The staff at Maison Law is here to offer our help to loved ones who have suffered the loss of a family member or provider in a wrongful death incident. If you have lost a family member or provider in a car accident, workplace incident, or another accident that was caused by someone’s poor choices or negligence, please reach out to a Maison Law Los Banos wrongful death lawyer today for a free consultation and case evaluation. Our caring staff is here to help you understand your legal options and actions that can help provide stability for your future.
Do I Need to Hire a Los Banos Wrongful Death Lawyer?
In California, the loved ones of a wrongful death victim are not required to hire legal representation or retain a wrongful death lawyer to pursue a lawsuit. However, there are many advantages to having the clear mind of a Los Banos wrongful death lawyer at Maison Law working to guide and protect you during this stressful time filled with pain, worry, and often many financial concerns.
You could be working with representatives from an insurance company to resolve the hardships and details of the losses and expenses created by the untimely passing of your family member. While these people appear to be understanding and sorry for your loss, they are ultimately employees of the insurance company, which operates with the sole purpose of generating a profit. The offers and solutions that these representatives provide can be far from what is best for you and your family in this troubling time.
Please know that by hiring a wrongful death lawyer at Maison Law, you are gaining an advocate whose sole purpose is to work for the good of you and your loved ones to secure what is rightfully yours after the wrongful passing of your loved one. Strategic choices and negotiations are vital in this process. Our goal is clear, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the funds that, while they will not replace your loved one, will afford you the time to progress in your grieving and recovery without the added weight of financial challenges.
Our team is here to ensure that as you follow your path to healing, you have the funds and stability needed to rebuild a new future that offers financial stability and options.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Contact Maison Law for a free consultation to discuss the loss of your loved one, the impact it will have on your current life, and the future. We respectfully point out that the choices you make in the coming days and weeks could have a significant impact on your life and the lives of your loved ones for years to come.
The staff at Maison Law is ready to help you begin to see through the cloud of your loss and pain to begin formulating a plan and path to move forward without the love, support, and companionship of your lost loved one. And we can begin these next phases of your healing and rebuilding at a free, no-obligation consultation where we will discuss the accident, your loved one, and the changes this unfortunate incident will bring to your life. Once you have that information, all the choices will be up to you and your loved ones.
Understanding the Value of a Los Banos Wrongful Death Case
At a time when your emotions are raw, speaking of money might feel disrespectful or even selfish. But please know that your Maison Law wrongful death lawyer fully grasps the financial impact of the loss of your family member. From a professional standpoint, immediate attention on the monetary aspect of this heartbreaking event is the best way to ensure the future security of yourself and your loved ones.
At your free consultation, we can explore in more detail the expenses that should be considered when estimating the value of your wrongful death claim, which can include items such as:
- Final expenses for your loved one, such as the funeral, burial, or cremation
- Medical expenses and the cost of emergency services after the accident that took your loved one’s life
- Legal fees, estate planning, and execution costs
- The future support of your family that would have been provided by your loved one but is now lost to you
In addition to the more tangible costs and financial losses, there will be other aspects of your life that were taken from you, such as the loss of companionship, consortium, and partnership in raising your family. While it is difficult to imagine a dollar amount that could replace these contributions that enhance your life and the life you shared with your loved one, you are owed some financial contribution for their loss and the damage it has done to your future. Your Maison Law wrongful death lawyer will guide you in exploring these facets of your new reality to ensure you are seeking a fair resolution for all of the loss today and in the future that is the result of the wrongful passing of your loved one.
For related background, see our guide to survival actions and the text of the 2021 Senate Bill 447, which addressed survival actions.
Determining Who Can Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim
In the instance of a wrongful death in California, the surviving spouse or domestic partner can file a claim as well as the children or grandchildren. If the deceased has no spouse, partner, or descendants, other family members, adopted children, or inheritance heirs such as parents or siblings can initiate a wrongful death claim. It is also possible for anyone financially dependent on the victim to pursue legal action. Please get in touch with Maison Law for a free consultation if you have questions about who can pursue legal action after the loss of a loved one due to another person’s negligence.
California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 describes who may bring a wrongful-death action.
The Statute of Limitations for a Los Banos Wrongful Death Lawsuit
It can often feel cruel that there is a time limit placed on the victims of a lost loved one to take legal action. However, it is a fact that cannot be ignored. In California, the loved ones of a wrongful death victim have only two years from the date of their loved one’s passing to file the wrongful death lawsuit. This time limit is strictly enforced. Once it has expired, you will lose the right to pursue legal action to seek compensation for the wrongful death of your loved one and the impact that loss had on you and other family members.
For related reading, see our explanation of delayed discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Lawsuits in California
Can multiple family members file wrongful death lawsuits for the loss of the same person?
California is a one-action rule state, meaning that all eligible parties or heirs must work together to file a single wrongful death lawsuit in the event of a loved one’s passing due to negligence.
When the case is resolved, the damages awarded are divided among the members of the case according to their personal losses.
Can an estranged family member pursue a wrongful death lawsuit?
An estranged family member might be part of a wrongful death lawsuit if they were dependent on the deceased or were still an heir. This concern can be discussed further in a free consultation with a Maison Law wrongful death lawyer.
Can more than one party be held accountable for a wrongful death in California?
Yes, there can be multiple parties or entities held accountable for a wrongful death.
It is not uncommon for multiple parties such as a doctor, nurse, and hospital to be named in a medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit. Multiple drivers can also be named in a wrongful death case related to a traffic accident. In addition, premises liability cases might name multiple parties when there is shared responsibility and liability for the care and maintenance of a property that was unsafe and caused a loss of life.
Contact a Los Banos Wrongful Death Lawyer
First and foremost, the entire staff at Maison Law would like to offer our condolences for the loss of your loved one. In addition, we would be honored to have the opportunity to sit with you for a free consultation to provide legal guidance and explain your options to move forward after this painful event. We know you are likely feeling overwhelmed and unsure about your future, and even the choices you are struggling to make at this point. Please know that there is no obligation to take action today or in the coming weeks after our consultation. The goal is only to offer you all the information you need to make a well-informed choice about a Los Banos wrongful death lawsuit when you feel the time is right.
Should you choose to pursue legal action, Maison Law is ready to represent you and your family and work to protect and serve nothing but your best interests. In addition, we provide our services on a contingency basis, so you will never be asked to make any upfront payments or cover the fees associated with preparing and filing this lawsuit. These costs are covered by the damages sought in the lawsuit or settlement. All we ask is that you keep this in mind when you have reached the point that you are comfortable choosing to move forward in resolving the loss of your loved one and preparing for the new future that you and your loved ones now face.
