Newport Beach Wrongful Death Attorney
A sudden tragic event causing the death of a loved one is almost always traumatic and difficult to deal with. What makes matters worse is when the death was caused by the negligence of another.
Adding insult to injury, before the family has had the chance to grieve, they are often faced with immediate issues, including:
- Medical bills, if the incident did not result in an immediate fatality.
- Funeral costs.
- The loss of their family member’s contributions to their family.
Whether the family member was the breadwinner for the family or not, there will be consequences, financial and otherwise, to their loss. They may have filled roles for the family that no other member will be able to fill, such as taking care of the children, cooking, and/or providing transportation. The loss of a family member, regardless of their role, will have financial consequences for the family.
While pursuing a legal claim is likely the last thing on your mind in the immediate aftermath of the loss of a loved one, it is important that you consult with a qualified Newport Beach wrongful death attorney to evaluate whether you have a claim as early as possible. Not only can claims become time-barred if they are not presented timely, but crucial evidence in your case may be lost if you do not seek representation early enough. Call the experienced wrongful death lawyers at Younglove Law Group Personal Injury & Accident Attorneys for a free and confidential consultation.
California’s Wrongful Death Statute
California’s wrongful death statute, Civil Code Section 377.60, outlines who can assert a claim for wrongful death after an incident resulting in loss of life. Specifically, the law states:
A cause of action for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another may be asserted by any of the following persons or by the decedent’s personal representative on their behalf:
(a) The decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children, or, if there is no surviving issue of the decedent, the persons including the surviving spouse or domestic partner, who would be entitled to the property of the decedent by intestate succession. If the parents of the decedent would be entitled to bring an action under this subdivision, and the parents are deceased, then the legal guardians of the decedent, if any, may bring an action under this subdivision as if they were the decedent’s parents.
Common Issues With Newport Beach Wrongful Death Claims
Omitted Family Members:
California’s wrongful death statute grants a single joint cause of action to sue the person or persons liable for the death. This means all claimants eligible to assert a claim are only permitted one action against the defendant(s), and only one verdict will be rendered to all claimants for the claim.
When a family member who is eligible to assert a wrongful death claim is omitted it can cause issues with the prosecution of the case because part of the claim remains outstanding. This most often occurs when a child dies and the parents are no longer in contact or when one parent is unwilling to communicate as to their intentions in asserting a claim.
Defense attorneys often fall back on what is called the One-Action Rule. This protects the defendant against a potential future claim by an omitted heir by filing a lawsuit with the heirs who have asserted a claim solely with the purpose of memorializing the absence of the omitted heir in the resolution of the claim. While often unnecessary, this is one solution to the problems caused by omitted claimants.
There are, however, alternatives to addressing an omitted family member in a wrongful death claim. An experienced Newport Beach wrongful death attorney can guide you through this process to obtain the best result possible. If a family member of yours lost their life due to the negligence of another, call our team of experienced wrongful death attorneys now to see if you have a claim.
Concurrent Criminal Investigation:
There is often a concurrent criminal investigation into the incident conducted by the police, which can be turned over to the district attorney’s office for prosecution if there is evidence of a crime. While this can sometimes be helpful to a wrongful death claim in that the criminal investigation might find useful information, it tends to cause substantial delays in the prosecution of the wrongful death claim.
Typically, when there is an ongoing criminal investigation, all potential evidence is held by the respective police department in case it needs to be preserved for trial. This can be problematic in pursuing a wrongful death claim, because it can limit access to information and evidence needed to identify and prove up a claim against the at-fault party or parties.
For example, in a wrongful death claim involving vehicles, the police will usually preserve the vehicles by placing them in an evidence hold, limiting access until the criminal matter is completed. Being denied access to vehicles involved in the incident can delay identification of issues. For example, if an airbag failed to deploy that should have, a product liability claim may successfully be raised if it can be shown to be causally-related to the fatality. However, without access to the vehicle, this issue will not be spotted until the police hold is lifted and the wrongful death attorney’s consultants are allowed to inspect the vehicle.
Keeping in close touch with the detective can help identify issues before access to all evidence is permitted, and an experienced attorney will know what information to obtain from the police. If a family member of yours lost their life due to the negligence of another, call our team of experienced wrongful death lawyers now to see if you have a claim.
Valuing A Newport Beach Wrongful Death Claim
Unfortunately, the only recourse we have against defendants in the civil arena is to pursue them for damages (money). Wrongful death claims often receive substantial awards from juries, who are permitted to evaluate the value of the claim based on numerous considerations.
California’s jury instructions divide the valuation of a wrongful death claim into 2 main categories, economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages:
Economic damages that can be awarded to a wrongful death claimant are the financial support the decedent would have contributed to the family during their life expectancy (based on average life expectancy), the loss of gifts/benefits the decedent would have given to the claimant, funeral/burial expenses, and the reasonable value of household services the decedent would have provided.
Non-Economic damages:
Non-Economic damages are subjective by definition and are intended as compensation for the loss of decedent’s love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, moral support, sexual relations (if applicable), and the loss of decedent’s guidance. As these are subjective elements, the jury is entrusted to apply their own judgement in valuing this portion of a wrongful death claim.
While certain facts giving rise to a fatality can be frustrating, if not infuriating, punitive damages are unfortunately not available in wrongful death claims.
In short, wrongful deaths are complex claims that require a thorough understanding of the applicable laws. If a family member of yours lost their life due to the negligence of another, call our team of experienced legal professionals now to see if you have a claim.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Under California Law, What is Qualified as a Wrongful Death Case?
Under California law, if someone dies because of a defendant’s negligent or intentional act, the family members or survivors may pursue a wrongful death case against the defendant. In a wrongful death case, it must be proved that the defendant’s negligent actions caused the incident that resulted in the person’s death, referred to as the decedent.
When Must a Newport Beach Wrongful Death Claim be Filed?
A Newport Beach wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years from the date a person died due to the negligence of another. If the wrongful death claim is not filed within the two-year timeframe, you may not be able to recover damages. However, some exceptions may apply.
Are Wrongful Death Survivors Entitled to Recover Damages for their Emotional Distress?
There are 2 separate and very different claims in California following a wrongful death: a survival action and a wrongful death action. The people who can assert each differs and the damages that can be pursued are separate as well. Neither can recover for emotional distress, however, a wrongful death claimant is entitled to compensation for their loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, and society of the decedent. Unlike wrongful death claims, survivor actions permit punitive damages.
Should I Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer for my Claim?
Yes. Losing a loved one is extremely painful and overwhelming. Hiring a wrongful death lawyer is not only a great source of assistance for you and your family during this difficult time but will also help build the strongest case possible and get the justice you and your family deserve.
Work With Experienced Wrongful Death Attorneys
You will see we are not just another law firm. We are real people who care about what you and your family are going through. We can help you as you seek justice and answers.
Julie
Phil and Chloe really came to the rescue when I was struck by a driver on a rainy day in 2020. I was pretty shaken up by the whole experience and came to them pretty worried, but they were there to help every step of the way from collecting the witness statement to helping with doctors’ visits and dealing with insurance, etc. I’m pleased with the outcome and feel grateful for the support. I would recommend Phil and his team to anyone looking for honest and extremely efficient communication in a time of crisis!
Marcus
Phil is amazing. Last year I had a pretty traumatic incident at a grocery store, and really had no idea what I was going to do. I had some doctor’s bills, had to take off of work, and got behind on a few things. I got in contact with Phil and the folks that he works with, and they literally walk me step by step through the whole process. It took a little while, but the patience definitely paid off. Phil is knowledgeable and definitely an excellent attorney. I would recommend him anytime.
Ashley
I was in an accident in June 2019, and from the moment I called them I was immediately taken care of. They sent someone to my home (pre-pandemic), to take my statement and any photos I had. They constantly kept in contact, returned my calls in a timely manner, and it was absolutely amazing how well organized they are – so efficient! My attorney, Phil Younglove is fantastic! I was so pleased with my settlement, very happy. They’re an incredible team, and thanks to Chloe Hunt, who is also amazing.
