Garden Grove Wrongful Death Lawyer
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Garden Grove, California
Losing a family member due to someone else’s negligence is devastating, leaving you with emotional pain and financial burdens. In California, wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to seek compensation when a person’s death is caused by another party’s misconduct or negligence. These claims can help cover funeral costs, medical expenses, lost income, and other damages suffered as a result of the loss. While no legal action can bring back a lost life, seeking justice through a wrongful death claim may provide financial stability and hold responsible parties accountable.
Pursuing a wrongful death claim can be overwhelming, especially while grieving. Legal complexities, insurance companies, and proving liability all make the process challenging without legal representation. At Setareh Law, we help families navigate wrongful death claims, ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve. Our Garden Grove wrongful death lawyer handles these cases with care, determination, and a deep understanding of California’s wrongful death laws. If you’ve lost a family member due to someone else’s negligence, we may be able to help you pursue justice and financial recovery.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
In California, the law specifies who is legally allowed to file a wrongful death claim. Typically, the right to file begins with the deceased person’s immediate family members, but in some cases, others may have standing. Understanding who can bring a lawsuit is crucial to ensuring the claim is filed correctly and within the legal timeframe.
The primary individuals eligible to file a wrongful death claim include spouses, domestic partners, and children of the deceased. If no direct family members exist, other dependents, such as stepchildren or parents who were financially reliant on the deceased, may be able to pursue a claim. Additionally, California law allows individuals who would inherit from the deceased under intestate succession laws to file a wrongful death claim if there are no surviving close relatives.
Only one wrongful death claim may be filed per deceased individual. This means all eligible family members must join together in a single lawsuit rather than filing multiple claims. Failing to include all parties who have a legal right to compensation may result in complications, so it’s important to ensure the claim is structured correctly from the start.
Proving Liability in a Wrongful Death Case
For a wrongful death claim to be successful, the party filing the lawsuit must establish that another person or entity was responsible for the death. Proving liability requires demonstrating key legal elements, including duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
Duty of care refers to the legal obligation a person or entity has to act reasonably to prevent harm to others. For example, a driver has a duty to follow traffic laws, and a property owner must keep their premises safe. If this duty is violated—such as through reckless driving or a hazardous condition not addressed—it constitutes a breach. This breach must be directly linked to the fatal incident, meaning it must be proven that the negligence directly caused the death.
Evidence plays a significant role in proving liability. This may include accident reports, medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert testimony. A strong case requires detailed documentation and legal analysis to demonstrate that the responsible party’s actions—or failure to act—led to the wrongful death.
Types of Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case
A wrongful death claim seeks to recover financial damages suffered by surviving family members due to the loss. These damages can be economic, such as tangible financial losses, or non-economic, which compensate for emotional suffering.
Economic damages include funeral and burial expenses, medical bills related to the deceased’s final injury or illness, and the loss of financial support the deceased would have provided. Additionally, if the deceased contributed to household services—such as childcare, maintenance, or caregiving—these losses may also be compensated.
Non-economic damages cover losses that are not easily measurable in dollar amounts. This includes loss of companionship, loss of emotional support, and the mental pain suffered due to the untimely death. While these damages are more subjective, they are a critical part of a wrongful death claim. The final amount awarded in a case will depend on several factors, including the deceased’s age, income, and the extent of financial and emotional loss suffered by the survivors.
Why Work With Setareh Law for a Wrongful Death Claim?
Handling a wrongful death claim on your own can be overwhelming, especially while coping with grief. At Setareh Law, our personal injury lawyers take on the legal burden for you, handling every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing. We investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, gather critical evidence, and negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to maximize compensation. Our legal team understands California’s wrongful death laws and ensures your claim is filed correctly and within deadlines.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case. With our proven track record of securing favorable outcomes, we are committed to helping families recover the compensation they deserve. If you need legal assistance for a wrongful death claim, call (310) 659-1826 or reach out through our contact form.
