Common Problems Associated With Death Claims

Coping with the death of a loved one can be one of life’s most painful experiences. This is particularly true if the death was caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. However, the surviving families are entitled to compensation for losses such as loss of companionship, lost income, and funeral expenses, as long as they can prove negligence.

A death claim happens when an individual dies due to someone else’s fault. Both state and federal court laws protect surviving families if the deceased died as a result of a person or entity’s negligent actions. These cases are difficult to handle on your own therefore you may need to hire an experienced Los Angeles death claims attorney to ensure your rights and the rights of your loved ones are fully protected.

A death claim can be filed by survivors who have suffered significant damage after their loved one’s death. Some of these parties include:

• Immediate family members: Some immediate family members such as children and parents can file a wrongful death claim.
• Distant family members: Sometimes distant family members may be able to bring an action, under some specific circumstances. Ask your attorney if your circumstances qualify.

Individuals affected financially – People who suffer financially may be able to recover compensation.

• Loss of an infant: This can be the basis for a death claim. In some cases, parents may be able to bring a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for the fetus’s death, if the baby was born alive and died later on. Ask your Los Angeles death claims lawyer if your circumstances qualify for such actions.

Wrongful death claims are brought against all the parties responsible for the victim’s death. Whether the death was partly caused by a government agency, employee, employer, company or any other party responsible for the death of the victim, the deceased’s survivors have legal rights they can claim.

Types of damages

There are three types of damages available to the deceased’s survivors:

• Economic: This includes funeral costs, expected earnings, and loss of other benefits such as medical coverage and retirement benefits.
• Non-economic damages: These damages are related to the survivor’s pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and care.
• Punitive damages: It is important to clarify that not every situation may qualify for these damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the responsible party.

Calculating these damages can be a complex process that only an experienced attorney can handle. Survivors will have to include income and benefits they’re entitled to receive together with any other damages that may apply. The monetary value of services such as childcare, education, medical care, and transportation may also be included.

Contact us today

Wrongful death claims involve complex areas of personal injury law you may not be familiar with. It is wise you hire an attorney to represent your interests. Call today and schedule your initial case assessment with a Los Angeles death claims lawyer. The damages available in these types of cases can vary greatly so it is important you ask your attorney what type of damages are available in your specific situation.