San Pedro Wrongful Death Lawyers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 300,000 accident victims died due to unintentional injuries in 2020. Unintentional injury deaths ranked 4th as the most common cause of death in the United States.

Losing a loved one due to an accident is the most catastrophic experience one can go through. This loss can cause years of emotional pain. Our San Pedro wrongful death lawyers are fully aware of the responsibility our clients entrust to us to handle their cases.

The California Civil Code states that if a loved one’s death was caused by the careless actions of another person, the victim’s family can proceed with legal action against the negligent party, hold them liable for their loved one’s wrongful death, and seek fair compensation for their financial damages and loss. Our personal injury attorneys at Farahi Law Firm are here to offer aggressive representation to help you obtain justice for your loved ones.

Wrongful death claims can be complicated, and it can be difficult to prove the connection between injury and death, depending on the circumstances. If you have lost a loved one and feel that their passing could have been prevented, you will need the services of an experienced injury lawyer to guide you in the process of your claim for compensation.

Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case. 

What is a Wrongful Death Claim?

As previously mentioned, under California law, the heirs or the personal representative of the estate of the deceased can file a claim for the death of a person as a result of the careless actions of a negligent party. 

In such a legal matter, it is often difficult for the surviving family to endure the emotional and financial repercussions of the loss of their loved one. The complexities of such claims are not easy to deal with without expert legal representation. That’s why Farahi Law Firm, APC recommends hiring a personal injury lawyer specializing in wrongful death claims to handle all the legal matters of your case.

What are the Common Causes of Wrongful Death?

Many incidents can cause the wrongful death of a loved one. Wrongful death can be caused by negligent individuals, a company, and even public entities. Listed below are some of the most common situations that lead to wrongful death:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Work-Related Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Nursing Home Neglect
• Defective Product
• Defective Drugs
• And many more

Regardless of the cause, a wrongful death claim should be handled by an expert San Pedro wrongful death lawyer to avoid causing more mental anguish to the victim’s family.

Who May Sue for Wrongful Death?

Under California Civil Code 377.60, the following victims’ family members – or their representatives – are allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit:

• The surviving spouse or domestic partner, or parents
• The victim’s surviving children
• Any individual who might be qualified for the victim’s property through intestate progression, for example, next of kin
• People who were dependent on the victim for financial help (e.g., the victim’s ex-partner or step-children)

What Do I Need to Make a Wrongful Death Claim?

To file a wrongful death claim, your personal injury attorney will need to prove that the death of your loved one was caused by the negligent conduct of an individual or group. Negligence is the failure of a person or organization to behave with common sense and caution during the incident. To establish that a wrongful death has occurred, the attorney will need to prove:

• The individual or institution responsible failed to provide the duty of care
• How the individual or institution breached that duty of care, by act or omission
• The proximate or direct link between the breach of duty of care of the individual/institution; and the death of your loved one
• And the damages resulted from the wrongful death of the victim

At Farahi Law Firm, our expert San Pedro wrongful death lawyers know the best course of action to take to prove that the death of your loved one was due to someone else’s recklessness and will strive to prove their part in your loved one’s wrongful death.

What Damages Can I Claim in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

A person’s life is invaluable, and money cannot replace nor compensate for the loss of a loved one. Nevertheless, we aim to hold the accountable parties liable for their reckless behavior that led to someone’s untimely demise, bringing the ones at fault to justice.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, compensatory damages are very similar to those of other kinds of personal injury claims. The exact amount of monetary compensation that can be retrieved depends on the nature of the case. Whether it compensates the estate or the surviving family members for death-related losses, damages can include:

• Medical expenses incurred during the illness or injury of the deceased.
• Loss of future anticipated earnings of the deceased.
• Loss of inheritance arising from untimely death.
• Loss of benefits resulting from the death of the victim (e.g. pension, medical coverage, etc.)
• Pain and suffering, or mental anguish of the deceased’s family members.
• Loss of love, care, protection, guidance, and companionship to the survivors.
• Funeral expenses
• Burial expenses
• General & Punitive damages
• And more

Hiring the Right San Pedro Wrongful Death Lawyers

If your loved one passes due to a fatal accident, you could be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. It is in your best interest to hire a San Pedro wrongful death lawyer to handle the complexities of your case. 

At Farahi Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling wrongful death cases. Not only will we offer aggressive representation, but we will also deal with insurance companies, so you won’t have to. Your San Pedro wrongful death lawyer will ensure that your best interests are respected. 

Having a lawyer by your side will guarantee that the insurance adjuster will not take this opportunity and try every trick in the book to lower their client’s liability. We will protect you from those who wish to lowball you to avoid giving you a fair settlement offer.

Statute of Limitations for a Wrongful Death Claim in San Pedro

Like personal injury claims, wrongful death claims in San Pedro must be filed within the statute of limitations as per the laws of California. The statute of limitations is a court rule requiring claims and lawsuits to be filed within a certain time. In the case of wrongful death, the time starts running from the date of the victim’s untimely death.

California law mandates that wrongful death claims should be made within two years from the date of death. If the case is not brought within two years to the state’s civil court system, the victim’s family will most likely lose the claim and the deserved compensation for the loss of their loved one.

There are certain exceptions to this rule that may extend or shorten the statute of limitations. Such as cases wherein the plaintiff is a minor, the incident involved a government entity, or medical malpractice was involved.

Understanding the statute of limitations and its exceptions can be a complicated task to tackle. This is why it is crucial to have an experienced wrongful death attorney guiding you through the process of your claim and discussing with you all your legal options.

Experienced San Pedro Wrongful Death Lawyers

To establish a valid wrongful death claim, it is necessary to prove that a person or institution failed to act responsibly and was guilty of causing an individual’s death due to their negligent actions. The experienced attorney on your case will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the details related to the death of your loved one and help you take appropriate action for compensation.

Our expert team of San Pedro wrongful death lawyers understands the sensitivity of the cases involving the loss of a loved one. While you and your family focus on coping with your grief and start to heal, we will handle the legal end of things for you.

If you have lost a family member due to someone else’s negligence, it is your legal right to file a claim for wrongful death and obtain financial compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. We offer a “no fee unless we win” contingency basis.

Contact us at (310) 744-8015 or schedule a free consultation.