Wrongful Death Lawyers in Orange County, CA

In California, the laws regarding a wrongful death lawsuit, and who can file one can be quite complicated. Under state law, several different parties may bring a lawsuit. In most cases, this includes the spouse, partner and any children of the deceased.

If the deceased had no immediate family, then others in the extended family may bring a lawsuit. Those relatives include more distant family members such as parents and stepchildren.

If you have questions about who may bring a wrongful death lawsuit in California, speak with an Orange County wrongful death lawyer today. We can discuss your options with you and explore whether you are able to move forward with a wrongful death claim.

A wrongful death case can be an overwhelming process. A wrongful death claim needs documentation and an understanding of the law. In a wrongful death case, you must usually prove several different elements. Those elements will show the link between your loved one and the actions that led to the wrongful death.

In most California wrongful death cases, you must show that:

• Someone else had a duty to care for and keep the loved one free of harm. This may include employers, property owners, individuals, companies and many others.
• That person or organization failed in their duty to your loved one. When people fail to take adequate care or act recklessly, accidents happen. In those cases, the person or persons who caused an accident can and should be held responsible.
• That failure caused the wrongful death. As part of a claim, you must prove the link between someone’s failure and the wrongful death. This is an essential part of a claim.
• You suffered a loss, such as a loss of support, because of the wrongful death. In a wrongful death claim, you must show how the wrongful death led to economic and non-economic harm to you.

Depending upon the facts of your case, and the circumstances of your loved one’s wrongful death, additional elements and laws may apply. If you have questions, contact our Orange County wrongful death law firm to discuss your next steps.

In a wrongful death claim, compensation may be available to help you and your family through your difficult time. This compensation cannot undo what has happened. However, compensation can give you and your family important resources that you need. A wrongful death claim may include these damages:

• The cost of any medical care that the deceased needed. This may include any surgeries, medication, therapy or other medical care that your loved one needed before passing away.
• Lost wages and income that the deceased may have earned. This can be an important part of a wrongful death claim because many families rely on an individual’s income. A wrongful death claim may help you get the income that you need to move forward.
• Loss of the support and services that they provided to family members. Our loved ones provide far more than income. They provide vital support every day. When you lose that support, you may struggle to get by, but a wrongful death claim can help.
• Loss of love, companionship and guidance. Our loved ones give us the love and guidance that we need. That loss can be enormous. Although a wrongful death claim cannot undo the accident, it can provide the resources to make up for that loss.
• Funeral and burial costs. Funeral expenses can be a burden on a family that is already dealing with a loss. A claim may include compensation for these costs.

Sadly, any accident can lead to the wrongful death of a loved one. Common causes of wrongful death include:

• Car accidents. Car accidents are a leading cause of death in California. Too many people act carelessly on our roads and highways. When they do, those we love can end up fatally injured.
• Truck accidents. Large trucks have massive weight and power. When a truck strikes another vehicle, or a problem with the cargo causes a crash, a wrongful death can be the result.
• Motorcycle accidents. On the road, motorcycle riders use skill and experience to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, accidents still happen. In a motorcycle accident, severe injury and death are common.
• Premises accidents. Whether you are at work or at a business, those in charge of the property must keep you safe. When they ignore that duty, or act carelessly, other people can pay the price with their lives.
• Slip and fall accidents. Spinal cord injuries, head injuries and many other fatal injuries can happen because of a slip and fall accident.
• Swimming pool accidents. Swimming pools can be fun. However, if they are not maintained and monitored, they can easily harm those we love.
• Defective products. We rely on manufacturers, designers and distributors to provide safe products for our loved ones. When these products fail us, they can cause life-threatening injuries and even death.