North Hollywood Wrongful Death Lawyer

The sudden death of a family member can wreak havoc on the lives of those left behind. In addition to grieving and making difficult decisions regarding their estate, funeral, and other pressing issues, they must often contend with the financial stress associated with an unexpected loss of financial and emotional support within a household. The experienced North Hollywood wrongful death lawyers at Walch Law recognize the struggles you’re facing and your need for compensation, so we’ll work quickly from the moment you hire us to secure the maximum possible recovery without unnecessary delays. Robert and Gary know how to get results; more than 98% of their clients have found success with their claims in over 45 years of practice. Don’t wait – contact us today see how our knowledge, resources, and skill can benefit you during these trying times.

Wrongful death in California is defined broadly as loss of life that occurs due to a party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions and causes injuries to eligible surviving family members the deceased left behind. Though North Hollywood is considered a safe town, wrongful deaths can occur here as easily as any other city in California. Just last year, a pedestrian was killed standing by a bus stop when a speeding drunk driver ran a red light at Vineland Avenue and Victory Boulevard and hit another vehicle; the impact propelled the struck vehicle into the pedestrian, resulting in their death.

Though some wrongful death claims may stem from situations this obvious, it’s not always the case. Common scenarios that bring about wrongful death claims include:

• Amusement park accidents
• Lyft and Uber accidents
• Premises liability accidents
• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Train accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Dog bites

Though the tragic, avoidable loss of a loved one hurts every one of their family members and friends, only a few individuals may pursue wrongful death claims under California law. These qualifying individuals, called eligible survivors, are divided into two tiers based on their relationship with the deceased. These are the only individuals who may have standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

The first eligible survivor group consists of close family that typically reside in the same household. This group has priority over any other survivors who might otherwise have standing to sue, and it consists of:

• The surviving spouse
• The surviving registered domestic partner
• The deceased’s children
• Any living children of the deceased’s own deceased child

If a priority eligible survivor files a wrongful death claim, no survivors outside this group may sue. However, if no one in the first group exists, the law permits another group of relatives to sue if they were financially dependent upon the deceased. The secondary group consists of the deceased’s:

• Putative spouse (A person with the legitimate belief were legally married to the deceased and who behaved as such despite the fact the marriage was legally invalid)
• Putative spouse’s children
• Parents
• Stepchildren

A loved one’s wrongful death often also means the loss of a parent, teacher, partner, household contributor, and breadwinner. Though nothing will bring back a lost loved one, courts may award damages to compensate for some of the injuries resulting from the death. If an eligible survivor establishes someone’s liability for wrongful death, they may be entitled to compensatory damages for:

• The amount of financial support the deceased was expected to contribute to their household
• The value of services the deceased contributed in their household
• The amount of love, companionship, moral support, caregiving, affection, and guidance the deceased contributed to their household

The aftermath that follows a loved one’s unexpected death can throw a grieving family into financial turmoil; it may even give victims the idea they can’t afford an attorney to pursue compensation for injuries caused by the recklessly, negligently, or intentionally inflicted death. The North Hollywood wrongful death lawyers at Walch Law understand your concern and believe you deserve the chance to recover damages; that’s why we take all our cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid until you get paid. Contact us today to learn more, see how we can help you get the check and closure you deserve, and get started!