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Granite Bay Wrongful Death Lawyer
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Granite Bay wrongful death attorney
Suddenly losing a family member is not only a heartbreaking and emotionally taxing experience but also a significant financial struggle for the rest of the family in most cases. An untimely death will lead to expensive funeral and burial costs, and the victim will no longer provide the financial support their family previously received from them. This situation is made even worse when it results from the actions of a specific individual.
Compassionate Legal Counsel for Granite Bay Wrongful Death Claims
In California, whenever one party’s negligence or intentional misconduct directly results in the death of another person, it is a wrongful death. Therefore, it’s possible for a wrongful death to result from negligence or some form of intentional misconduct. No matter how you lost your family member, an experienced Granite Bay wrongful death attorney could help you ensure accountability for the party responsible for causing their death. In addition, a successful wrongful death suit can provide compensation to help your family adjust to your new circumstances.
The Kreeger Law Firm has years of experience handling all types of personal injury claims in Granite Bay and surrounding communities, including wrongful death cases. We will take the time necessary to get to know you, learning the full scope of the effects your loved one’s death has had on you and your family. Our goal is to streamline your case proceedings as much as possible and help you maximize your family’s recovery from the defendant.
Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths in Granite Bay
It’s possible for an unexpected death to occur in countless ways, but some of the most commonly cited causes of wrongful deaths in the Granite Bay area that lead to civil suits include:
- Motor vehicle accidents. If your loved one died in a fatal car accident caused by another driver, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy might only provide a fraction of the total damages your family has incurred from the incident. Our team can help you streamline your insurance claim process and build a compelling wrongful death suit that seeks the maximum compensation possible under California law.
- Premises liability. Property owners must address any safety hazards they notice on their properties. If a property owner notices any foreseeable safety issue, they have a duty of care to fix it immediately or at least provide a clear warning to any lawful visitors to their property who might encounter it. If your loved one died because of a private property owner’s negligence, you would likely have grounds to file a wrongful death suit under California’s premises liability laws.
- Medical malpractice. Unfortunately, while thousands of California residents trust medical professionals to provide safe and effective care, medical malpractice consistently ranks among the top causes of accidental injuries and deaths in the United States each year. If a medical professional caused your loved one’s death due to a failure to meet the standard of care your loved one required, you could potentially face an extremely complex wrongful death case that demands the attention of a capable and experienced legal team.
- Work injuries. Some industries, like construction, are inherently dangerous for many reasons. If you recently lost a loved one in a fatal work accident, your family may qualify to receive death benefits from their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. However, if a specific party caused the fatal accident, you will likely have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim against them.
These are only a few examples of how wrongful deaths may occur throughout the Granite Bay area. However your loved one died, if another party caused their death, you have a limited time in which to file your wrongful death suit. The right attorney is an invaluable asset in this situation and can provide ongoing guidance and support to you.
California Statutes for Wrongful Death Claims
Under state law, only certain individuals can file a wrongful death claim, following the state’s law of intestate succession. Therefore, first in line would be the spouse of the deceased, followed by any surviving children they have old enough to file the case. Alternatively, another family member or the personal representative of the deceased’s estate may file the wrongful death claim.
Once you have verified your eligibility to file a wrongful death claim, you must be prepared to prove the full scope of the damages the defendant caused. Claimable damages in most wrongful death cases include:
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- The financial support the deceased had provided to their family. Your attorney can help you calculate how much income they would have reasonably expected to earn had they survived.
- Compensation for the family’s pain and suffering, specifically the loss of care, affection, guidance, and support they provided.
- Loss of consortium for the deceased’s surviving spouse.
- Lost value of household services provided by the deceased.
Some victims of wrongful deaths do not die immediately from their final injuries, and their estates may incur a wide array of civil damages in the interim. It’s possible to have grounds for a survival action if your deceased loved one incurred expensive medical bills and other damages before they died. Your Granite Bay wrongful death attorney will advise you about whether a survival action could come into play in your case, and if so, they will let you know what to expect from this aspect of your legal proceedings.
Ultimately, it is never easy to lose a loved one, and knowing that your family member’s death was the result of another party’s actions can be incredibly frustrating. Do not attempt to resolve your wrongful death claim on your own while contending with the emotional stress of the situation and the economic strain the death has caused for your family. The Kreeger Law Firm has the professional experience you need on your side to approach your case with confidence and reach the best possible results.
Wrongful Death Law FAQs
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Obtain for a Wrongful Death Claim in Granite Bay?
A: A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for a family’s loss following the untimely death of a loved one. The total value of any wrongful death claim fluctuates based on several factors, such as the manner in which the death occurred and whether the victim died immediately or spent days or weeks in medical care before they died. The financial impact of the wrongful death can be very difficult to calculate without an attorney’s assistance, so if you believe you have grounds to file such a claim, a Granite Bay wrongful death attorney can offer an estimate of your case’s total potential value.
Q: How Do You Prove Fault for a Wrongful Death in California?
A: A wrongful death claim is similar to a personal injury claim in that both types of cases result from negligence or intentional misconduct. If someone broke the law in any manner resulting in your loved one’s untimely death, they are likely to face criminal prosecution from the state along with your civil suit. If the death resulted from negligence, you must prove the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care in a manner that directly resulted in the death.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Granite Bay Wrongful Death Attorney?
A: The Kreeger Law Firm accepts wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay any upfront legal fees for our representation, nor do we charge clients in these cases any fees for the duration of their proceedings. A contingency fee is a percentage of the client’s final case award, and we only collect this fee once we win your case. If we are unable to secure a settlement on your behalf for any reason, you pay nothing, so there is no financial risk to you by hiring our firm for your impending wrongful death suit.
Q: How Long Does a Wrongful Death Case Take to Conclude?
A: The time your case may require to complete hinges on the defendant’s willingness to accept responsibility for their actions and whether they face legal charges for causing the death. Most wrongful death claims settle outside of court; a swift settlement process benefits both parties. However, if a judge must resolve a wrongful death claim, the litigation process can take months to reach a conclusion.
Q: Is It Worth Hiring a Granite Bay Wrongful Death Attorney?
A: Your attorney is limited in terms of how much they can take from your case award. While it’s natural to be hesitant about the potential cost of representation, you stand to reach much better results in your case than you could manage alone. It is always worth having legal representation you can trust if you want to maximize the final compensation you receive from a successful wrongful death claim. Additionally, your legal counsel can streamline the case substantially.
The Kreeger Law Firm aims to provide steadfast and responsive legal counsel in every wrongful death claim we accept. Our firm has cultivated a strong professional reputation in the Granite Bay area as a leading choice for wrongful death representation. As a result, we offer the compassionate legal support you need to approach this difficult case with confidence and peace of mind. Contact us today and schedule your free consult with an experienced Granite Bay wrongful death attorney you can trust.
