Wrongful Death

The loss of a family member is often too painful for words and can leave the survivors disoriented and confused in addition to the sense overwhelming grief. When the death was caused by the negligent act or bad conduct of another person the loss is especially hard. The lawsuit you can bring in such cases is called a wrongful death action. These cases can be especially difficult for survivors soon after a death because it seems disrespectful to distill a family member’s life into a monetary sum. However, if you wait too long, you can let the statute of limitations pass and lose your cause of action forever. You should retain an experienced attorney who can represent you with compassion, respect your loss and still obtain the compensation you are entitled to.  Many are surprised to learn that the type of compensation that can be recovered is listed in a statute for California cases.

What can you recover within the California legal system?

• The law says you can recover the financial support of the deceased member during his or her normal life expectancy;
• The loss of gifts and benefits had your family member survived;
• Loss of household services;
• Burial expense;
• Loss of love, companionship;
• Comfort, care, assistance and protection, society and support;
• Loss of enjoyment of sexual relations;
• The loss of your family member’s training and guidance

However, you are not entitled to recover for:

• Grief, sorrow or mental anguish;
• Pain and suffering;
• Poverty or wealth of survivors