It is possible that the wrongful acts of another caused this death. If this is so, you may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death suit and will need to contact an Orange County wrongful death attorney. Let’s look at the requirements needed to establish whether you can pursue a wrongful death suit.
A wrongful death suit is a claim against a person or group, in a common law jurisdiction, who can be held responsible for a death. A close relative or head of estate usually files the claim. Wrongful death lawsuits are different from personal injury, as they cannot be brought by the deceased.
Generally, two requirements apply to pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit. They are:
If your situation meets the two items above, you may be able to recover compensation. The Orange County wrongful death attorneys at Russell & Lazarus APC can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Wrongful death lawsuits extend personal injury law. Many rules that apply to personal injury cases also apply to wrongful death. The major difference is that the injured party cannot sue the at-fault party. In California, California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60 governs wrongful death.
The skilled wrongful death attorneys at Russell & Lazarus understand that your family only has one chance to recover damages for the loss of your loved one. We will ensure that your family gets the best representation available.
Each state has different statutes governing who can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a deceased individual. The point is not really to file the lawsuit on behalf of this individual but to recover damages that you have personally received, with the deceased no longer in your life.
Of course, there are limitations on who can bring a wrongful death suit. However, two categories of individuals generally have cause to sue. Those are:
Family members can include parents, spouses, siblings, and even grandchildren. When the deceased has no surviving relatives, anyone who is entitled to property under the law of intestate succession may sue on behalf of the deceased.
In addition, the deceased’s estate can sue an at-fault party to recover likely earnings your loved one would have made had their life not come to an end. This is a different kind of action covered by California Code of Civil Procedure 377.30. This type of lawsuit is often filed alongside a wrongful death action.
A skilled wrongful death attorney can help you and your loved ones recover damages for both your personal suffering and the loss of money that your loved one was likely to earn had it not been for the negligence of an at-fault party.
The amount of compensation a wrongful death lawsuit pays out varies per case. When you file your wrongful death lawsuit, you might receive compensation for the following:
Compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit depends on your relationship to the deceased. For instance, a spouse would be likely to recover damages for loss of:
A child of the deceased could recover damages for loss of:
A parent who has lost a child could recover damages for:
Anyone who was financially dependent on the deceased or who was being taken care of by the deceased could recover damages for loss of:
An individual with a peripheral relationship to the deceased may be able to sue for a stake in the deceased’s estate or for lost wealth that would have existed had the deceased survived.
The skilled wrongful death attorneys at Russell & Lazarus will help you navigate litigating on behalf of your loved one.
A wrongful death attorney can help you file a wrongful death claim. The last thing you need to do whileyou’ree still in mourning is to engage with a party you deem responsible for your loved one’s death.
It is, however, important to bear in mind that, like all personal injury lawsuits, you only have two years after your loved one’s death to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Afterward, the statute of limitations runs out, and the court will not hear your case.
For that reason, your best bet is to file the lawsuit as soon as possible. Then you can let your wrongful death attorney handle the case.
Wrongful death lawsuits are, in many ways, no different from personal injury lawsuits. In that regard, the case is handled the same way that it would be if your loved one had suffered a serious injury.
Of course, the standard of proof differs from case to case. For instance, medical malpractice that results in a preventable death would be governed by statutes related to medical practice.
While the question of negligence governs the vast majority of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, there are two that aren’t. Those are:
In California, dog bite and product liability lawsuits are governed by strict liability. Strict liability cases are easier to litigate because the plaintiff does not need to show the defendant behaved negligently. In strict liability cases, the plaintiff only needs to show that an injury resulted from a defective product or an animal attack. In these cases, the manufacturer or dog owner is liable regardless of negligence.
Other cases do require the plaintiff to prove negligence. These include:
To successfully litigate these cases, your wrongful death attorney must show that the defendant owed a duty of care to your loved one, breached that duty of care, and that this breach resulted in your loved one’s death.
One major difference between personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits is that in California, a plaintiff cannot pursue punitive damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. However, the skilled wrongful death attorneys at Russell & Lazarus APC will help you recover the full extent of your damages against the at-fault party.
The person who caused your loved one’s death should be responsible for their actions. Losing a loved one is devastating on many levels: emotionally, financially, relationally, and more. When choosing a wrongful death attorney, we encourage you to seek representation from someone who understands each case’s uniqueness and can tailor their approach to it. The California wrongful death attorneys at Russell & Lazarus APC understand that no two cases are the same, and it shows.
At Russell & Lazarus, we understand that losing a loved one causes hardship and pain. We treat each client with compassion and understanding while aggressively seeking the compensation you deserve for your loss.
Contact the personal injury law offices of Russell & Lazarus APC for an Orange County wrongful death attorney who will fight for the compensation you deserve. We will handle your case with the knowledge, experience, and dedication it takes to win. Call (877) 789-4878 today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Russell & Lazarus APC proudly serves all of Orange County, including Newport Beach, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Fullerton, Laguna Niguel, and surrounding areas.