Pomona Wrongful Death Lawyer

Can I Sue Someone for My Loved One’s Death?

Loss is never easy. This is especially true when the loss is of a loved one. While damaged property can be replaced and injuries can heal, death is permanent. Often, death is a fact of life that cannot be controlled. In other circumstances, though, death is the result of someone else’s negligence. Although people cannot always be held criminally responsible for causing someone else’s death, you can hold them financially accountable.

A wrongful death suit is a type of lawsuit brought by the family of a deceased individual against the responsible parties. Although a wrongful death suit cannot send someone to prison, it can hold people and businesses financially liable for causing someone’s death. While these lawsuits can’t bring anyone back or ease the pain and suffering of loss, they can help you achieve a sense of justice. A wrongful death suit can also help financially unburden you from any bills you may have incurred as a result of your loved one’s loss.

California is home to a high number of accidental deaths. On average, about 20,000 people die in California every year under circumstances that could be classified as wrongful death. Although it is rare for a wrongful death suit to go all the way to trial, they result in settlements with the victim’s family about 60% of the time. The average settlement amount for a wrongful death in California is about $1 million. This is why if you lost a loved one in California, you should contact our firm’s experienced wrongful death attorney.

What Counts as a Wrongful Death?

When we lose a loved one, we often want to seek someone or something to blame. In many circumstances, especially those involving age and incurable illnesses, no one is responsible. However, in many circumstances, deaths are not only preventable, they are directly someone else’s fault.

Every wrongful death case differs from the next in several ways because every situation is so incredibly unique. A situation that may constitute wrongful death under certain circumstances may not count in another case. Whether a death was wrongful depends on a variety of factors. Under California law, wrongful death is defined as “the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.”

On average, the number one leading cause of wrongful deaths in California is car crashes. However, in recent years, the number of wrongful deaths due to workplace accidents has been rising, especially in the construction and transportation sectors.

Common causes of wrongful death include, but are not necessarily limited to:

These are only a fraction of the kinds of wrongful death suits our legal team has handled in the past. Pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit might seem daunting, but all you need is a skilled, compassionate, and knowledgeable accident lawyer to guide you through the process. Whether your loved one is a victim of a drunk driver wrongful death, you need to file a drowning wrongful death claim, your loved one suffered wrongful death by medical negligence, or you’re searching for an assault wrongful death lawyer to hold an abusive individual accountable for their actions, our professional team is here to help.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

In California, wrongful death claims are usually filed by family members of the deceased. These parties may include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, surviving children or stepchildren, or the deceased’s parents. In some instances, heirs of the deceased may file a wrongful death suit even if they are not related by blood or marriage.

If you lost a loved one and you believe a wrongful death claim is in order, reach out to our qualified accident attorney. We’ll be happy to take a look at the case, answer your legal questions, help you file a claim, and even help prove that you are the individual entitled to compensation.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in California?

Surviving family members are given two years after the death of a loved one to file wrongful death lawsuits. While this may seem like a sufficient amount of time, the months can fly by when you’re grieving and dealing with the death of a loved one. It’s not unusual for the Statute of limitations to expire while people go through the grieving process and attempt to keep their lives in order.

Following the death of a family member, it’s not unusual for daily practicalities to take precedence over seeking justice or compensation. This is especially true if the deceased was the primary earner for your household. You may be focused on paying bills, having accounts placed in your name, handling school schedules, and more. This can mean the window for seeking compensation passes before you realize it.

If you fail to seek compensation for your loved one’s death within the two-year window, you may permanently lose the opportunity. That means you may lose out on your only chance to bring the responsible parties to justice for your loved one’s death. It can also mean struggling with lost income and a difficult financial situation for years to come. With the help of your personal injury attorney, you’ll meet every deadline and file your claim well before this two-year Statute of limitations passes.

How Do I File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

In addition to the grief of losing a loved one, wrongful death suits often involve wealthy, powerful corporations and millions of dollars. This can make a lawsuit seem overwhelming, if not insurmountable. This is why an experienced wrongful death attorney is vital. An attorney can approach a case without any personal attachment to the deceased. This allows them to aggressively yet dispassionately approach your case and hold responsible parties accountable.

T.J. Juneja and his team at the Wolf Law Firm especially pride themselves on their approach to wrongful death cases. He knows that nothing can ever restore the loss of human life, but he knows holding responsible people and businesses accountable can bring about closure and healing. Wolf Law Firm approaches every wrongful death case with an intense level of compassion for family members and no patience for responsible parties.

Death is difficult. It’s especially difficult when that death was someone else’s fault. Don’t suffer from loss and financial uncertainty because someone else’s negligence resulted in your loved one’s death. With our skilled wrongful death attorney, T.J. Juneja, and the Wolf Law Firm on your side, you can find a path to healing- and a road forward. If you or a loved one lost someone in Pomona, San Bernardino, or Riverside County and want to hold the right people accountable, contact Wolf Law Firm today at (833) 388-8888 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.