Sadly, you might have lost a loved one to another person’s negligence. Find out how to get justice by calling a Santa Monica wrongful death attorney.
The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult things you can suffer through, and when you feel that your loved one was taken before his or her time by another person’s negligent actions, it makes it even harder to mourn and continue on.
The wrongful death of a loved one is hard to handle, especially because you and your family are dealing with your grief alongside a court case that can take some time to finish. At Haffner Law, we understand that you’ve suffered a great loss, and we want to make the process of recovering fair compensation as simple as possible.
With a Santa Monica wrongful death lawyer from our firm leading the way, you can get the compensation your family deserves.
Eligibility to File a Wrongful Death Claim in California
First, determining who will file this claim can be complicated. After all, the one who suffered the injury can’t act, so who can act in his or her place?
California places clear restrictions on the people who can file. If the first isn’t available or simply doesn’t exist for the deceased, the next in this list will be responsible for filing the claim:
- The decedent’s surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Children
- A putative spouse
- Stepchildren
- Parents of the decedent
Your wrongful death lawyer in Santa Monica can help you determine whether you’re eligible to seek compensation.
Damages Awarded for Wrongful Death
After the death of a loved one at someone else’s hands, you deserve compensation for the suffering you’ve been through. While you may not have even been present for the death, you’ve still suffered for it in many ways. For instance, the deceased may have medical expenses and burial expenses that must be paid, no matter how much grief you’re feeling.
In wrongful death claims, California does allow several damages, both economic and non-economic, to be brought against the defendant. Typically, you can seek compensation for your loved one’s medical care and funeral expenses, as well as any related economic costs. For instance, you might have made modifications to the decedent’s home or car to accommodate his or her disability after the accident.
Non-economic damages are also a common award. Losing a loved one, especially a spouse or parent, may be financially painful, but emotionally, it’s devastating. Remember to include the suffering you’ve dealt with because of the loss, such as loss of companionship, affection, and support.
California doesn’t typically allow for punitive damages in wrongful death claims. While there are some cases in which the defendant will be slapped with these damages, such as with a felony homicide case, this situation isn’t common. If you believe you may be entitled to these, however, your wrongful death attorney in Santa Monica can examine your case and provide a clear answer.
Reach Out to a Santa Monica Wrongful Death Attorney
Losing a loved one is difficult, especially if someone else caused the deadly accident. If you’ve lost someone dear and you’re struggling to deal with the personal and financial loss, you deserve compensation for the pain you’ve experienced.
A qualified and experienced lawyer from Haffner Law can help you recover compensation for your pain. Wrongful death claims can be a little more complex than standard injury claims, but when you’ve lost someone because of another person’s negligence, you deserve legal help.
If you’re interested in filing a wrongful death claim, contact a Santa Monica wrongful death lawyer for a free consultation before you begin. Give us a call at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637) or complete our online contact form below to get started.
