Losing a loved one because of an avoidable accident or another person’s actions can be devastating. And while nothing can undo your loss, you could have a wrongful death claim to hold the guilty party accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
In central California and the Stockton area, wrongful death cases often come out of traffic or trucking accidents because of the busy transportation corridor that is Interstate 5. This is no surprise, especially since Stockton sits between San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno, three major metropolitan areas connected by multiple busy highways.
But wrongful death cases can arise out of any situation, not just traffic accidents. For example, you could file a successful wrongful death claim if:
A wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover damages from the person responsible. Damages compensate you for your losses, such as your loved one’s medical expenses and the income lost by your family because of their death. In California, a survival action also allows you to recover for your loved one’s pain and suffering before they passed away.
You could have a successful case for both. A local Central California wrongful death lawyer can help you navigate your legal options and find the best course forward for your case.
Unfortunately, wrongful death can happen at any time and without warning. No matter how much care someone takes in their day-to-day life, another person’s negligent behavior can still strike when they least expect it, leading to devastating losses.
You can sue for a loved one’s wrongful death if you’re their spouse, domestic partner, or child. In some cases, parents and step-children could also file for wrongful death.
When you work with a wrongful death lawyer, the first step is to determine and investigate the facts of your loved one’s death. Your lawyer can help you gather the evidence you need to prove your case – whether that means reviewing medical records, requesting documents from nursing homes or hospitals, interviewing witnesses, or visiting the site of an accident.
At Sepulveda Sanchez law, we’ve got you covered. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys can help you build the strongest possible case to get you the recovery your family deserves.
If you successfully prove your wrongful death case, your lawyer could negotiate a settlement with the guilty party or petition the court to award you damages.
It’s impossible to completely undo what’s happened, but damages are the law’s way of “making you whole,” as much as possible, through financial compensation.
While losing a loved one is a devastating personal loss, it can also have major financial consequences for you and your family. A wrongful death claim can help relieve the stress of unexpected expenses and the sudden loss of income on your household.
After all, you shouldn’t be the one left paying for someone else’s harm. That responsibility should fall on the party at fault – whether that’s the person who caused the accident, the manufacturer of the defective product, the medical staff who failed to give proper care, or the landlord who allowed their property to fall into disrepair. Even city governments could be held liable for failing to maintain roads and sidewalks up to safety standards.
In California, you can also file a survival action on behalf of your deceased loved one, where you essentially assume the rights that they would’ve had to sue. That means you can recover damages for your loved one’s pain, suffering, or disfigurement before their death.
In addition, a survival action allows you to recover:
Both wrongful death and survival claims have statutes of limitations, which means you have only a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit before you lose your chance. Depending on the situation, you may have as little as 6 months or a maximum of 3 years. So it’s important to talk to a lawyer near you as soon as possible about your case.
At Sepulveda Sanchez Law, your consultation is free and we work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay us until we recover for you. Our entire office is bilingual in Spanish and English. Contact us now to speak to an experienced wrongful death lawyer who serves Stockton and the entire central California San Joaquin Valley.