Bay Area Wrongful Death Lawyer

A wrongful death case can be a difficult matter to face, especially because it involves the tragic loss of a close family member. If you’ve lost a loved one because of someone else’s wrongful act or negligence, you are likely going through a terrible experience. The pain of such an experience is often exacerbated by the financial loss that accompanies losing a beloved family member far too soon. If you’ve lost someone close to you, you need the experienced legal guidance of a skilled Bay Area wrongful death lawyer on your side as soon as possible. 

Bringing a Wrongful Death Case in California

When a person loses his or her life, and it was someone else’s fault, the following family members are entitled to bring a wrongful death lawsuit in California: 

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

What Constitutes a Wrongful Death?

The deceased’s survivors can bring a wrongful death case for any type of accident that was caused by negligence, by gross negligence, by recklessness, or by any action that was intentionally wrongful. Such events and/or actions can include any personal injury cause or malpractice cause. Wrongful death may be from traffic accidents, slip and fall accidents, product failure, fire, assault and battery, murder or manslaughter, child abuse or neglect, malpractice and many more.

Recoverable Damages

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 this compensation can include both economic and noneconomic losses. In the 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.   

Your Economic and Noneconomic 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 span, any gifts or benefits that you would likely have received from the 

deceased over his or her expected lifespan, 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 expected life span. Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, encompass such losses as the deceased’s companionship, protection, affection, moral support, and more.  

If You’ve Lost a Loved One Because of Someone Else’s Wrongful Act, Consult with an Experienced Bay Area Wrongful Death Lawyer Today 

Losing a loved one too soon is incredibly painful. When that loss is caused by another party’s wrongful act, it’s that much more difficult. The dedicated wrongful death lawyers at  The Law Office of Scott Righthand proudly serve the Bay Area, and they have the experience, skill, and compassion to help you. For more information, please don’t hesitate to  contact us today.