Bay Area Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Who Can File Wrongful Death Lawsuits?
When an individual is the victim of wrongful death due to negligence or carelessness, it is natural that their loved ones may feel compelled to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in the Bay Area.
Although no one can ever be fully compensated for the loss of a loved one, monetary compensation can make up for the associated financial losses, such as loss of property and income.
In order to file a Bay Area wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a loved one, a person must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The person filing the claim is the victim’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, child, or offspring of deceased child.
- The person filing the claim is dependent on the deceased in some way, such as the surviving putative spouse (not legally married to the deceased, but believed in good faith to have been in a valid marriage with the deceased), children of a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents.
- The person filing the claim is a minor who, at the time of the victim’s death, had lived in the victim’s household for at least 180 days prior to the victim’s death and depended on the victim for at least half of his or her financial support.
It is clear that a number of individuals who are in some way related to the deceased may qualify to file wrongful death claims in the Bay Area. If someone close to you suffered a wrongful death due to negligence, you should speak with an attorney who can help to evaluate your case.
Compensation For Wrongful Death
In a successful wrongful or accidental death lawsuit in the Bay Area, it is possible to recover damages for a number of losses you may suffer as a result of losing a family member. No monetary value can assuage the pain of losing a loved one, but receiving financial compensation may, if nothing else, allow you to continue living your life at the economic level to which you have become accustomed. Damages you may be entitled to include the following:
- Loss of financial support that the deceased may have contributed to his or her surviving family over the span of his or her life.
- Loss of gifts or benefits that the deceased would have given to his or her survivors.
- Funeral and burial costs of the deceased.
- Reasonable value of household services that the deceased had been expected to provide to his or her dependents.
- Loss of love, companionship, protection, care, or affection that the deceased would have provided.
Talk With An Experienced Professional Today
All Bay Area wrongful death lawsuits are different. However, finding an attorney who is trustworthy and skilled in the area of wrongful and accidental death can make the difference in your case. Contact a qualified lawyer from the Law Offices of Sterns & Walker today for more information.
