Van Nuys Wrongful Death Attorney

Van Nuys is a close-knit community of neighborhoods and its people are active, hardworking, and like to enjoy life. Every day you can see how active the community is whether by driving down Sherman Way or walking a trail through Valley Glen Park off Erwin Street.

Van Nuys residents work in all sorts of jobs, some local and others putting them on the road a couple of hours a day. While all these activities are necessary and good for everyone, they come with risks of a personal injury.

At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we’ve seen how someone can get injured just doing things they’ve done all their lives. We’ve also been there for the family of a loved one that has died from their injuries.

We know that this is a tough time, and you might want some answers. Why did this have to happen? Why wasn’t the other person or driver more careful? Is there any way to get justice?

We can help you process all these questions and to let you know what your rights are as a survivor of a wrongful death.

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Wrongful death lawsuits seek to provide damages for a family member, spouse, or other surviving relative of someone who wrongfully passed due to someone else’s negligence. A wrongful death is typically not an intentional act, and requires certain elements to be met for a claim to be a successful.

Personal injury law defines wrongful death as a death caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another person or entity. This can include fatalities resulting from incidents like car accidents, medical malpractice, or intentional acts such as assault. The decedent’s surviving family members or their estate may file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for their loss.

Who can Claim Compensation for a Wrongful Death?

Under California law, only the close family members can make a legal claim for compensation against the person who negligently caused the loved one’s death. In most cases, these are those who were living with the deceased at the time of death. Those who can make a wrongful death claim are:

• The spouse married to the deceased at the time of death.
• The domestic partner of the deceased living with the deceased.
• The surviving children
• Any dependent minor living with the child at the time of death.

California law requires the claim to be filed by a representative of the deceased. This doesn’t have to be an attorney, just someone who represents all those seeking compensation.

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

In California, the statute of limitations for filing wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of the deceased person’s death. This means that a lawsuit must be filed within two years, or the right to sue may be lost. There are some exceptions to this statute, however, so don’t hesitate to contact a Van Nuys wrongful death lawyer if you and your family have been affected by a tragedy of this nature.

Type of Accidents in Van Nuys that can Result in a Wrongful Death Claim

Being active, unfortunately, also means a risk of getting injured and even killed. When it happens because of the negligence of someone else, then the victim’s survivors can make a claim for a wrongful death against the person who was negligent. Some of the ways people are victims of a wrongful death in Van Nuys are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip or Trip and Falls
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Farm Tractor and Farm Vehicles Accidents
• Farm Machinery Malfunctions
• Riding Bicycles
• Ebike and Fatal Scooter Accidents in Los Angeles
• Walking
• Impaired Driver
• Hit and Run Accidents
• Rideshare Crashes
• Defective Products
• Death from Injuries at work due to third-party negligence

Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

Many times the survivors of a wrongful death ask how compensation is determined. This is a good question because the law is different from a typical motor vehicle personal injury when it comes to paying compensation. The main thing is that the compensation is due to the survivor of the deceased based on how the death impacted the survivor and not so much how the death happened or if the deceased.

Some of the determining factors include:

• Outstanding medical bills from the victim’s treatment
• Lost present and future support
• Loss of benefits like retirement
• Mental pain and anguish of survivors
• Loss of companionship and guardianship
• Value of goods and services that would have been provided
• Loss of care and nurturing
• Loss of consortium (deceased’s spouse)
• Punitive damages if the death was intentional or due to gross negligence

In addition to damages, wrongful death cases are unique because they can factor in other expenses that surviving family members may incur after losing a loved one. Our wrongful death attorneys can hold the responsible party accountable for funeral and burial expenses, as well. If you are concerned about expenses and damages following a wrongful death case, from burial expenses and beyond, our attorneys can help.

How is a fair settlement calculated in a wrongful death claim?

The damages above, all come together when factoring in compensation. Our lawyers will always seek to obtain you the maximum amount possible when you file a wrongful death claim.

How Much Does It Cost To Speak With A Personal Injury Attorney Regarding a Wrongful Death Suit?

We offer moral support and a free consultation for anyone who lost a loved one to a wrongful death in Van Nuys . We also offer help for motor vehicle accidents, and many more situations where a negligent party caused harm to another person. If you are seeking to file a wrongful death claim, you can turn to our law offices. We’ll help you file a wrongful death claim, and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning if your case is not successful, you don’t pay your lawyer a cent.

Call a Van Nuys Personal Injury Attorney

The best thing to do after losing a loved one to a wrongful death, or in any situation where you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, is to talk to a Van Nuys Personal Injury Attorney.

A wrongful death claim can help ease the impact and financial burden of the loss. Even if you don’t hire an attorney, you owe it to yourself to be advised of the law by an unbiased professional. As wrongful death attorneys, we can help you understand which types of compensation you may be entitled to – especially if you were financially dependent on your lost loved one. Then if you decide to get representation, choose someone who is experienced and understands the law.

Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at 800 824 5416 or click here to contact us online. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with every type of accident, including those that may have resulted in a wrongful death. We get results against the insurance companies and their highly-paid lawyers. Call us now to even the playing field and get the compensation you deserve following a wrongful death case.

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