Although none of us are under any illusions about the inevitability of death, the loss of a loved one is always painful. When this happens due to natural causes, the grief can be bad enough but, when the death occurred due to the negligence or dangerous actions of another, that grief is likely to be magnified exponentially by anger, disbelief, and a myriad of other emotions. Aside from the loss of someone who played an important role in your life, you may be facing financial hardship without their income, which you and your family had come to rely on. While no amount of money can undo the grief and hurt you are experiencing, wrongful death compensation can ease the financial aspect of your loss.
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or deliberate wrongdoing of another, a personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg could make sure you are fairly compensated for losses incurred as a result.
Ask Your Inglewood Attorney: What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Wrongful death laws in California and various other U.S states exist both to penalize the responsible party for causing the death of your loved one, and to compensate eligible family members for the losses inflicted upon them. Taking into account the variety of ways in which a loss can impact a family, wrongful death compensation can cover:
- The pain and suffering inflicted on your loved one between the time of injury and the time of death
- Medical expenses, and associated costs, incurred between the time of injury and the time of death
- Funeral and/or burial costs
- Lost wages, and other forms of income generated by the deceased
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of love, guidance, and support
While an expert wrongful death attorney is working on your behalf, the specific damages you may be entitled to will be identified, along with the most suitable way in which to proceed with your claim. The actions we take while representing you will include providing evidence of the following facts:
- The death was caused by the alleged party
- The death occurred as a direct result of the alleged party’s negligence
- The death brought monetary damages
- The death affected the surviving family members
Who Can File for Wrongful Death Compensation?
Under California law, the following parties can bring a wrongful death lawsuit, or join an existing one:
- Surviving spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
- Surviving children of the deceased
- Where neither of these exists, the eligibility may be extended to parents, step-children, and others who were financially dependent on the deceased
Due to the complexity of wrongful death law, it is strongly recommended that you consult an experienced attorney immediately if you feel you may be entitled to bring or join a suit. While all eligible parties are permitted to join a wrongful death action, you should know that there is no obligation to do so.
At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our Inglewood wrongful death attorneys are highly experienced in successfully recovering compensation for the relatives of those killed in fatal accidents.
To schedule your free initial consultation with one of our expert lawyers, call us today at 310-997-0904.