Topanga Wrongful Death Attorney

Has a Family Member Suffered a Wrongful Death in Topanga?

Some of the injury cases our law firm takes on involve a death caused by a negligent party. If a person has passed away in an accident, the loved ones of the deceased are probably entitled to compensation for their terrible loss. You will need the assistance of a knowledgeable Topanga wrongful death attorney. The lawyers at Drake Law Firm defend accident and injury victims and their families everyday. They may be able to help you receive 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 someone's actions cost another their life, the responsible individual needs to be legally liable to pay damages to the victim's loved ones. This means that when a family member is killed in an accident, the surviving family members might be entitled to bring a civil case against those responsible for the accident.

Common Types of Cases that Lead to Wrongful Death

A few of the most common types of cases that lead to wrongful death are car accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.

When a Motor Vehicle Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one to a car accident is devastating. And it can be emotionally challenging to consider what you should do next when you are so early in the grieving process. However, some people report that filing a lawsuit helped to give them 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 loved one.

An automobile accident that causes a wrongful death can leave a family with significant stress and anxiety concerning paying back medical costs, handling 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 income, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.

Wrongful death caused by a motor vehicle accident can occur at the scene of the accident or later when the victim succumbs to their injuries. Although fatal motor vehicle accidents are often caused by intoxicated motorists, distracted drivers, and speeding, virtually any kind of automobile accident can result in a deadly crash. A few of the most common injuries from automobile 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 true. Slips and falls can be fatal, especially if the head strikes the ground or another hard surface.

Slips and falls can occur practically anywhere. However, some of the most common locations where slip and falls occur 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 sought is different depending on where the accident happened. For example, claims against big commercial businesses differ in their parameters and insurance policies compared to slip and fall deaths that take place at a private residence.

Slips and falls can also be fatal when they occur to a senior citizen. A slip and fall can put 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 have to be bedridden for an extended period of time, your chances of recovering fully are much slimmer. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older. And this number seems to be rising.

Workplace Wrongful Death

Workplace accidents that most commonly cause fatalities consist of:

• Falls from heights
• Fire and explosions
• Malfunctions or flaws with equipment
• Vehicle accidents
• Exposure to hazardous substances or environments
• Accidents caused by improper training

In these cases, determining if there is any third-party liability for negligence depends on how the accident happened. If your loved one died because of negligent conduct of an employee from a different company, that worker or that other company can be held liable for damages. But, usually 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 due to medical malpractice is one of the more difficult case types in personal injury law. Because of this, you need to be sure you have a qualified lawyer on your side when you're handling medical malpractice of any kind.

Medical malpractice that can lead to a wrongful death includes:

• Early discharge from hospital
• Wrong medication or dosage
• Surgical mistake
• Incorrect diagnosis or missed diagnosis
• Birth injury

If a person you love passed away due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse, or healthcare center, contact one of our medical malpractice attorneys at Drake Law Firm immediately so we can begin to investigate and develop your case.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case

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

• The pain, suffering and grief of the surviving family members. There is not a more difficult time in life than when you lose someone you love. The feelings and pain you might experience can be unbearable. We realize that no amount of money will make you feel whole again. Nevertheless, the loved ones have a right to a monetary recovery for the pain of experiencing this unfortunate experience.
• Funeral expenses. Almost immediately after a tragic loss, family members have to incur substantial cost for a funeral. Part of this law firm's role will be to recover expenses due to the funeral.
• Medical bills and expenses. In many wrongful death cases, the medical bills prior to passing away can be very expensive. Commonly, billing may exceed several hundred thousand dollars. Our law firm will strive to recover those expenses from the negligent party.
• Loss of consortium. You have a right to recuperate for the loss of no longer getting to spend and enjoy time with your family member.
• Loss of the future income of the deceased. Commonly the family member that dies was earning income. Family members were depending on that loved one to support the household. They have a right to recover that loss of future earnings. If needed, our law firm could employ an economist to establish what amount your loved one would have made during the remainder of his or her 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 lawsuit. Punitive damages are meant to penalize the at fault party for deliberate and/or outrageous conduct.

Free Wrongful Death Case Consultation

No amount of money can appropriately compensate an accident victim's loved ones after a fatality caused by negligence or recklessness. However, these family members are entitled to financial relief that is offered under local and state laws. After an accident, many families decide to consult with a wrongful death attorney in Topanga to learn whether they have a case.

The kind of accident can impact what options of recovery are available to a family and how soon those claims need to be pursued. For these reasons, it is a good idea to pursue legal counsel immediately after a fatality.

If you believe a negligent party might have caused a wrongful death of a family member in the Topanga area, Reach out to us for a free wrongful death claim consultation or call (844) 513-7253 to speak to a wrongful death lawyer in Topanga.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with Wrongful Death in Topanga, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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