Riverside Wrongful Death Lawyer

Riverside Wrongful Death Attorney

There are few experiences in your life that can be as painful and unforgivable as losing a loved one, particularly if it’s due to someone else’s negligent behavior in an avoidable situation. You likely want justice, and that’s understandable. Nothing could make up for what you’ve lost, but holding the right people accountable can give you something back. You may be able to take legal action with the help of a Riverside wrongful death lawyer.

Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates can assist you in taking legal action while also allowing yourself time to mourn. This is likely going to be an emotional time for you, and the last thing you should concern yourself with is legalities. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can give you the tools you need to seek justice. We represent many families that have gone through similar pain. We can help you, too.

Wrongful Death in California

Seeking justice in a wrongful death case is not going to be easy. Above all, in order to move forward with a strong case, you are going to have to prove that negligence was a contributing factor in your loved one’s death, and that can be easier said than done. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer in Riverside, you can gather the evidence you need to prove negligence and work from there. Here are some of the important steps you should know when filing a claim:

• Seek an experienced lawyer. The process for filing a wrongful death claim begins when you seek out and hire a wrongful death lawyer. A wrongful death claim is basically a personal injury claim that’s filed on behalf of the deceased, as that’s what they likely would’ve done had they survived their injuries. A skilled lawyer can make sure you don’t miss filing deadlines or any other important details in your case.
• Identify the responsible party. Before you can pursue your wrongful death claim, you need to be certain that you are going after the right person. Identifying the responsible party is not always easy. Depending on what happened, you may not immediately know who caused the accident. For example, if you lost someone in a truck accident, you may want to go after the driver. If it was a mechanical failure, the fault may lie with the manufacturer.
• Secure eligibility. In order to file a wrongful death claim in California, you need to have a specific relationship with the deceased. Only certain surviving family members can file a claim, particularly a surviving spouse or child of the deceased. If the deceased has no spouse or children, then the parents or siblings may be able to file a claim.

Statute of Limitations

When you decide to move forward with a legal claim to hold the right people accountable for what happened, it is vital to your claim’s survival that you adhere to the state of California’s statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, which include wrongful death claims. Generally, the state statute gives you two years to put together a solid case, gather the evidence you need, consult with a wrongful death lawyer, and file a claim for compensatory damages.

If, for whatever reason, you are not able to file your claim before two years have passed, there is a strong chance that your claim will end there. Your opportunity to seek compensation for your loved one’s death will have passed by with no legal action taken. Creating a strong case can take more time than you think, so you should get started as soon as possible.

FAQs

What Is the Average Wrongful Death Settlement in California?

There is no telling what the average wrongful death settlement in California might be. Every wrongful death case is different, with every case having its own set of details and specifics that are going to greatly affect the settlement amount when the time comes. Just because a case similar to yours resulted in a hefty settlement, that doesn’t mean yours will.

What Are the Chances of Winning a Wrongful Death Claim?

The chances of winning a wrongful death claim are going to be entirely dependent on the strength of your case and your lawyer’s negotiation skills. The more evidence you have that proves negligence, the stronger your case is going to be. It is also important to hire strong legal help to assist you throughout your case. At your first consultation with an attorney, you should get a sense of what your case might be worth.

How Do I Prove Wrongful Death in California?

In order to prove wrongful death in California, you are first going to have to prove negligence. Proving negligence can be difficult to accomplish. You need to prove a duty of care from the defendant, a breach of that duty, a direct causation of that breach to the wrongful death, and that the whole situation has caused irreparable damage to your family. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can assist you in all of these matters.

How Do You Win a Wrongful Death Case?

In order to win a wrongful death case, you are going to have to prove that the defendant’s actions were negligent and directly led to your loved one’s death. To do this, you and your lawyer are going to have to gather as much evidence as you can find that proves negligence was a contributing factor in this case. This evidence could include witness testimony, medical records, and police reports.

Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

Dealing with a loved one’s death is never easy, but having to deal with a wrongful death case on top of grieving may be too much for you to handle alone. You should consider hiring a wrongful death lawyer to help you with the details of your case and ensure you don’t get taken advantage of. At Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates, we can help you put together a strong case and protect your interests throughout it. Contact us today to speak to a valued team member about your situation.