April 27, 2024

Wrongful Death Lawyer Van Nuys

Wrongful Death Lawyers You Can Trust

It is tragic to lose a family member or a loved one unexpectedly. It is harder when the death occurred because of an entity or another person’s negligence. The wrongful death lawyers at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch are here to help you understand your legal options. We understand the emotional trauma you and your loved ones may be experiencing.

You should get in touch with a qualified wrongful death lawyer Van Nuys immediately to get answers to your questions and pursue compensation and justice from the people that were responsible for the passing away of your loved one. Wrongful death is said to take place due to the wrongful act or negligence of another person.

The deceased, had they lived, would have had grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. However, because of unrelenting circumstances, the surviving family members now have grounds for a wrongful death claim.

Types of Wrongful Death

There are several different scenarios that can give rise to a wrongful death claim. Few of the more common ones include:

Car accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Drunk driving accidents
Hit and run accidents
Defective products
Rideshare accidents
Fall, trip, and or slip accidents
Medical malpractice

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Van Nuys

California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60 lists down the people that can bring forth a wrongful death claim. Pursuant to this section, the following parties may file a wrongful death lawsuit:

Surviving spouse of the deceased if they were married at the time of death
Surviving domestic partner of the deceased
Surviving children of the deceased
People entitled to the estate of property of the deceased as if the deceased did not have a Will
Putative spouse of the deceased
Children of the deceased’s putative spouse
Parents or stepchildren of the deceased
Personal representative of the deceased
Minor residing with the deceased for at least 180 days in the deceased’s home. The minor should have been dependent on the deceased for at least 50% of their support.

It can get confusing to determine if you can file a lawsuit or not. If you are unsure, you should get in touch with a renowned wrongful death lawyer Van Nuys today. Your attorney will be able to explain whether you have a viable wrongful death claim or not.

Recoverable Damages Following a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Van Nuys

Every wrongful death lawsuit is unique in nature. This means that the types of recoverable damages and their value can significantly differ from one case to the other. You should be able recover both economic and noneconomic damages depending on the facts of the case. In certain situations, exemplary damages or punitive damages may be recovered as well.

Objectively calculable losses are included in economic damages, such as:

Burial and funeral costs
Medical bills incurred from the time of the injury to the decedent’s death
Financial support that would have been contributed by the deceased towards their family had they lived
Loss of gifts or benefits that would have been provided by the decedent to his or her heirs
Compensation for the household services that would have been provided by the deceased

Noneconomic damages refer to intangible losses, such as loss of support, society, love, affection, companionship and comfort.

What to Expect During Your Initial Consultation?

Wrongful death attorneys are usually compassionate, friendly and polite. They understand the pain you are going through and will do their best to put you at ease. The attorneys will ask you detailed questions to understand your unique situation. They will try to determine if you have grounds for a successful claim and the best way to proceed.

You should expect questions like the following during your first consultation:

How did your loved one pass away?
How are you related to the deceased?
Did the decedent receive medical treatment between the final injury and death?