Maison Law compassionately represents families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. When someone’s negligence is to blame for the death of a family member, those left behind must receive full support so they are protected financially through such a difficult time. Please contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a real California lawyer and find out about every benefit available to your family.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in Wrongful Death Accidents?
The individuals and businesses who employ us, who maintain the properties where we live, and open the stores where we shop, must all show us a legal “duty of care.” This means when we are on someone else’s property, the property owner must be concerned with our safety. They must take action to remove obstacles that could cause a life-threatening accident.
This legal duty also applies to drivers on I-5 or Pacific Avenue who neglect their duty of care to other motorists. They can make reckless decisions and put other motorists at risk of a crash. If drivers speed or drive while drunk and cause an accident that claims a life, they and their auto insurance providers are fully accountable for the consequences.
You or a family member could suffer a fatal injury due to a hazard left exposed in an apartment complex or at a fun park. That property or business owner will have liability insurance that must be called upon to provide financial help as close relatives attempt to recover from such a tragedy.
Nothing can bring back a loved one, but negligent companies and individuals should face justice. A Stockton personal injury lawyer holds the insurance providers for guilty parties fully responsible for the incredible costs that arise for a family after a heartbreaking loss.
Wrongful Death Risks
Local residents may not notice the personal injury dangers that are around every corner in a fast-moving place like Stockton. They exist on busy roads like March Lane as we travel to work or make a school drop-off. There are even hazardous products we bring into our own homes and apartments that can easily claim lives.
These tragic outcomes are usually the fault of a negligent party that failed to show care and caution around others. When someone comes along and gets hurt, an employer, a business owner, a dangerous driver, or even the City of Stockton might be fully liable.
There are many different types of wrongful death cases that Maison Law’s Wrongful Death Lawyers helps victims and families with:
- Car accidents. Victims may lose their lives due to the careless decisions of a driver in an SUV. They may be placed in harm’s way by a truck driver in a big rig or by an Uber driver rushing to pick someone up. Motorcyclists and those on bikes or on foot are at extreme risk of life-threatening injuries if a reckless driver makes a mistake.
- Workplace accidents. Construction accidents, farming and agricultural accidents, and manufacturing accidents often prove deadly. 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 fair support for the loved ones left behind.
- Premises Liability. Landlords and property management companies are responsible for the safety of their tenants. A stairwell left in disrepair could lead to a deadly tumble. Exposed wiring might harm someone who inadvertently touches a bundle of wires.
- Slip-and-falls, trip-and-falls, and falls from heights. A supermarket owner or operator may notice a customer spill a drink on those shiny aisle floors and fail to clean it up and post a “wet floor” sign. Victims could fracture a hip bone after stepping into a pothole in the parking lot. More vulnerable victims are at risk of life-threatening complications when they must be bed-ridden or off their feet for weeks or months. Corporate chains are 100% responsible for the safety of shoppers.
- Amusement park fatal injuries. A problem with an attraction at a fun park like Pixie Woods or the nearby Great Wolf Lodge can have deadly consequences. A problem with a go-kart could claim a life. A day of fun could end up leaving family members without the guidance and care of a loved one. A wrongful death attorney holds corporate owners responsible for a fun park’s careless mistakes.
- Defective products. This threat comes from the devices and appliances brought into the home These tools and appliances can malfunction or release toxic chemicals and endanger the lives of our loved ones. The manufacturers and the retailers who sold the product may have to provide financial support to close relatives. A landlord may also be liable for a fatal outcome.
- Medical malpractice. Doctors, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, and others might make careless mistakes that cost loved ones their lives. It’s important to speak with Maison Law to make sure a doctor or a hospital is held accountable.
- 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 can put our loved ones in life-threatening danger.
- Dog bites. A dog owner can be held fully responsible when a dog attack claims the life of an adult or a young child.
- Swimming pool accidents. Deadly hazards around a pool and in the pool make a property owner or the City Parks Department liable for a wrongful death.
Who Can Sue After a Family Member’s Wrongful Death in California?
Families experiencing a tragedy are encouraged to file a wrongful death claim against those at fault. A spouse or domestic partner, children of the victim, or the grandchildren of the victim are empowered to file this civil 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. Anyone who was financially dependent on the deceased may have a right to file a claim.
A wrongful death lawyer can answer questions about who is eligible to receive support at such a difficult time. A lawyer also handles the frustrating and difficult negotiations with unhelpful insurance companies with as little disruption to a grieving family as possible.
Compensation for the Families of Wrongful Death Victims
A skilled attorney assists your family in filing a wrongful death claim backed by power evidence. Your lawyer also includes a detailed list of every hardship family members have faced and expect to face in the future.
These are just a few of the factors that determine the amount on a wrongful death settlement check for the family:
- Expenses of a funeral service and burial.
- The ambulance fees and any hospital bills accumulated before the victim passed away.
- The paychecks and work benefits the victim will no longer provide in the years to come.
- Emotional trauma suffered by family members. This can include the loss of the love and guidance victims won’t be able to provide in the years to come.
- Loss of consortium. (The loss of intimacy now that a partner is gone)
- Cost of grief counseling and other mental health services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?
Two years. Families who have lost a loved one should act quickly to hold at-fault parties responsible. Waiting months to build a claim can mean evidence is harder to find 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. Victims may share part of the blame for accidents, but a careless driver or a negligent employer might still owe a family a large percentage of support.
Do I need a Wrongful Death Lawyer after an Accident?
It’s a wise safeguard for your family. Insurers will attempt to blame victims and try to limit the support it must pay out. A lawyer investigates the death of your loved one and gathers the evidence needed to hold an at-fault party fully accountable. Your lawyer rejects settlement offers that are purposely low and demands more for your family’s future.
Contact a Stockton Wrongful Death Attorney
If a family member is taken from you in a careless accident, contact a skilled Stockton Wrongful Death Lawyer and schedule a free consultation. This case review is completely confidential.
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 your family 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 for your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement provided by an insurance company.
