Calabasas is known as an exceptionally safe city where people want to spend their lives; however, even in this suburban sanctuary tragic, avoidable deaths can and do happen to Calabasas residents both at home and away. The loss of a loved one leaves family members not only grieving, but often struggling to figure out how they will handle the emotional and financial hole in their home left by the sudden death. We understand you may be unsure how to tackle the legal process of a wrongful death case, which is why we are here to answer your questions and show you how over 40 years of delivering successful results for clients make us some of the best wrongful death lawyer Calabasas to help you get the money you need and closure you deserve.
What Is a Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death, legally speaking, is an avoidable death that wouldn’t have happened but for someone’s bad behavior – negligent, reckless, or worst of all, intentional. Wrongful death lawsuits are personal injury claims, which pursue money for the damage caused by the person’s death.
Even though wrongful deaths can be a criminal act that results in a criminal prosecution – drunk driving fatalities, for instance – many are just civil actions brought by a family with legal permission to sue the wrongdoer. A criminal and civil case may stem from the same act, but not always. We have successfully dealt with many wrongful death cases in Calabasas that arise from fairly common scenarios, such as:
- Medical malpractice
- Fatal car accidents – deaths from drunk driving and texting while driving commonly bring about wrongful death claims
- Motorcycle accident deaths
- Animal attacks by domesticated pets and exotic animals
- Construction site accidents
Suing for Your Wrongful Death Injuries
Even though we understand that the entire family of someone killed in an avoidable accident feels incredibly hurt by the death and may want to take legal action against the wrongdoer, only certain close relatives are allowed to file wrongful death lawsuits under California law. Generally, these people are the “eligible survivors” in California:
- Spouses
- Domestic partners
- Children
- Grandchildren
- In some cases, stepchildren
- In some cases, parents
If you fall outside this list, we have the experience to help you determine whether you have the right to file a wrongful death claim.
If you are an eligible survivor, we understand you’ve been deeply affected by the death of a close family member and may need a considerable amount of time to grieve before making any major decisions. However, it’s important not to delay too long – California generally requires you to file a wrongful death lawsuit within 2 years of the death; we don’t want to see you lose the chance to recover the compensation you’re entitled to because too much time has passed.
Damages You May Recover
Human life is priceless; however, we understand the only way courts can attempt to make your loss right is by awarding money in wrongful death cases. Courts will consider many issues that may affect how much you could receive:
- Medical bills if the death was not immediate
- Your pain and suffering
- Burial fees or funeral costs
- Financial contributions to the household
- Emotional contributions such as guidance, companionship, and support
It’s difficult to predict how much a wrongful death lawsuit may be worth, but depending on these and other factors, as well as the identity of the responsible party, we will show why we are considered some of the best Calabasas wrongful death lawyers and put together the strongest possible argument for substantial damages.
Don’t Wait – Get Help from a Calabasas Lawyer Today!
The death of a loved one is an incomparable loss, and we know no amount of money will bring your loved one back or fill the hole that it leaves in the lives of the family left behind. The best wrongful death lawyer Calabasas understands the terrible position you’re in and our team is here to help you during this process. Made up of some of the best Calabasas wrongful death lawyers around, our team has experience working with clients like you and getting them the maximum possible compensation during their time of need. We will work hard for you and devote our skills and resources to your case. Contact us today to see how we can help you begin putting the pieces back together.
