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Wrongful Death Lawyer in Encino, CA

California Personal Injury Attorney
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Has a Loved One Suffered a Wrongful Death in Encino?

Some of the injury claims our law firm takes on involve a death caused by a negligent party. If an individual has passed away in an accident, the loved ones of the deceased are likely entitled to compensation for their tragic loss. You will need the help of a knowledgeable Encino wrongful death lawyer. The attorneys at Drake Law Firm defend accident and injury victims and their loved ones every day. They may be able to help you obtain compensation for your loss.

A wrongful death is where the negligence or carelessness of a person or company are responsible for a fatality. The law in California understands that when someone's actions cost another his life, the responsible individual must be legally liable to pay damages to the victim's family. This means that when a family member is killed in an accident, the surviving family members might be entitled to bring a civil case against those responsible for the accident.

Common Kinds of Cases that Result In Wrongful Death

A few of the most common kinds of situations that lead to wrongful death are motor vehicle accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.

When an Automobile Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one to a motor vehicle accident is devastating. And it can be emotionally challenging to consider what you should do next when you are so early in the mourning process. However, some individuals report that filing a claim helped to provide comfort since they had one less thing to worry about. A wrongful death claim means that something is being done to get justice for a deceased relative.

A car accident that results in a wrongful death can leave a family with significant stress regarding repaying medical bills, taking care of funeral costs, and losing earnings from a primary provider. Drake Law Firm can help to guarantee that you get the compensation that you are entitled to for medical expenses, lost earnings, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.

Wrongful death because of an automobile accident can happen at the scene of the accident or later when the victim succumbs to their injuries. Although fatal car accidents are commonly caused by intoxicated motorists, distracted drivers, and speeding, virtually any kind of automobile accident can result in a fatal collision. A few of the most common injuries from automobile accidents that later lead to wrongful death are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. If your loved one dies from complications due to their injury, it still falls under the umbrella of wrongful death. As such, the at-fault party can still be sued for their negligence.

Wrongful Death Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are seldom considered a fatal kind of accident. However, this is just not true. Slips and falls can be fatal, especially if the head strikes the ground or another hard surface.

Slips and falls can happen almost anywhere. However, some of the most prevalent places that slip and falls happen that qualify as wrongful deaths are grocery stores, commercial businesses, apartment complexes, parking lots, and workplaces. The way your wrongful death case will be sought is different depending on where the accident took place. For example, cases against large commercial businesses differ in their parameters and insurance policies compared to slip and fall deaths that happen at a private residence.

Slips and falls can also be deadly when they happen to an elderly person. A slip and fall can place serious pressure on an older person that they might never recover from. When you are in the later stages of life and all of a sudden you need to be bedridden for a long period of time, your odds of recovering completely are much slimmer. In fact, falls are the leading source of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older. And this number appears to be increasing.

Workplace Wrongful Death

Workplace accidents that most frequently result in deaths consist of:

  • Falls from heights
  • Fire and explosions
  • Malfunctions or flaws with equipment
  • Vehicle accidents
  • Exposure to dangerous substances or environments
  • Accidents caused by improper training

In these instances, identifying if there is any third-party liability for negligence depends on how the accident occurred. If your loved one passed away because of negligent conduct of a worker from a different company, that employee or that other company can be held responsible for damages. But, generally if a death or injury occurs at the workplace or while the worker is "on the clock", the case would fall under workers' compensation.

Wrongful Death Because of Medical Malpractice

Wrongful death because of medical malpractice is among the trickier case types in personal injury law. Given this, you want to be sure you have an experienced lawyer on your side when you're handling medical malpractice of any kind.

Medical malpractice that can lead to a wrongful death includes:

  • Early discharge from medical facility
  • Incorrect medication or dosage
  • Surgical error
  • Incorrect diagnosis or overlooked diagnosis
  • Birth injury

If someone you love died as a result of the negligence of a physician, nurse, or healthcare facility, contact one of our medical malpractice attorneys at Drake Law Firm right away so we can start to investigate and develop your case.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Claim

Family members might be entitled to recoup for several types of damages and losses from a wrongful death in Encino, including:

  • The pain, suffering and grief of the surviving family members– There is not a more difficult time in life than when you lose someone you love. The feelings and pain you might experience can be excruciating. We understand that no amount of money will make you feel whole again. However, the loved ones have a right to a financial recovery for the pain of experiencing this tragic experience.
  • Funeral expenses– Almost immediately after a tragic loss, family members have to incur significant expense for a funeral. Part of this law firm's job will be to recover expenses due to the funeral.
  • Medical bills and expenses– In a lot of wrongful death cases, the medical costs before passing away can be extremely expensive. Commonly, billing might exceed several hundred thousand dollars. Our law firm will work to recuperate those expenses from the negligent party.
  • Loss of consortium– You have a right to recuperate for the loss of no longer being able to spend and enjoy time with your loved one.
  • Loss of the future earnings of the deceased– Oftentimes the family member that passed away was earning income. Family members were relying on that loved one to support the family. They have a right to recover that loss of future earnings. If needed, our law firm can employ an economist to identify what amount your loved one would have made during the rest of their life.
  • Punitive damages– During a wrongful death claim, attorneys will decide whether it is appropriate to request leave of Court to file a punitive damages count in the case. Punitive damages are meant to penalize the at fault party for intentional and/or outrageous conduct.

Free Wrongful Death Case Consultation

No amount of money can appropriately compensate an accident victim's loved ones after a fatality caused by negligence or recklessness. However, these family members deserve financial relief that is offered under local and state laws. After an accident, many families decide to consult with a wrongful death attorney in Encino to learn whether they have a case.

The type of accident can impact what options of recovery are provided to a family and how soon those cases have to be sought. For these reasons, it is a good idea to seek legal counsel immediately after a death.

If you think a negligent party may have caused a wrongful death of a family member in the Encino area, Contact us for a free wrongful death case consultation or call (844) 513-7253 to talk to a wrongful death attorney in Encino, CA.

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