Letās face it; no death feels right. And when a loved one dies because of someone elseās negligence, the term āwrongfulā barely describes the anger, anguish, and frustration loved ones feel. But wrongful death is an actionable legal claim, and Glendale wrongful death lawyers can help you pursue a wrongful death lawsuit if negligence caused your loved oneās demise.
Wrongful death lawsuits offer families a legal avenue to address their loved oneās loss. For example, a successful wrongful death lawsuit can assist family members in alleviating the financial burdens associated with funeral costs and other expenses. Most importantly, it also holds the negligent party accountable.
If someone elseās negligence caused your loved oneās loss, Peerali Law can help. Our experienced team will fight for justice and work tirelessly for your desired resolution. We are fully committed to our clients and passionate about securing substantial compensation for your losses. Keep reading to learn more about who we are and what we do.
What is Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death is when a person or entityās negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct causes another personās death. Depending on the circumstances, criminal prosecution may also follow a wrongful death. However, a civil lawsuit allows the victimās family to hold the negligent party personally and financially accountable. California law typically allows surviving family members or the estate to sue for damages after a wrongful death for up to two years in most cases.
How Does a Glendale Wrongful Death Lawyer Prove Wrongful Death?
In a wrongful death civil suit, the standard of proof required is called a āpreponderance of the evidence.ā Like most negligence claims, this standard means that to succeed in a wrongful death claim, your attorney must prove the following elements are more probable than not:
- The responsible party had a duty of care towards the deceased,
- The responsible party breached their duty of care,
- The responsible partyās actions caused the personās death, and
- The surviving claimantās damages resulted from the wrongful death.
At Peerali Law, we know filing a lawsuit wonāt bring your loved one back. But we will work tirelessly to substantiate your claim, prove these elements, and secure a settlement that covers your funeral costs and current and future financial needs.
What Common Causes of Wrongful Death do Glendale Wrongful Death Lawyers at Peerali Law Handle?
Glendale wrongful death lawyers at Peerali Law have experience handling many types of wrongful death cases. Some of the most common causes of wrongful death include:
- Auto accidents,
- Bicycle accidents,
- Truck accidents,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Medical malpractice,
- Premises liability cases such as slip and falls,
- Nursing home abuse or neglect,
- Defective products, and
- Work-related and construction accidents.
Other less common but equally devastating causes of wrongful death include criminal acts, fire or explosion accidents, exposure to dangerous chemicals, police brutality, and various transportation-related accidents like airplane crashes.
At Peerali Law, our Glendale wrongful death lawyers understand the unique challenges each of these distinct claims presents and will passionately investigate, negotiate, and, if necessary, prosecute these claims.
What Types of Damages Can a Glendale Wrongful Death Attorney Help Collect?
Damages in a wrongful death case compensate heirs for the support they would have reasonably received if the victim had lived. Typically, a Glendale wrongful death attorney can help recover economic or tangible losses, noneconomic or subjective losses, and punitive damages.
Economic Losses
Economic losses often include:
- Medical bills,
- Future lost income,
- Funeral and burial expenses,
- The financial support the victim would have contributed over their lifetime if they had lived, and
- The loss of gifts or benefits the decedent may have gifted their heirs over their lifetime.
These damages ensure financial protection for families and compensate them for their profound loss, allowing families to focus on healing and honoring their loved oneās legacy.
Noneconomic Losses
Subjective, non-monetary damages often include the loss of the victimās:
- Love,
- Companionship,
- Protection,
- Protection,
- Moral support, and
- Training and guidance.
Noneconomic damage awards in wrongful death cases depend on the circumstance. For example, when a defective product causes a young parentās unexpected death, the court might consider the devastating loss of companionship, love, and guidance the surviving spouse and minor children experience. Here, noneconomic damages could include compensation for lost parental support and future relationships, as well as for the profound grief and emotional suffering the family endured. In contrast, noneconomic damages awarded in a case involving an elderly relativeās demise might be lower due to factors like the deceasedās age, life expectancy, and the emotional impact on the family.
Punitive Damages
In California, a victimās family can seek punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages. Courts occasionally award punitive damages to punish defendants whose negligence was malicious, fraudulent, intentional, or especially reckless.
A Word About Survival Actions
Under California personal injury law, families cannot claim compensation for a deceased loved oneās pain and suffering in a wrongful death claim. However, in 2021, California enacted Senate Bill 447, which provides a temporary exception through a separate survival cause of action. Bill 447 allows the victimās representative or successor in interest to seek compensation on behalf of the deceased for their pain, suffering, and disfigurement.
However, this law only applies to claims filed between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025. The California legislature may consider extending or making this provision permanent in the coming years.
How Do Courts Calculate Wrongful Death Settlements?
It is beyond challenging to assign a personās life a monetary value and calculate the damages their injuries and death caused. For this reason, damage awards vary significantly, depending on personal facts and circumstances such as:
- The decedentās age,
- Medical bills the decadent accrued from their injuries and death,
- The decedentās earning capacity,
- The decedentās training, background, and education,
- The decedentās health before dying,
- The age of the decedentās dependents and their financial status, and
- Funeral expenses.
Courts also consider the type of injury the decedent sustained and the level of negligence contributing to the fatality.
How Can a Glendale Wrongful Death Attorney at Peerali Law Help?
When facing losing a loved one, the last thing you want to handle are legal complexities and difficult choices. Thatās where a Glendale wrongful death lawyer from Peerali Law can make all the difference. Peerali Law has an exceptional track record of winning over $10 million in settlements for clients like you. However, we are committed to providing more than just legal representation and are passionate about being your dedicated partners in justice.
From case inception to end, Peerali Law will handle every aspect of your wrongful death claim, including conducting thorough investigations, gathering crucial evidence, and consulting with medical experts and financial analysts who can help determine your lossās true impact. From filing documents to negotiating with insurance companies, Peerali Lawās proven strategies and courtroom prowess give you the upper hand.
Additionally, with Peerali Law, youāll get a boutique-level focus and personalized attention every step of the way. This client-first, results-driven approach has earned stellar reviews and accolades, solidifying our position as one of the top wrongful death firms in the Glendale area.
Contact Peerali Law Today
If youāre navigating a wrongful death, contact Peerali Law for a free consultation. From start to finish, our experience, resources, and compassionate guidance ensure you can rest easy knowing youāre in good hands.