Are you grieving the premature loss of a loved one after a fatal accident in Sherman Oaks, CA? Did someone’s carelessness cause their death? You may have a legal right to compensation. Compensation can help families get justice after a devastating loss.
JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers have over 105 years of combined experience. Our Sherman Oaks wrongful death lawyers have represented families who have lost loved ones in many different types of accidents. Our team has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Call our Sherman Oaks, California office to discuss your legal options with a Sherman Oaks wrongful death attorney at (833) 852-3600. We offer a free consultation so that you can learn about your rights with no strings attached.
How JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Fatal Accident In Sherman Oaks
A Sherman Oaks wrongful death lawyer at JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers can assert your legal rights. Since 1980, we have helped loved ones understand their legal options after a fatal accident. Our team has worked tirelessly to hold negligent parties accountable for causing fatal accidents in Sherman Oaks, CA.
When you hire us to support you through your wrongful death case, we will:
- Explain the law
- Investigate the accident
- Find out who is responsible
- Calculate your damages
- Work through insurance claims
- Protect your loved one from unfair blame
- File a wrongful death lawsuit
- Collect evidence and conduct depositions
- Represent your family in court
Our Sherman Oaks wrongful death attorneys know that a lawsuit cannot bring back your loved one. However, it can help you access the financial resources your family may need to move forward.
Call our office to schedule a free consultation today.
What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A wrongful death happens when someone’s negligence or intentional action causes a premature death.
The lawsuit is a loved one’s legal claim to damages that they have suffered as a result of the death. The purpose of a wrongful death case is to compensate families for incredible losses, both emotional and financial.
What Types of Accidents Cause Fatalities?
Any type of accident can be fatal.
In Sherman Oaks, most wrongful death cases result from:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Swimming pool drownings
- Boating accidents
- Unsafe or defective products
- Slip and falls or unsafe premises
- Construction site accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
Since a wrongful death case is based on negligence, JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers can help you regardless of how the accident happened. Our expertise comes from our deep knowledge of negligence law. However, we also have years of experience representing people who are hurt after many types of accidents.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case In California?
Only certain family members can file a wrongful death case in Sherman Oaks under the California Code, including the following:
- Surviving spouse
- Surviving children
- Dependent minors who lived in the home for at least six months and relied on the decedent for at least half of their support
- Parents who were financially dependent on the decedent
- Other heirs (if there is no spouse, children, or dependant parents)
- A personal representative of the estate
It may be hard to understand who can file a wrongful death suit. In many cases, we meet with multiple family members and explain who has the legal right to compensation and how we can best assert that right.
What Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Wrongful death cases tend to be more valuable than other types of personal injury cases. That’s because there is compensation for the economic and emotional value of life and the continued financial support of their loved ones.
Some factors that will influence your case value are:
- The age of your loved one
- Their income and earning potential
- The nature of their financial support of their family
- Funeral costs
- Property damages associated with the accident
- The emotional toll of the loss on family
- The role that the decedent played in causing the accident
Many families can expect six and seven-figure damages. However, every case is different. You should speak with a Sherman Oaks wrongful death lawyer to get a more accurate idea of what your case may be worth.
What Kind of Damages Are Available To Loved Ones In a Wrongful Death Case?
Loved ones can expect to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages in their wrongful death case.
Economic damages are financial losses that the family has incurred or will incur because of the death, including the following:
- Accident-related medical bills
- Funeral costs
- Loss of income or employment benefits
- Value of domestic services
- Loss of gifts
Non-economic damages are intangible losses. This is often called pain and suffering in a traditional personal injury case.
Non-economic damages in a wrongful death case may include:
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of guidance
- Loss of love
- Loss of moral support
- Loss of affection
Non-economic damages are subjective. However, that doesn’t make them any less significant. We have several strategies for calculating non-economic damages. In fact, we can help you calculate your economic and non-economic damages so that you recover the maximum allowable under the law.
Maximum recovery is the best way for you to move forward and to hold negligent parties accountable for their irreversible actions.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer?
Wrongful death lawyers usually charge a contingency fee. A contingency fee is when a lawyer’s payment is contingent upon winning the case. That means that if you don’t get any damages at the end of the case, then you aren’t obligated to pay your attorney.
If you do get damages, then your lawyer will take a percentage of the damages as their fee. Usually, the fee is between 33% and 40%. However, the exact percentage will depend on the case’s complexity. If it goes to trial and there is a lot of litigation, your lawyer may charge a higher percentage than if it settles outside of court.
Many families prefer the contingency fee structure to a more traditional hourly or flat fee. That’s because it assures that your lawyer is working hard on your case to ensure they don’t lose money out of their pocket. Furthermore, you aren’t expected to pay the lawyer with money that you probably don’t have.
What Happens If My Loved One Is Getting Blamed for Their Death?
It’s common for a defendant to blame the victim in a wrongful death lawsuit. This tactic helps them escape liability or reduce the amount of money that they owe a grieving family.
California applies pure comparative negligence law. Under pure comparative negligence, families collect proportionate damages. That means that their damages are proportionate to the defendant’s share of responsibility.
So, if their loved one is partially responsible for the fatal accident, then the damages are reduced by their percentage share of responsibility.
For example, if your loved one was 40% responsible for a fatal car crash, then you can only recover 60% of the damages.
Your loved one cannot defend themselves. It is best to rely on a wrongful death attorney to protect them from unfair blame at the beginning of the case. It is easier to fight against blame from the get-go than to backtrack down the line.
How Long Do I Have To File a Wrongful Death Case In California?
You have two years to file a wrongful death case after a fatal accident in California. This is called the statute of limitations.
If you try to file a lawsuit after the statute has expired, your case is dismissed. That means that the statute of limitations is one of the most important deadlines in your case. If you miss it, then you will lose your right to recover damages.
A Sherman Oaks wrongful death lawyer will help you keep track of this deadline so that you don’t lose your opportunity to hold the defendant accountable for your loss.
Contact Our Sherman Oaks Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Call JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a Sherman Oaks wrongful death lawyer.
We provide compassionate representation to every family so you don’t have to focus on your legal case while grieving an incredible loss in Sherman Oaks, CA. Money cannot bring back your loved one, but it can help you become financially stable so that you can focus on your future.
