If someone’s negligent actions caused your loved one’s death, contact the Riverside personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw to represent you in your case. You and your family might be entitled to compensation for the losses you suffered. Our legal team can investigate the fatal accident and help you hold the at-fault party liable. The burial costs, final medical bills, and other expenses should not be your financial responsibility if another person were entirely to blame for the death.
The Riverside wrongful death attorneys of OnderLaw know how devastating it can be to lose someone you love. Many accidents are entirely preventable and only occur due to a person’s or company’s carelessness. You can depend on us to be your advocate during this traumatic time in your life and fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.
Wrongful death is a death caused by the neglect or wrongful act of another party. OnderLaw has experience handling a range of cases involving wrongful death.
Occupational Accidents
Employees at any job could suffer a fatal injury or die in an accident while performing their work-related duties. The most common causes include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Human error is a common reason traffic accidents occur. Drivers must focus on the road ahead and maneuver their vehicles safely around other cars, hazards, pedestrians, and dangerous roadways. The most common causes of deadly motor vehicle collisions include:
Premises Liability
Property owners and managers must provide a safe place for their guests. They should meet all building and safety codes, perform routine maintenance, and repair damage promptly. Examples of factors contributing to fatalities on another person’s property are:
Nursing Home Abuse
Victims of abuse or neglect in a nursing home could develop a deadly infection or suffer a dangerous fall. Staff members are responsible for providing the medical treatment and daily assistance necessary to live healthy lives. Unfortunately, abuse occurs and can lead to fatal injuries. Common causes include:
Medical Malpractice
Doctors, nurses, radiologists, and other health care professionals provide services to patients that will treat diseases, heal injuries, and prevent complications. Medical malpractice involves negligent acts that lead to injuries or death. The most common causes include:
Commercial Truck Accidents
Truck drivers must obtain a special license and complete training before operating a commercial truck. These vehicles are large, heavy, and carry various types of cargo. Unfortunately, the truck driver or trucking company could cause an accident that leads to a person’s death. The most common reasons this can happen are:
Defective Products
Manufacturers assemble products to provide to consumers. The products must meet quality standards, and the manufacturer must perform safety tests before placing those products on the market. Defects during the manufacturing process can result in faulty parts that can lead to death. Examples of fatal accidents involving product defects are:
If your loved one died for any of these reasons or from some other cause, contact OnderLaw to discuss your case. We can review all the facts and determine the options available for seeking compensation. We could file an insurance claim or lawsuit and help you hold the negligent party accountable for their wrongdoing.
An individual, company, or multiple parties could be at fault for the death of your relative. The party you can seek compensation from will depend on the circumstances of the accident. The most common parties liable in wrongful death cases are:
California law allows certain family members to pursue a wrongful death case. They are:
Anyone entitled to the deceased’s property through intestate succession could file a lawsuit if there isn’t a surviving spouse, domestic partner, child, or grandchild.
Other family members also have a right to pursue compensation in a wrongful death case if they can prove they were financially dependent on the accident victim. They include:
The monetary compensation you receive should cover any expenses associated with your loved one’s death and compensate for additional losses. The losses for which you can seek compensation in a wrongful death case are:
You might also be able to seek exemplary damages if the defendant was convicted of felony homicide for your loved one’s death.
Every party is responsible for their own actions in personal injury cases. If the individual or company that caused your loved one’s death were 100 percent at fault for the accident, they should be financially responsible for your total losses. However, pure comparative negligence can diminish the monetary award by the percentage of fault the deceased victim shared for the fatal injury.
For example, if your loved one’s actions were 20 percent responsible for their death and you suffered $100,000 in losses, you could only receive a maximum of $80,000 in compensation.
California has a two-year statute of limitations. If you want to hold the at-fault party liable for your family member’s death, you must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of their death.
Accidents involving cars and other motor vehicles commonly cause death to the occupants, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. In 2019, there were 34 fatal traffic accidents, causing 34 fatalities in Riverside. Throughout California, 3,606 deaths occurred the same year from traffic-related accidents.
Another scenario that can lead to wrongful death is accidents in the workplace. In 2019, the most common causes of fatal occupational injuries in California were:
Drivers of commercial trucks can make a catastrophic mistake that leads to the death of drivers and passengers in other vehicles. In California in 2019, 408 people died in accidents involving large trucks. Only 13.7 percent were the occupants of a truck. Other vehicle occupants accounted for 70.3 percent of deaths, and 15.9 percent were non-occupants. California was one of three states with the highest number of fatalities in 2019.
There is often a misconception about wrongful death cases. Although it might seem like a straightforward process, most people don’t realize the amount of work that goes into building a case. Whether you choose to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit, you must adhere to strict deadlines, complete confusing paperwork, and gather substantial evidence. When you’re already grieving the loss of a loved one, taking on a wrongful death case can be overwhelming and lead to significant stress.
The Riverside wrongful death attorneys of OnderLaw can handle these responsibilities, so you can focus on coping with what happened. We know how to investigate fatal accidents and obtain the evidence we need to prove who was at fault. We’re not afraid to battle against defense attorneys and try to recover the maximum compensation available. Even though no amount of money can take away the pain you’re feeling, we hope it can provide the financial relief necessary to afford the expenses you incurred.
OnderLaw believes in standing up for our clients’ rights and helping them hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. We understand the devastation of losing someone you love and how much that can affect your life. It’s particularly traumatic when you find out the responsible person could have prevented the accident.
You will receive the support, guidance, and services you need to get through this heart-wrenching experience. We always provide one-on-one attention and treat our clients as priorities. You will always have someone in your corner to advocate for your rights and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve to cover your losses.
Call OnderLaw now for a free consultation with one of our Riverside wrongful death attorneys.
