Personal injury accidents can be expected in a busy place like Long Beach. A careless driver might cause a multi-vehicle crash along the Los Coyotes Diagonal. A puddle along a store aisle may send a victim down hard on the floor to break a hip in a slip-and-fall.
These are common incidents in Long Beach, but in tragic cases, the most dangerous accidents can claim a precious human life.
When such a tragedy occurs, it’s critical to protect the family left behind from the consequences of such a terrible accident. Those individuals or companies that displayed negligence and caused the fatal accident must be held financially responsible in a wrongful death claim.
A Free Consultation with a Long Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer
After a devastating accident, insurance companies will be seeking ways to avoid accepting liability for their policyholder’s mistake. Family members of the deceased will need to start preparing for their futures too. They’ll face bills for a memorial service and have to confront the years ahead without the guidance and economic support the deceased would have provided.
These and other monumental losses can be sought through a Long Beach wrongful death claim. But first, families should be informed of the benefits available to them, because an insurance provider isn’t required to advise close relatives of their rights. Contact Maison Law of Long Beach for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to find out how your family can secure what’s fair from an insurance company.
Wrongful Death Accident Dangers in Long Beach
The drivers who travel alongside you or a family member on a Long Beach freeway owe every other motorist a “duty of care.” When they make reckless moves that put others in jeopardy, they can be held legally liable under California personal injury laws.
The same duty is required of landlords, business owners, employers, medical care providers, and the manufacturers of the products we use in our homes.
When a loved one is tragically killed due to the negligence of someone else, the families victimized must file a wrongful death claim to hold those at fault fully liable.
These are just some of the tragic accidents in Long Beach that could result in a wrongful death case:
- Motor vehicle accidents. Most car accidents result in some minor property damage, but accidents involving big rigs, motorcycles, and bicycles have a much higher chance of resulting in the heartbreaking loss of life. Pedestrian collision victims are also left at a much bigger risk of dying from injuries.
- Workplace accidents. Construction accidents, farming accidents, and manufacturing accidents could all carry deadly force. Any fatal accident in an office or at a worksite caused by the negligence of a small-business owner or a national corporation should result in a wrongful death settlement.
- Slip-and-falls, trip-and-falls, and falls from heights. These falls can occur on stairs with loose railing or rotten steps. Decking can give way on a residential property. A victim’s death may not happen immediately. A hip injury victim could experience life-threatening medical issues while bedridden during recovery.
- Theme Park fatal injuries. A malfunction on the Ferris Wheel at The Pike Outlets or a glitch on a roller coaster at nearby Knott’s Berry Farm can suddenly leave family members without the guidance and care of a loved one.
- Dangerously defective products. The products, tools, and appliances our families use in our homes can malfunction and endanger everyone nearby. The manufacturers and the retailers who sold the product may have to provide financial support to close relatives.
- Medical Malpractice. Doctors, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, and others might make careless mistakes that cost loved ones their lives.
- Nursing home negligence. The care our loved ones receive at assisted-living facilities should never have to be questioned. Yet, neglect and a staff member’s poor judgment or ill-intent can put our loved ones in danger.
- Swimming pool accidents. Deadly hazards around a pool and in the pool make a property owner or the City of Long Beach liable for a wrongful death.
Who Can Sue After a Family Member’s Wrongful Death?
California law enables a spouse or domestic partner, children of the victim, or the grandchildren of the victim to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the rest of the family.
In some cases, the parents and siblings of the deceased may also be allowed to file a wrongful death claim to seek a settlement check. A Long Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer can also represent all family members and file a wrongful death insurance claim.
An attorney working on behalf of a victimized family will fully investigate an accident. A skilled attorney also determines who exactly should be held accountable for a deadly accident. Sometimes that means more than one party is liable for a family’s hardships and financial future.
What Sort of Support Is Available to Families in a Long Beach Wrongful Death Claim
When injuries are involved, the insurers for at-fault parties must provide fair support to victims in recovery. When a major accident claims the life of a loved one, close relatives of the victim are encouraged to file a wrongful death claim to secure support for the years ahead.
A wrongful death claim sent to an insurance company would list every damage family members endure after the loss of a loved one. A Long Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer ensures that no hardships or potential future hardships are left off this list. This is an important step because anything not submitted in a claim will not earn the family support.
These are just a few of the factors that determine the size of an insurance settlement check for the family:
- Costs of a memorial service and burial.
- The emergency services fees and hospital costs built up before the victim passed on.
- The income and job benefits the deceased can no longer provide loved ones in the years ahead.
- Emotional trauma suffered by loved ones. This can include the love and guidance family members can no longer depend on in the coming years.
- Loss of consortium. (Being without the intimate support of a partner)
- Cost of grief counseling and psychological services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim after a loved one is lost?
Two years. Families who have lost a loved one should act quickly to hold at-fault parties responsible. Waiting months to begin building a claim can mean evidence is harder to secure and witnesses are harder to locate.
Can my family still earn support if a loved one is found partially to blame for a deadly accident?
Yes. In California, liability for an accident can be divided between those involved. Loved ones may share part of the blame for their deaths, but a careless driver or a negligent employer might still owe a family a percentage of support.
Do I need a Wrongful Death Lawyer after a Long Beach Accident?
Yes. Insurance companies take advantage of the fact that victims are no longer able to speak up for themselves. Insurers can blame victims and try to limit the support a family earns. A lawyer fights for fair treatment.
Contact a Long Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer
If a family member is taken from you in a careless accident, contact a Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer and schedule a free consultation.
Discuss your case with attorney Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. It’s a no-risk opportunity to have a skilled local lawyer go over your wrongful death case. You’ll need to know what your case is worth and how to avoid insurance tactics designed to rob your family of financial support after a tragedy.
There’s no obligation to hire Maison Law to represent your family in a wrongful death case. However, if you feel a personal injury lawyer can help you earn what’s fair from an insurance company, you won’t need any upfront money. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case.
