San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorneys

What Is Wrongful Death?

California personal injury laws define “wrongful death” as the death of an individual person caused by the negligence, wrongful conduct, or default of another. In other words, if someone’s death was the “legal fault” of another person or party, the death is considered wrongful.

In California, wrongful death cases often arise from:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bus accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.) accidents
• Slip and fall accidents

While these and other accidents are some of the most common grounds for wrongful death claims, such lawsuits can also arise from acts of intentional misconduct, including criminal activity. Surviving family members may have a civil lawsuit against a defendant accused of manslaughter, homicide, or murder, which is a separate legal action from any criminal proceedings that may occur.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?

In California, only certain surviving individuals are eligible to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit.

These individuals include the decedent’s surviving:

• Spouse
• Domestic partner
• Children
• Grandchildren

If there is no surviving spouse, domestic partner, child, or grandchild, anyone who would be entitled to inherit some or all of the decedent’s estate through intestate succession may file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. This might include such individuals as the decedent’s surviving parents, legal guardians, siblings, stepchildren, putative spouse, or dependents. Typically, these individuals would need to demonstrate that they were financially dependent on the decedent to be entitled to bring a claim.

Damages in California Wrongful Death Cases

The purpose of filing a wrongful death claim or lawsuit is twofold:

1. first, to hold the at-fault person or party legally accountable for the death and,
2. second, to recover monetary damages.

Although no amount of financial recovery can make up for the loss of human life, surviving family members may find themselves dealing with significant and unexpected financial hardships in the wake of their loved one’s death. A successful settlement or jury verdict can allow these individuals the resources they need to manage these challenges and move forward in the healing process.

In California wrongful death cases, it is possible to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Examples include:

• Medical costs associated with the decedent’s final injuries/illness
• Funeral and/or burial expenses
• Financial support provided by the decedent, including future income
• The value of household services provided by the decedent, including future services
• Lost benefits, gifts, or inheritance the decedent would have provided
• Loss of “love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support”
• Loss of consortium/intimacy by a spouse or partner
• Loss of guidance provided by the decedent, including future guidance

At Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard, we strive to help our clients recover the full, fair compensation they are owed. Our wrongful death attorneys in San Francisco offer personalized and compassionate support throughout the legal process and are here to assist you in seeking justice on behalf of your loved one.

How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?

In California, the statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits is typically two years from the date of death. This means that you only have two years to file a lawsuit after the death of a loved one. If you fail to bring your case within this timeframe, you will almost certainly lose your right to sue the liable party for damages.

Although there are some exceptions, they are rare. At Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard, we encourage you to reach out to our San Francisco wrongful death attorneys right away if you believe you may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. We can immediately begin an investigation and provide clear answers regarding your legal options.

How to Prove Wrongful Death in California

In San Francisco, there are a few things you must prove during a wrongful death case. In general, the basis for countless wrongful death claims is negligence. In California, it is not required that one prove intent to harm but that one's careless or negligent actions led to the wrongful death of someone. With that in mind, here are a few things a wrongful death lawyer in San Francisco can help you prove:

• Duty - The defendant must have owed the decedent a legal duty of care. This is a responsibility of a person to act in a way that a prudent and rational person would in the same or similar circumstances. In essence, people have a duty to drive their car safely on the highway.
• Breach of Duty - Now one must also prove a breach of duty of care, which can refer to any action or omission that a reasonable party most likely would not have committed. For example, this can include negligence or malicious intent to do harm.
• Causation - It's essential to prove that the breach of duty of care directly caused the wrongful death in question. Basically, if this had not happened - the individual would be alive today.
• Damages - It's also critical to prove that a result of the actions led to damages.

A San Francisco wrongful death attorney can help you navigate the difficult waters associated with filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one. This can be a sensitive time, and our lawyers understand that.

How a Bay Area Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help

When a family member is tragically taken away due to another's negligence or wrongful conduct, it is normal for grief-stricken loved ones to feel overwhelmed with questions and worry about their financial future. In these difficult times, a San Francisco wrongful death attorney can provide survivors with the legal guidance and support. They can help secure justice for the deceased and recover much-needed financial resources for the family.

Wrongful death attorneys are highly experienced with wrongful death claims. They have the knowledge needed to help families navigate the complexities of California personal injury laws. An experienced wrongful death attorney will identify all possible defendants and work diligently to build a strong case that proves each party’s liability for the decedent’s passing.

In addition, wrongful death lawyers are adept at calculating the damages available in a wrongful death claim, which may include medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of wages/future income, loss of companionship/intimacy by a surviving spouse or partner, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Throughout this complex process, your wrongful death attorney will strive to keep you informed every step of the way regarding your legal options and any anticipated outcomes. Ultimately, your lawyer will work hard to negotiate maximum compensation from all liable parties.

Choose a Compassionate & Experienced Legal Team

When you turn to Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard, you will be directly connected with your attorney throughout the legal process. We have built our firm on a foundation of trust, honesty, and integrity. Our attorneys prioritize client communication and will keep you informed and updated throughout the legal process.

Most of all, we truly care about you and your family. We are committed to securing the justice you deserve and the compensation you need to heal. There are absolutely no out-of-pocket expenses when you work with our firm; instead, we only collect legal fees if/when we win your case.

Reach out to our team to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call (925) 744-8869 or contact us online.