Finding a Wrongful Death Lawyer in a Difficult Time
A wrongful death attorney can help you find justice for a family member who was killed through the negligence of another person or entity. They can investigate the accident and determine liability and how the incident occurred. Once this is done, a wrongful death attorney can calculate the damages your family will suffer and help you obtain financial restitution.
Grief and Pain Accompanies a Wrongful Death
The loss of a loved one is always devastating. Nevertheless, the loss of a loved one due to a negligent driver or other entity is even worse. It leaves the family members angry that the life of their loved one was taken when it was not necessary. Our law firm has helped many people in New Orleans receive the compensation they deserve after a wrongful death.
What Is a Wrongful Death?
When negligence contributes to someone’s demise in an accident, it is called a wrongful death. The majority of wrongful deaths occur in traffic accidents involving cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles or pedestrians. However, they can also occur in the following areas:
- A crash involving an airplane, a collision with a bus or another such accident that occurs with a carrier
- Construction accidents or incidents on farms
- Ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber
- Automobile parts, furniture, medications or foods that are defective or dangerous
- Premises liability-related fatalities
- An attack by a dog
Wrongful Death Claimants
In California, the personal representative of the estate or immediate family member of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim :
- Wrongful death claims can be filed by the surviving spouse, domestic partner or putative spouse.
- Minors who received at least half of their support from the decedent may be included in the claim. Both stepchildren and natural children may be included.
- The parents of the decedent may join the wrongful death lawsuit if they received at least half of what they needed from the deceased.
The Recovery of Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
A wrongful death attorney’s damage recovery includes:
- Funeral and burial expenses for the deceased
- The salary the decedent would have received until their retirement
- Inheritance losses may be recoverable as damages
- A surviving or putative spouse or partner may file a claim for loss of consortium as well as for the love and emotional support provided by the deceased
- A family member’s children may claim the loss of guidance and nurturing the decedent provided
- A family may want to pursue a survival action if a loved one lived for some time before he or she died
- When a civil case is filed, the family may seek punitive damages if the death was egregious or intentional
Let the Olinde Law Firm Help You in Your Time of Loss
The staff and legal team at the Olinde Law Firm are here to help you when a loved one dies due to another’s negligence or intentional actions. Call us at (800) 587-1889, or contact us online to schedule a free case review. We will be able to answer your questions and discuss your options going forward. Our investigators will examine the accident, interview witnesses and determine liability. Since we work on a contingency basis, you won’t pay a thing until you win your case.