San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorney

San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorney

When someone is killed as a result of someone else’s negligence, there is nothing that can be done to help that victim or reverse the situation. The law does, however, address the issue of the victim’s survivors. While nothing can return your loved one to you, you can seek the compensation you need to move forward toward healing. If you’ve lost a loved one to someone else’s negligence, an experienced San Francisco wrongful death attorney can help. 

Who Is Entitled to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

In the State of California, specific survivors are entitled to seek wrongful death compensation, but only as outlined by California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60. The eligible surviving heirs may include:

• The victim’s surviving spouse or domestic partner
• The victim’s surviving children or grandchildren (if the children are no longer living)
• Any other children who relied on the victim for at least half of their financial support (a stepchild, for example)
• Anyone who is entitled to share in the victim’s estate (according to California’s laws of succession)

If you have a wrongful death claim, it’s important to recognize that the associated laws are quite exacting and that consulting with a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney sooner rather than later is in the best interest of your claim.

The Basis of Your Claim

Your wrongful death claim won’t be exactly like any other such claim, but many are predicated on the following kinds of accidents:

• Traffic accidents, such as car, rideshare, truck, boat, bus, cable car, train, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, and pedestrian accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and fall accidents
• Fires
• Accidents caused by hazardous products
• Dog attacks

The Compensation You Seek

The compensation you are entitled to seek in a wrongful death case can be based on both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages in this capacity can include:

• The cost of your lost loved one’s funeral and burial
• The loss of financial support you would have received throughout your lost loved one’s life expectancy
• The loss of benefits you could have reasonably expected to receive over the course of your lost loved one’s life expectancy
• The value of the lost household services your lost loved one would have performed over his or her life expectancy

Non-economic damages refer to those losses that you can’t put a price on, but that are losses nonetheless, including:

• The loss of your loved one’s guidance and protection
• The loss of your loved one’s companionship, affection, and society
• The loss of your loved one’s moral support
• The loss of your sexual relationship with your loved one

The jury will take the circumstances involved in your claim into careful consideration in its efforts to assign value to the damages you’ve suffered as a result of your loss.  

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorney

If another person or another entity’s negligence causes you to lose a loved one, the dedicated wrongful death attorneys at the Law Offices of Scott Righthand in San Francisco have the extensive experience, resources, and dedication you seek. To schedule a free consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.