Thousand Oaks Wrongful Death Lawyer

Has a Loved One Suffered a Wrongful Death in Thousand Oaks?

Some of the injury cases our law firm handles involve a death caused by a negligent party. If a person has died in an accident, the family members of the deceased are likely entitled to compensation for their terrible loss. You will need the assistance of an experienced Thousand Oaks wrongful death attorney. The attorneys at Drake Law Firm defend accident and injury victims and their families every day. They may be able to help you obtain compensation for your loss.

A wrongful death is where the negligence or recklessness of a person or company are responsible for a fatality. The law in California understands that when one person's actions cost another his life, the responsible person should 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 may be entitled to bring a civil claim against those responsible for the accident.

Common Kinds of Cases that Result In Wrongful Death

Some of the most common kinds of cases that result in wrongful death are car accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.

When an Automobile Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Losing a family member to an automobile accident is devastating. And it can be emotionally challenging to consider what you need to do next when you are so early in the grieving process. However, some individuals report that filing a claim helped to provide comfort because they had one less thing to worry about. A wrongful death case means that something is being done to get justice for a deceased relative.

An automobile accident that leads to a wrongful death can leave a family with significant stress about repaying medical bills, managing funeral expenses, and losing earnings from a primary provider. Drake Law Firm can help to ensure that you obtain the compensation that you are entitled to for medical expenses, lost earnings, loss of consortium, as well as pain and suffering.

Wrongful death due to a motor vehicle accident can occur at the scene of the accident or later on when the victim succumbs to their injuries. Although deadly motor vehicle accidents are often caused by drunk motorists, distracted motorists, and speeding, practically any type of car accident can cause a deadly wreck. A few of the most common injuries from motor vehicle accidents that later lead to wrongful death are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. If your loved one passes away from complications because of their injury, it still falls under the umbrella of wrongful death. Therefore, 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 type of accident. However, this is simply not accurate. Slips and falls can be fatal, particularly if the head strikes the ground or another hard surface.

Slips and falls can happen almost anywhere. But some of the most common locations that slip and falls happen that qualify as wrongful deaths are grocery stores, commercial businesses, apartment complexes, parking lots, and places of work. The way your wrongful death claim will be pursued is different depending on where the accident occurred. For instance, claims against big 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 individual that they may 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 chances of recovering fully are much slimmer. As a matter of fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older. And this number seems to be increasing.

Workplace Wrongful Death

Workplace accidents that most commonly result in deaths include:

• 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 cases, 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 liable for damages. However, typically if a death or injury occurs at the workplace or while the employee 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. Because of this, you need to make sure you have a competent attorney on your side when you're handling medical malpractice of any kind.

Medical malpractice that can cause a wrongful death includes:

• Early discharge from medical facility
• Wrong medication or dose
• Surgical mistake
• Improper diagnosis or missed diagnosis
• Birth injury

If a person you love died as a result of the negligence of a doctor, nurse, or healthcare center, call one of our medical malpractice lawyers at Drake Law Firm as soon as possible so we can begin to investigate and build your case.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Claim

Family members may be entitled to recover for various types of damages and losses from a wrongful death in Thousand Oaks, including:

• The pain, suffering and grief of the surviving family members– There is not a harder time in life than when you lose somebody you love. The feelings and pain you might experience can be excruciating. We realize that no amount of money will make you feel whole again. However, the family members have a right to a financial recovery for the pain of experiencing this unfortunate experience.
• Funeral costs– Almost immediately after a tragic loss, family members have to incur considerable expense for a funeral. Part of this law firm's job will be to recover expenses because of the funeral.
• Medical bills and costs– In a lot of wrongful death cases, the medical costs before passing away can be incredibly expensive. Often, billing may 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 income of the deceased– Often the family member that dies was earning income. Family members were depending on that loved one to support the family. They have a right to recuperate that loss of future income. If necessary, our law firm could employ an economist to determine what amount your loved one would have made during the remainder of their life.
• Punitive damages– During a wrongful death case, attorneys will determine whether it is appropriate to request leave of Court to file a punitive damages count in the claim. Punitive damages are intended to punish the responsible 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 death caused by negligence or recklessness. Nevertheless, these family members are entitled to financial relief that is provided under local and state laws. After an accident, lots of families choose to consult with a wrongful death lawyer in Thousand Oaks to learn whether they have a case.

The type of accident can affect what options of recovery are offered to a family and how soon those claims must be pursued. For these reasons, it is a good idea to get legal counsel as soon as possible after a death.

If you believe a negligent party may have caused a wrongful death of a family member in the Thousand Oaks area, Contact us for a free wrongful death claim consultation or call (844) 513-7253 to talk with a wrongful death attorney in Thousand Oaks.