According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, approximately 3,074 people died in traffic-related accidents in California in 2014. Countless others die due to medical malpractice, defective consumer products, exposure to toxic chemicals, boating wrecks, and other preventable accidents. That means thousands of lives are affected by avoidable accidents.

If you lost a loved one in a preventable accident caused by the carelessness of another individual or company, call our experienced Natomas wrongful death lawyer at (916) 921-6400 to discuss your legal options.

According to the California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, wrongful death is defined as an action, or lack of reasonable action, that proximately causes the death of an individual due to the negligence of another person or entity (e.g., business).

If you lost a loved one in an accident, you could pursue monetary damages against the negligent party. Obviously, no amount of financial recovery can fully compensate you for losing a loved one.

The civil justice system is limited to pursuing financial restitution to send a message to the negligent individual and others similarly situated to the negligent individual. If you decide to move forward with a wrongful death claim, you can pursue the following damages:

• The sudden loss of earnings provided by the decedent (e.g., losing the primary income earner in your household).
• The decedent provides loss of companionship and guidance to their spouse and children.
• Burial and funeral expenses.
• Any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident.
• Emotional trauma (i.e., pain and suffering).

The recovery of monetary damages depends on the decedent’s age, life expectancy, whether they supported a family and available insurance coverage. Your Natomas wrongful death attorney will thoroughly investigate the incident and the ramifications of your loss to provide a detailed picture to a judge or jury of your harms and losses (both financially and emotionally).

Your Natomas wrongful death lawyer will also contact all relevant insurance companies to notify you that you intend to pursue a claim and negotiate on your behalf.

Watch the YouTube video below for more information on a wrongful death claim.

There are plenty of wrongful death attorneys to choose from in and around Natomas. Finding the best wrongful death lawyer for your case may feel overwhelming. Here are some essential factors you should consider in your hiring decision:

• The lawyer actually has experience representing people in wrongful death cases.
• The lawyer has actually taken a civil case all the way to trial.
• The lawyer is compassionate to your situation.

Many people hesitate to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party because they are intimidated by the prospect of filing a lawsuit and having to testify in court. This is especially true for family members who recently lost a loved one in a terrible accident.

They may have seen dramatized portrayals of jury trials in the movies. Rest assured, with an injury lawyer’s assistance, a trial is not nearly as intimidating as it may appear on the big screen.

It is also important to note that most personal injury and wrongful death cases settle before trial. In fact, well over 90 percent of claims are actually resolved without going to a jury trial.

Nevertheless, a trial is sometimes necessary if the negligent party’s insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement. In this situation, you need to be sure you have an attorney who can file suit and take your case to trial.