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Marysville Wrongful Death Lawyer
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Marysville wrongful death attorney
Every year in California, thousands of people suffer severe injuries due to the negligence and intentional actions of other parties. Unfortunately, some of these victims do not survive their injuries. When one party harms another party through negligence or misconduct, this can form the basis of a personal injury action. However, if the victim dies from their personal injury, their family must file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.
Helping Marysville Clients With Challenging Wrongful Death Cases
If your family is struggling in the aftermath of any fatal incident that resulted in the death of a loved one, it is understandable to have many pressing legal questions and a strong mix of emotions in response to the situation. A Marysville wrongful death attorney is the ideal asset to have on your side in this situation, and when you choose the Kreeger Law Firm to represent you, you will have readily available legal support and guidance when you need it most throughout every stage of your civil court proceedings.
Our team has years of experience representing Marysville personal injury claims; we have also helped many families pursue wrongful death actions in response to fatal negligence and criminal misconduct. Rest assured that if you choose our firm to represent you in a wrongful death suit, we will do everything we can to maximize the outcome of your civil court proceedings and streamline your case as much as possible.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
It’s possible for a wrongful death to happen in various ways, and some of the most commonly cited causes of fatal injuries in Marysville and throughout the northern part of the state include:
- Vehicle accidents. Whenever a driver causes an accident in California, they are liable for any and all damage they cause to others. Their auto insurance may provide the victim with some initial recovery, but it is unlikely for the driver responsible for a fatal accident to have enough coverage to fully compensate the family of the victim.
- Premises liability. Property owners who fail to maintain reasonably safe premises can face liability for wrongful death. For example, in the event your loved one died on someone else’s property because of their failure to address recognizable safety hazards, you can seek accountability for the incident through a wrongful death action.
- Work injuries. Almost every employer in the state is legally obligated to have workers’ compensation insurance. Therefore, if your loved one died in a fatal work injury, you might be eligible to claim death benefits through the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. However, if fault for the death falls to a specific party, you likely have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim as well.
- Medical malpractice. Throughout the United States, medical negligence is a top-cited cause of accidental injuries and deaths each year. If a medical professional’s failure to meet your loved one’s standard of care caused their death, you must find an attorney who has solid professional experience handling medical malpractice cases.
While procedurally similar to personal injury cases in many ways, there are unique statutes you must understand that apply strictly to wrongful death claims. First, the state upholds the same statute of limitations for these cases as applies to personal injury claims, meaning a plaintiff has two years from the date of the death to file their claim. However, state law limits eligibility to file wrongful death claims based on the state’s law of intestate succession.
Damages Available in Marysville Wrongful Death Cases
A wrongful death claim can potentially yield compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Similar to a personal injury claim, a wrongful death case allows the plaintiff to claim compensation for any and all economic losses caused by the death. These may include funeral and burial costs, lost value of household services provided by the deceased, and lost financial support the deceased can no longer provide to their family.
It’s important to note that while a personal injury claim aims to compensate the victim’s losses, a wrongful death claim strives to secure compensation for the rest of the family’s losses. Your Marysville wrongful death attorney will be invaluable for proving the full amount of economic damages you can seek from the defendant, but they will also be crucial for making a strong case for the non-economic damages your family suffered.
California law enables you to seek compensation for lost affection, care, and guidance provided by the deceased. Their surviving spouse or partner also can claim loss of companionship and consortium. If you want to maximize this aspect of your case award, it is crucial to work with an experienced Marysville wrongful death attorney with the skills and resources necessary for managing the most complex details of your case.
What to Expect in Your Wrongful Death Suit
The majority of the wrongful death claims filed in Marysville and throughout the state each year end in a private settlement. The settlement negotiation process enables all parties involved to reach a swift and satisfactory conclusion as long as they are willing to compromise. Your Marysville wrongful death attorney will be invaluable for reaching an acceptable settlement from the defendant, but if the defendant is unwilling to negotiate, you will need their legal counsel for the litigation to follow.
When a wrongful death case must be resolved in court, the judge overseeing the case has the final say on the plaintiff’s compensation. It’s possible for many variables to come into play that modifies the outcome of the case. For example, the judge may decide that the defendant’s behavior exceeded the scope of typical negligence and award the plaintiff punitive damages. It’s also possible for the state to open a criminal case against the defendant, and restitution may be an element of their sentence in this case.
Whatever your situation may entail, the team at the Kreeger Law Firm is ready to provide the compassionate and responsive legal guidance you need to approach the situation with confidence. Our goal is to allow you to have a measure of peace of mind as we handle your civil claim proceedings on your behalf, and we will do everything we can to maximize the final case award you obtain.
Wrongful Death Lawyers FAQs
Q: Who Is Allowed to Sue for Wrongful Death in California?
A: The ability to file a wrongful death suit follows the intestate succession law. This means that the beneficiaries of the deceased will receive the case award from a wrongful death claim. However, the ability to file the claim falls to the deceased’s personal representative named in their estate plan. If they did not name a representative, their surviving spouse and children are first in line to be able to file a wrongful death action. Next come close relatives, followed by anyone who depended on the deceased for financial support.
Q: How Much Is a Wrongful Death Case Worth in Marysville?
A: The total value of a wrongful death claim includes the economic losses suffered by the family, the lost future financial support the deceased could have provided if they had survived, and compensation for the family’s pain and suffering. You must consult an experienced Marysville wrongful death attorney for an estimate of your claim’s total potential value.
Q: Will the Defendant Go to Prison for Causing a Wrongful Death?
A: It is possible for the defendant in a wrongful death suit to face legal charges depending on how they caused the death. Typical negligence usually does not lead to criminal charges, but if the defendant broke state law in any manner resulting in the death or displayed egregious negligence outside the scope of typical negligence, this could easily form grounds for the state to press charges.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Marysville Wrongful Death Attorney?
A: The Kreeger Law Firm makes wrongful death representation accessible with contingency fee billing. When you choose our firm to handle your case, you pay nothing upfront and pay no fees at all if we cannot secure compensation on your behalf. Once we win your case, our contingency fee is a percentage of the total case award, so there are no surprises when it comes to the cost of our firm’s representation.
Q: How Long Does a California Wrongful Death Claim Take to Resolve?
A: Some wrongful death claims can be settled relatively quickly as long as defendants are willing to accept responsibility for their actions. A good attorney could potentially settle your wrongful death claim with a suitable result within a few weeks. However, if the defendant contests liability or disputes the damages sought in your claim, you may need to prepare for lengthy litigation. If a wrongful death case goes to court, it can take several months to resolve.
The right legal counsel is an invaluable asset when you face the legal challenges and emotional stress of a wrongful death claim. The Kreeger Law Firm offers compassionate, responsive, and meticulous legal counsel to the families of wrongful death victims throughout the northern part of the state, and we are available to put our skills and experience to work on your behalf. Contact our firm today to schedule your free consultation with a Marysville wrongful death attorney and learn more about the legal services we provide.
