Auburn wrongful death attorney
Personal injuries occur daily throughout California from various forms of negligence and intentional misconduct. Injured parties have the right to seek compensation for their losses, but not all victims survive these incidents. When you have lost a loved one from an act of negligence or criminal misconduct, you have the right to seek accountability. A successful wrongful death claim can make adjusting to difficult new circumstances easier for the family and ensure that the responsible party is accountable for their actions.
Legal Counsel for Auburn, CA, Wrongful Death Cases
The Kreeger Law Firm offers compassionate wrongful death representation to families in the Auburn, CA, area and surrounding communities. Our firm understands the emotional distress and financial uncertainty that an unexpected death can cause for any family. We aim to help our clients navigate these situations as efficiently as possible.
Why You Need an Auburn Wrongful Death Lawyer
A wrongful death claim is similar to a personal injury claim in some ways and very different in others. Both require establishing fault to ensure liability for damages, but these cases pertain to different types of damages. The emotionally challenging nature of these cases makes them especially difficult for plaintiffs. Navigating the complexities of a wrongful death claim while managing the aftermath of a sudden death would be incredibly difficult on your own. An experienced Auburn wrongful death attorney can assist you in compiling your claim, providing you and your family with timely updates as the case unfolds.
While you may be able to calculate simple damages like funeral and burial costs, assessing the full financial impact of your loved one’s death can be more difficult than you might initially expect. An experienced Auburn wrongful death lawyer can help their client identify the defendant responsible for their loved one’s death and calculate the full scope of their claimable damages. Ultimately, you are not only more likely to succeed with your wrongful death claim when you have legal representation but also more likely to maximize the final case award.
Compensation for a Wrongful Death in California
California state law upholds that the surviving family of a victim of wrongful death has the right to seek compensation for their damages. The sudden death of a loved one can result in significant economic strain for the family, and they have the right to compensation for their emotional distress. A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the family’s damages, such as:
- Funeral and burial costs for the deceased.
- Lost financial support provided by the deceased. This could include the future money the deceased would have been expected to earn in their lifetime if they had survived.
- Lost value of household services provided by the deceased.
- Loss of care, comfort, affection, and consortium of the deceased’s surviving spouse.
- The deceased’s surviving family’s lost moral support, guidance, and companionship.
Many assume that a wrongful death claim covers damages incurred by the deceased’s estate, but this is not the case. For example, when a defendant’s actions caused a wrongful death, but the victim did not die immediately from their injury, the deceased’s estate may have incurred losses such as medical expenses for their final illness or injury, property losses, and lost income for the time they spent in treatment and out of work.
Recently, California legislators made it possible for surviving families to claim compensation for the deceased’s pain and suffering between their final injury and death in survival actions. While a wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the surviving family’s damages, a survival action takes the place of a personal injury claim the deceased could have filed had they survived and focuses on damages incurred by the estate.
Your Auburn wrongful death attorney can assist you in determining whether you have grounds to file a survival action with your wrongful death claim. The Kreeger Law Firm aims to help every client maximize their recovery from wrongful death damages, and this often requires building survival actions to accompany clients’ wrongful death claims.
FAQs About AUBURN WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER
What Are Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths in California?
A wrongful death can occur in many different situations. Some of California’s most commonly reported causes of unexpected deaths that lead to wrongful death claims include vehicle accidents, medical negligence, premises liability, and workplace injuries. Your Auburn wrongful death lawyer can help you determine whether your loved one’s recent death qualifies as a wrongful death.
How Much Can My Family Obtain for a Wrongful Death?
California’s wrongful death statutes seek to ensure that the surviving family of the victim of a wrongful death can secure compensation for the impact the death has on the family. Your Auburn wrongful death attorney can explain the types of damages you can include in a wrongful death action. If your family has grounds to file a survival action, this could significantly increase your total case award.
Will the Defendant Go to Jail?
When a person causes death due to negligence or intentional misconduct, they can face criminal charges. Depending on how the death occurred and various other details, the defendant could face criminal negligence or even homicide charges. For example, if the defendant caused the wrongful death because of DUI, they may face a vehicular manslaughter charge, a DUI charge, and civil liability for all resulting damages.
Is It Worth Hiring an Auburn Wrongful Death Attorney?
No matter how clear fault may be for your loved one’s recent death, you should not assume that you can handle a complex wrongful death claim alone. The right attorney can make it much easier for you and your loved ones to navigate our case proceedings and increase your final case award. In addition, you stand to lose more than you could save in legal fees if you attempt to handle your case without legal counsel.
Contact Us Today
The Kreeger Law Firm has years of experience representing Auburn, CA, clients in wrongful death cases. Our team understands the uncertainty and emotional distress these cases entail and strives to help clients through their cases as efficiently as possible. To discuss your legal options with an experienced Auburn wrongful death lawyer, contact the Kreeger Law Firm today and schedule your free consultation with our team.