San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorneys

Seeking Justice When Negligence Costs a Life

Few losses cut as deeply as losing a family member because of someone else’s negligence. When you are left with grief, unanswered questions and financial worries you never expected to face, we recognize that no settlement can ever replace the person you lost. What a wrongful death claim can do is hold the responsible party accountable, help ease the financial strain and offer your family a sense of justice as you begin to heal.

Wrongful death cases are among the most sensitive and complex claims in personal injury law, and they demand a firm with the experience, compassion and determination to see them through. Since 1992, The Law Office of Scott Righthand, P.C. has worked to be that firm, standing with grieving families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our team brings both skill and heart to every wrongful death claim we take on. We understand the devastation and loss your family is facing, and we will fight to secure the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Who We Help

We are committed to your family’s future, helping find answers and pursue justice for those who:

• Lost a loved one in a vehicle crash and want to understand what caused it and who should be held responsible.
• Lost a loved one in a workplace, construction or industrial accident and have questions about whose negligence may have contributed.
• Lost a loved one because of a dangerous property, a defective product or another preventable hazard.
• Watched a loved one survive the initial accident but die days, weeks or months later.
• Lost a loved one suddenly and need help reviewing evidence to uncover the truth.
• Lost a spouse, parent, child or another close family member and want to know whether their family can bring a wrongful death claim.
• Are facing insurance companies, medical bills, funeral costs and lost household income and need guidance before speaking with an insurer.

In the midst of the challenges of grief and financial burdens, let us help you with the legal struggles you and your family may be facing.

What Constitutes a Wrongful Death?

A wrongful death is a category of personal injury cases that ultimately result in death. The injury leading to death is usually caused by negligence, gross negligence, recklessness or an intentional act. The difference between personal injury and wrongful death in a legal sense is that the case is brought by someone other than the party physically injured for losses uniquely caused by the death. The following family members are entitled to bring a wrongful death lawsuit in California:

• The spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
• The children of the deceased (or any minor children, such as stepchildren, who were dependent upon the deceased for at least half of their financial support)
• The grandchildren of the deceased (if all of the deceased’s children are also deceased)
• If there is no spouse or child, anyone who, under California laws of intestate succession, has a claim to the deceased’s property, such as parents or siblings

Causes of wrongful death can include any personal injury, product liability or malpractice cause. It can derive from traffic accidents, slip and fall accidents, product failure, fire, assault and battery, murder or manslaughter, child abuse or neglect and many more.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Case

The damages awarded in California wrongful death cases are intended to compensate survivors for the support they lost when they lost their family member. This compensation is based on what the heirs would have reasonably expected to receive had the deceased survived, and it can include both economic and non-economic losses. In this process, the deceased’s life expectancy is calculated according to the facts of their situation, including relevant elements such as the deceased’s health, lifestyle and occupation.

Economic Damages:

The economic damages associated with your case are likely to include the financial support the deceased would have likely contributed to your family over the course of his or her expected life, any gifts or benefits that you would likely have received from the deceased over his or her expected life, the cost of the deceased’s funeral and burial and the value of household services that the deceased would have provided over his or her predicted life.

Non-Economic Damages:

Non-economic damages include compensation for the loss of love, comfort, care, companionship, protection, affection, moral support and more.

Why Work With Our Firm?

Families have trusted The Law Office of Scott Righthand, P.C. for decades for reasons that matter most in a wrongful death case.

• We have represented Bay Area families and injury victims since 1992, bringing more than three decades of proven experience to every legal claim.
• We exclusively represent plaintiffs, meaning we fight for families rather than the insurance companies that oppose them.
• We combine aggressive litigation with genuine compassion, supporting you while pursuing your case with force.
• We build each claim through careful investigation and work with trusted experts who help prove fault and the true value of your loss.
• We will not hesitate to bring a case to trial in pursuit of what our clients deserve.
• We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront and owe no fee unless we secure compensation for you.

We recognize the gravity of trusting a law firm with the tragedy of a wrongful death case. Rest assured that we always handle these deeply personal matters with the greatest discretion and respect for your family.

Reach Out to Speak With a Lawyer Today

We know that the loss of a loved one leaves a void that no legal claim can fill. What we can do is stand beside you, seek the truth about what happened and pursue the compensation that can help your family move forward. Our dedicated, compassionate wrongful death lawyers at The Law Office of Scott Righthand, P.C. are ready to review your case, explain your rights and fight for the justice your loved one deserves. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for more information or to learn more about how we can help.

FAQs About Wrongful Death in California