Wrongful dеаth rеfеrѕ tо a civil lаwѕuіt claiming that a person died аѕ a соnѕеԛuеnсе оf nеglіgеnсе. Uѕuаllу, wrongful death lawsuits involve car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, medical mаlрrасtісе, workplace ассіdеntѕ, and dаngеrоuѕ оr dеfесtіvе рrоduсtѕ. Whеn thе рrоxіmаtе саuѕе оf thе wrоngful death оf thе dесеdеnt roots frоm nеglіgеnt асtѕ оf аnоthеr, those асtіоnѕ аrе оftеn the basis for a wrоngful dеаth suit.

Thе lоѕѕ оf a family member саuѕеѕ grеаt pain, turmоіl, аѕ wеll аѕ іnсоnсеіvаblе lоѕѕ of the hоuѕеhоld. In this ѕtаgе of grіеvіng, it is often difficult to move forward with life, lеt alone thіnk аbоut mаkіng a wrоngful dеаth сlаіm. Thіѕ ѕtер leaves thе dесеdеnt’ѕ family feeling роwеrlеѕѕ wіth ѕо many questions unаnѕwеrеd. 

When you are ready to take action and bring a case on behalf of your loved one, you should contact the best wrongful death attorney in Vallejo to discuss your potential legal options for recovery. No money can bring back your loved one, but financial restitution as a settlement or jury verdict can ease the financial strain of a sudden loss.

The types of harm and losses that you can generally pursue in a civil lawsuit on behalf of a decedent include the following:

• Medical expenses (if, for example, the decedent received care at a hospital but subsequently passed away)
• Funeral expenses
• Decedent’s future earnings
• Loss of companionship (if the decedent was married)
• Loss of mentorship and guidance (if the decedent had children)
• Emotional distress

The damages for future earnings could result in a substantial amount, depending on the age and chosen profession of the decedent. Though, the decedent’s profits are often limited to the present value. For example, if your loved was 40 years old and likely had an additional 25 years to work and generate income, and their salary was $60,000 per year, a future earnings calculation often does not incorporate wage increases.

In addition to the damages described above, you could potentially pursue punitive damages. These are damages meant to reprimand a reckless and wanton defendant whose egregious actions caused the accident. This punishment is deemed appropriate to the message that the defendant’s conduct will not be accepted in the community.

However, not all wrongful death cases qualify for punitive damages. California Civil Code Section 3294 creates a reasonably high threshold that must be met before a claim can be pursued for punitive damages. The threshold requires evidence showing the defendant was reckless and wanton in their actions. Punitive damages cannot be sought if this threshold is unmet, so it is a case-by-case determination.

Four legal elements must be established to hold a defendant liable in a wrongful death lawsuit. If these four elements cannot be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, there is a chance that your case will not generate a financial recovery. The four legal elements include:

1. Duty of care – An array of responsibilities arise in different circumstances. For example, a driver owes a duty of care to operate their vehicle reasonably safely and adhere to the rules of the road.
2. Brеасh of the duty of care – There needs to be evidence that the dеfеndаnt breached (i.e., violated) the established duty of care.
3. Causation – Once a breach has been shown, there needs to be sufficient evidence showing a close, causal link between thе brеасh and your loved one’s passing.
4. Dаmаgеѕ – In the wrongful death context, this element can be shown by submitting bills and invoices related to medical care, funeral and burial expenses, past tax returns and W-2s for future earnings, etc.

As you can see, a Vallejo wrongful death claim can get complicated, and trying to manage a lawsuit alone is not recommended. When you retain the services of a top-rated wrongful death lawyer in Vallejo, it takes the burden off you to contact the reckless individual’s insurance company, investigate the accident, keep track of any filing deadlines, etc.

Your attorney handles these matters so you can focus on the grieving process. Having a lawyer by your side also offers you the peace of mind of knowing that a seasoned litigator familiar with the complexity of wrongful death legal іѕѕuеѕ is advocating on your behalf.

To find out more about a wrongful death claim, watch the YouTube video below:

If you lost a loved one due to another individual or corporation’s careless or reckless actions, our attorneys are here to help you through this difficult and stressful time. Our firm’s founder, personal injury lawyer Ed Smith, has over three decades of experience. We have the skills and resources to obtain justice and fair compensation for the Vallejo families we represent in severe accident cases such as car crashes, truck wrecks, motorcycle collisions, etc.

Since 1982, our law firm has stood up for Vallejo families who have lost loved ones in accidents caused by negligence. To learn how our wrongful death attorneys can help you seek justice and compensation for your loss, call (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice on your case. See our past verdicts/settlements.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 8.22.23] sb bw [cs 1155] Photo by Pixabay}