Los Angeles & Orange County Wrongful Death Attorney

The loss of a loved one is emotionally devastating and could also be financially devastating. When you lose a loved one because of another’s negligent act, this merely compounds your loss. While no amount of money can compensate for this type of senseless loss, a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney can help you recover financially.

Who can file a wrongful death suit in California?

Spouses and dependent children are eligible to file a wrongful death action. However, it’s important to understand that all potential heirs must be included in a single action. A spouse and children cannot file separate suits under California law. Deliberately excluding an eligible heir could mean the person filing suit is liable to that person.

Proving a wrongful death case

When you meet with an Orange County wrongful death attorney, one issue that will be discussed is fault. Success with wrongful death cases means proving another party was responsible for the loss of your loved one. Some cases are fairly straightforward, for example your loved one was hit by a speeding truck while the driver was intoxicated an succumbed to their injuries. Other cases are more complex; for example, if your loved one died because of an undiagnosed injury it may be difficult to prove the doctor behaved in a negligent manner. Discuss all the aspects of your loved one’s death with your Los Angeles wrongful death attorney to ensure your case meets the standards of the law.

Damages in wrongful death cases

Establishing monetary damages in a wrongful death case can be complicated. First, the survivors are entitled to recover economic damages including all medical bills for care received by their loved one prior to their death. Survivors are also entitled to reimbursement for all costs associated with the funeral and burial of their loved ones. There are non-monetary awards that may be awarded as well including loss of consortium for spouses and loss of guidance for children of victims of wrongful death. Awards are on a case-by-case basis so it’s important to discuss all aspects of your loved one’s death with your Orange County wrongful death attorney.

If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence or the deliberate act of another person, you should contact the Law Office of Lisa Stern at 323-456-8878 immediately. There are time limits on filing wrongful death actions so the sooner you contact our offices the sooner we can help you recover financially after the unexpected loss of a loved one.

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