Losing a loved one is hard, especially if it’s because of the reckless behavior of another person.
California’s Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) allows the decedent’s representative on behalf of the family members and relatives to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
A wrongful death means an individual dies due to the negligence or misconduct of another. It may be due to negligence-based incidents like motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and intentional acts. The people who may assert the cause of action for the death of another may file a suit to recover damages.
It is impossible to state a specific amount or an average figure for a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death settlements average at $500,000. Some settlement awards have gone for $5 million and even more.
Survivors in the state of California can bring a wrongful death action for any type of claim based on the following:
- Negligence
- Gross negligence
- Recklessness or an intentional wrongful act
- Auto accident (including being hit in a drunk driving or aggressive driving accident)
- Semi-truck accidents
- Defective Products
- Workplace Accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Drowning
- Assault and battery
- Murder or manslaughter
- Elder abuse or neglect
- Child abuse or neglect
- Medical malpractice
In California, you need to prove that the death of your loved ones was indeed wrongful. In order to prove it, you must have sufficient evidence to establish the case and that the death occurred due to the negligent acts of someone else.
However, you do not have to prove wrongful death beyond a reasonable doubt, preponderance of evidence is already sufficient.
Who Gets The Money in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Under 377.60(a) of CCP, the following may assert their claim due to wrongful death:
Surviving spouses or registered domestic partners
If the deceased person was legally married at the time of their death, the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner will have the primary right to file a wrongful death claim. However, the surviving spouse may be denied the right to prosecute the case by the court if they are deemed not legally competent.
The decedent’s surviving children
If there is no surviving spouse, the surviving biological children, fully adopted children, or stepchildren children of the decedent can file a lawsuit. If the children are minors, the court will appoint a guardian to file and pursue a wrongful death claim on their behalf. Grandchildren may also file a suit if the decedent’s children are deceased.
If the decedent leaves no surviving issue, then the intestate succession would entitle the persons including the spouse to their property.
In addition to the above-identified individuals, the following people can also bring a wrongful death lawsuit in California if they can prove that they were financially dependent on the deceased:
- The decedent’s putative spouse
- Children of the decedent’s putative spouse
- Deceased person’s stepchildren
- Deceased person’s parents
- Legal guardians of the decedent, if the parents are deceased.
In wrongful death cases, the court orders the defendant to pay the damages to the decedent’s survivors. Damages are the plaintiff’s claimed losses in a personal injury case. The scope of damages is often discussed and based on California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI).
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Under CACI 3921, damages in a wrongful death case fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages
Economic Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Economic damages are based on injuries with clearly determinable values. It can include:
- Medical bills of the deceased.
- Financial losses and financial support the decedent would have contributed to the family.
- Loss of inheritance, gifts, or benefits that the financial dependents or family members would have expected to receive from the decedent.
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The reasonable dollar value of household services that the decedent would have provided.
Non-Economic Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Non-economic damages are awarded based on injuries which are, by their very nature, Juries are free to award as much or as little of noneconomic damage as they wish. There is no standard for determining the value of these damages. The CACI no. 3921 provides the following:
- Loss of companionship, the decedent’s “love, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support”.
- The spouse or partner’s loss of the enjoyment of intimacy with the decedent.
- Loss of the decedent’s guidance.
Wrongful Death vs. Survival Action Claims
Meanwhile, wrongful death lawsuits are often interchanged with Survival Action.
Wrongful Death lawsuits compensate the victim’s family for the family’s losses. On the other hand, Survival actions allow both heirs and successors in interest to sue on behalf of the victim’s estate.
A “Survival” claim under California Code of Civil Procedure 377.30 could entitle a family to punitive damages if their loved one dies wrongfully. It differs from wrongful death damages in that it does not require the death to have been caused by another’s negligence, but only that the death was caused by someone other than the decedent. For a “Survival” claim to succeed, the claimant must show that the decedent would have had a cause of action for damages had they lived.
The survival suit provides two principal forms of compensation:
- Money for legal rights unrelated to the death, but for which the victim had the right to sue when he or she perished.
- Amounts that account for the injury that caused the death, provided that the victim at least briefly survived his or her injuries.
Meanwhile, you should remember that wrongful death claims must be filed within two years, or they shall be forfeited. If the case is not filed within the time set, the family will lose their capacity to sue regarding the decedent’s death.
Call An Award-Winning Wrongful Death Attorney
Farahi Law Firm will assist you to claim the maximum offer due to the wrongful death of your loved ones. Our experienced wrongful death lawyers will explain to you the legal process and even the most common type of accidents, the importance of traffic reconstruction in a personal injury claim, and many more.
Do not allow yourselves to be tricked by insurance companies to accept low-ball settlement offers. You can count on us to help you and to aggressively fight for you.
Call us! We will make sure that you get the justice and financial compensation you deserve.
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