Granada Hills Wrongful Death Lawyer

The loss of a loved one is always unfortunate. However, an avoidable death resulting from someone else’s wrongful, illegal, or negligent act it becomes a true tragedy. When a person or organization in Granada Hills is responsible for the wrongful death of an individual, they may be liable for their actions. Even though crime in Granada Hills is low, wrongful deaths do occur and may leave you wondering what steps to take next. The experienced Granada Hills wrongful death lawyers at Walch Law have the answers you need; we have over 45 years of experience fighting for victims like you to get the compensation and closure they deserve with over a 95+% success rate. Contact us today for your free consultation and to see why Robert, Gary, and the Walch Law team are who you want in your corner.

If someone in Granada Hills dies as a result of someone else’s illegal, wrongful, criminal, or negligent act, this may give rise to a wrongful death claim for some of the decedent’s loved ones. Though most people think of wrongful death claims coming from car accidents – especially when someone is killed by a drunk driver – there are many other ways wrongful death claims can arise; for example:

• Accidents involving farm tools, industrial machinery, or construction tools and equipment
• Exposure to hazardous or toxic materials
• Medical malpractice deaths
• Violence stemming from criminal activities such as the recent murder of a woman on Chatsworth Street
• Police actions
• Use of prescription drugs or other products later found to be defective

It is important to understand wrongful death claims are civil and not criminal even though a death has occurred, but a pending or active criminal case against the wrongdoer does not prevent a victim with standing from suing in civil court.

If you have lost a loved one to wrongful death, it is a painful experience and you rightfully feel you have been injured by their loss. However, there are complicated questions about who among the decedent’s family has the right to sue and seek compensation for their death that are best answered by an experienced wrongful death attorney in Granada Hills.

California has established the identity of individuals who are able to pursue a wrongful death cause of action. It may either be brought directly by a decedent’s survivors.

The main category of individuals that can file wrongful death actions are close family members:

• A surviving spouse
• The decedent’s children
• If the decedent’s child is also deceased, any living children of that child
• The decedent’s registered domestic partner.

If any of these people exist, no other individuals may sue. However, if none exist, then standing to sue passes to the following relatives who can demonstrate financial dependence on the deceased:

• Parent
• Stepchild
• Putative spouse (person with the legitimate belief they were legally married to the decedent but actually had an invalid marriage)
• Any of the putative spouse’s children may file suit if they were the decedent’s dependent

If you are considering filing a wrongful death claim, it’s important to act quickly. California law has a 2-year statute of limitations to file these claims from the date of the decedent’s death. If an eligible individual does not file their case in court within this time period, they will be barred from bringing their claim permanently and lose the ability to recover damages in court.

It is understandable you may wonder what damages you can pursue in a wrongful death lawsuit. If you are successful in holding the defendant liable under whatever theory you choose to pursue in your lawsuit, you may be entitled to an award of damages. Compensatory damages for wrongful death are awarded by a court to make up for harms suffered by the loss of your loved one; in successful suits plaintiffs may recover for:

• The amount of expected financial support from the deceased;
• The value of services they contributed to the household; and
• The value of love, affection, guidance, moral support, community, and attention lost.

Unlike many types of lawsuits, however, survivors filing a wrongful death cause of action cannot recover punitive damages.

The wrongful death of a loved one is a life-changing event and stressful, uncertain time for loved ones of the deceased. The experienced Granada Hills wrongful death lawyers at Walch Law understand this, and we are here to fight for the compensation and closure you need to get some peace of mind. Robert and Gary have over 45 years experiences getting our clients the most money possible for their injuries and a 98%+ success rate, so call today to learn about the process and personal injury lawsuits, get your questions answered, and take the first step on the road to recovery.