Citrus Heights Wrongful Death Attorneys

What Are Your Rights to Compensation in California?

The primary statute that governs wrongful death claims in California is Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. It outlines who can file a claim and the types of damages recoverable. The bottom line of the code means that if someone’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct causes another person’s death, eligible surviving family members can seek compensation.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Wrongful death claims can stem from almost any situation, but the most common involve the following:

Vehicle accidents: Car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents caused by negligent operators. Vehicle accidents represent the highest number of wrongful death claims each year. The heavily trafficked roads around Citrus Heights, especially the intersections of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane near Sunrise Mall, and Sunrise Boulevard and Antelope Road experience many vehicle accidents yearly, some of which result in fatalities.

Workplace accidents: Deaths in the workplace happen for various reasons, including due to hazardous conditions on the many roadway projects around Citrus Heights, like the Auburn Boulevard Streets Project near Rusch Park.

Product liability: Deaths caused by defective or dangerous products or products that do not include appropriate safety warnings or operating instructions. Design, manufacturing, and distribution defects would all fall under product liability.

Premises liability: Deaths caused by unsafe conditions on a property, such as slips, trips, and falls, or other dangerous property elements.

Types of Wrongful Death Damages

Eligible family members may seek two types of compensation: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages are attached to a dollar amount. Lawyers assess the appropriate amount through reliance on expert witnesses, such as accountants or financial planners. Other financial injuries include funeral and burial costs incurred by the deceased’s family. Calculations based on past and future earnings and benefits are also factored into economic damages.

Non-economic Damages: Non-economic damages are not as straightforward to prove or calculate. This is where having an experienced attorney is essential. An attorney will consider loss of companionship, comfort, and other emotional and spiritual support the decedent provided to the family when determining the amount of non-economic damages to pursue. Other types of non-economic damages could include loss of moral guidance for children of the deceased and sexual relationships for spouses.

Wrongful Death vs. Accidental Death: What is the Difference?

An essential element that must be present when determining whether a wrongful death claim can be pursued is the presence of negligence or recklessness as a direct contributor to the individual’s death. It is very common for clients to come to their free consultation with one of our wrongful death attorneys with questions about whether the death of their loved one is, in fact, a wrongful death by definition.

In one example, if a driver of a vehicle traveling on Dewey Drive is texting and hits a pedestrian walking in the bike lane, killing them, the driver could very well face a wrongful death claim initiated by the family of the deceased, in addition to facing criminal charges.

Benefits of Hiring a Highly Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney

Our Citrus Heights wrongful death attorneys have helped countless families reach successful outcomes in the pursuit of maximum compensation for the death of a loved one. Hiring a highly experienced wrongful death attorney is essential due to the complex nature and emotionally charged circumstances. Just a few of the reasons why experience truly does make a difference in wrongful death cases:

• Wrongful death claims involve intricate statutes, legal procedures, and deadlines.
• A strong wrongful death case requires painstaking investigation, including the gathering of medical records, accident and police reports, witness statements, and subject matter experts.
• Insurance companies will do everything possible to keep payouts low; knowing how to push back and aggressively negotiate for maximum compensation is key to a successful outcome.
• Our thirty years of experience representing wrongful death plaintiffs in court ensure that your case will be presented effectively before a judge or jury.

Bereavement Groups in Citrus Heights

If you need grief support following the loss of a loved one, one of the following groups may be able to help.

Bereaved Parents of USA, Sacramento/South Placer Chapter, and The Compassionate Friends, Sacramento Chapter are secular groups that provide monthly support meetings for parents who have lost a child.

GriefShare at Heights Church: 6540 Sylvan Road, Citrus Heights, CA.

Tender Hearts program is a non-secular, online community offering peer-led support for various types of loss, including wrongful death.

Homicide Support Network is a support group specifically for those who have lost a loved one to homicide and is facilitated by the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office.

Speak to a Citrus Heights Wrongful Death Attorney

If you’ve lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence, Eason & Tambornini can help. Our consultations are completely free, and you are not obligated to proceed. They are a way to get your questions answered and find out what your options are.

Call Eason & Tambornini at (916) 438-1819 to schedule your free consultation.