Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer
Grief and anger have your heart in a vise. You might be able to loosen its grip by receiving justice for your loved one and compensation for your losses. Team up with a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney at our firm and get to work on your fatal accident claim.
Death is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept the death of a loved one who was wrongfully killed in Los Angeles. If your family member died before their time due to the careless or wrongful behavior of another, you are probably seeking justice on their behalf.
Not every accident is caused by criminal behavior, which means your only option for justice might be in civil court. The person who brought about your loved one’s demise, even if by accident, could be held liable for what they did.
Consider calling a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer at our firm. They can assist you with your claim and help you work toward achieving the case outcome you’re after.
Types of Fatal Accidents in Los Angeles, California
There are many ways a person can be killed in California and throughout the country. It is important to learn which type of accident your loved one was killed in as well as the circumstances of the case. The circumstances are what will tell you whether you can file a claim for wrongful death.
For instance, if your loved one died due to their own actions, you won’t likely be able to bring a wrongful death case. Who would you bring it against? But if your loved one died due to the irresponsible actions of someone else, then you could bring your claim against the person responsible.
It’s also important to investigate the accident to find evidence that proves what happened and that proves liability.
Your Los Angeles fatal accident attorney at our firm can help you to piece together what brought about the death of your loved one and figure out who is to blame. They can assist you with putting your claim together and submitting it to the appropriate insurance companies.
Here are a few types of accidents known to lead to fatalities.
- Auto wrecks
- Premises liability, including slip-and-fall accidents
- Trucking collisions
- Dog bites
- Brain injuries
- Motorcycle collisions
- Chemical exposure
- Assault and abuse
Going Up Against the Insurance Company
When your loved one was lost in a Los Angeles accident, it’s not usually the person responsible who pays for your settlement. For instance, if your loved one died in a car accident, the at-fault driver will likely not be the one paying the settlement. The driver’s insurance company will be footing the bill for the harm their insured driver caused.
Dealing with the insurance company is not always easy. The adjuster knows your claim will cost them money, so sometimes they will try to smear your loved one’s name and try to blame them for causing their accident. They know that your family member isn’t around to defend themselves.
Why would the insurer behave this way? They do this because they don’t want to pay an expensive wrongful death settlement. It costs a lot of money, and that means they are losing profits.
You have the option of having your Los Angeles fatal accident lawyer deal with insurers for you. Your attorney can handle communications and negotiate a settlement on your behalf, which keeps you from dealing with argumentative claims adjusters who might try to smear your loved one’s memory and reputation.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Los Angeles?
If someone you know dies, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have the right to file a wrongful death claim.
For example, if your neighbor is killed in an accident, you can’t file a claim no matter how long you knew them and how close the two of you were. Only family members of the deceased person can file a wrongful death claim in California. In some cases, those who would inherit from the deceased are permitted to file a claim.
A Los Angeles wrongful death attorney at our firm can tell you whether you qualify to bring a claim. A few examples of family members who are permitted to bring a claim in California for a fatal accident:
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Children
- Stepchildren
- Putative spouse
- Those who could inherit from the estate
- Parents
Benefits of Bringing a Wrongful Death Claim in California
A lot of reasons exist for filing a Los Angeles fatal accident claim. For one, you probably just want whoever did this to pay for what they’ve done. Two, you likely want to prevent a similar accident from happening to someone else.
That might mean holding the negligent person accountable for their actions or it could mean making your claim into a statement that brings awareness to certain dangerous behaviors. For example, if your loved one was killed in a drunk driving accident, you might want more awareness to result from your claim regarding the dangers of intoxicated driving.
Three, you likely need to receive a financial award to pay for the way this death has impacted your life. There’s no getting around it—the loss of a life can be expensive. There are funeral and burial costs to pay for as well as medical treatment expenses from any life-saving medical procedures that took place.
You and your family probably have many reasons for filing a wrongful death claim. The money you receive is meant to act as a form of justice. Not every wrongful death occurs because of criminal actions. A civil action might be the only path toward justice of any kind for your beloved family member’s death.
Here is a list of common damages paid out in wrongful death claims:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical treatment costs
- Grief and anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of the value of household services
- Lost income the deceased could have earned had they lived
Sometimes, people feel weird about collecting financial compensation as though they are being paid off for their loved one’s death. This is not the purpose of compensation.
Compensation is meant to show the person responsible that actions have consequences. Compensation is meant to act as justice for you when the at-fault person didn’t cause your loved one’s death because of criminal behavior.
You don’t have to feel badly about receiving financial compensation for your loved one’s death. You can even use some of the money to honor your loved one’s memory or put money toward something your loved one cared about.
Speak to a Fatal Accident Attorney in Los Angeles, CA
After the loss of a beloved family member, you are probably feeling hopeless and at a loss as to what to do. There is no one who can bring your loved one back to you, but you can work to see that your loved one’s death wasn’t in vain. You can use the money from a successful claim to honor their memory and make positive change in our country.
Talk to a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer to learn your options for filing a wrongful death claim. Work to hold someone accountable for their actions that led to the death of your family member. Call the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation at 844-999-5342 or fill in the blank form below to receive a free case consultation.