Law Offices of Tim D Wright - Wrongful Death Lawyer in Pasadena, California

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Some of the injury cases our law firm handles involve a death caused by a negligent party. If an individual has passed away in an accident, the family of the deceased is probably entitled to compensation for their tragic loss. You will need the assistance of a qualified Pasadena wrongful death attorney. The lawyers at Tim D. Wright defend accident and injury victims and their families regularly. They might be able to help you get compensation for your loss.

A wrongful death is where the negligence or carelessness of an individual or company are responsible for a casualty. The law in California understands that when one person's actions cost another his life, the responsible individual must be legally liable to pay damages to the victim's family members. This means that when a family member is killed in an accident, the surviving family members might be entitled to bring a civil claim against those responsible for the accident.

Common Kinds of Cases That Lead to Wrongful Death

Some of the most common kinds of cases that lead to wrongful death are car accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.

When a Motor Vehicle Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Losing a family member to a motor vehicle accident is devastating. And it can be emotionally challenging to consider what you need to do next when you are so early in the grieving process. However, some people report that filing a lawsuit helped to give them peace of mind because they had one less thing to worry about. A wrongful death case means that something is being done to get justice for a deceased family member.

A motor vehicle accident that results in a wrongful death can leave a family with major stress about repaying medical costs, taking care of funeral expenses, and losing income from a primary provider. Tim D. Wright can help to ensure that you obtain the compensation that you deserve for medical bills, lost income, loss of consortium, as well as pain and suffering.

Wrongful death because of a car accident can occur at the scene of the accident or later on when the victim succumbs to their injuries. Although deadly car accidents are often caused by drunk drivers, distracted motorists, and speeding, almost any type of car accident can cause a deadly crash. A few of the most common injuries from car accidents that later lead to wrongful death are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. If your loved one dies from complications because of their injury, it still falls under the umbrella of wrongful death. As such, the at-fault party can still be sued for their negligence.

Wrongful Death Because of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are seldom considered a deadly type of accident. However, this is simply not true. Slips and falls can be deadly, particularly if the head strikes the ground or another hard surface.

Slips and falls can occur almost anywhere. However, some of the most prevalent places where slip and falls occur that qualify as wrongful deaths are grocery stores, commercial businesses, apartment complexes, parking lots, and workplaces. The way your wrongful death case will be pursued is different depending on where the accident occurred. For instance, claims against big commercial companies differ in their parameters and insurance policies compared to slip and fall deaths that occur at a private residence.

Slips and falls can also be fatal when they happen to a senior citizen. A slip and fall can place serious pressure on an older person that they may never recuperate from. When you are in the later stages of life and all of a sudden you need to be bedridden for an extended period of time, your odds of recovering completely are much slimmer. In fact, falls are the leading source of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older. And this number seems to be increasing.

Workplace Wrongful Death

Workplace accidents that most frequently lead to fatalities consist of:

• Falls from heights
• Fire and explosions
• Malfunctions or errors with equipment
• Vehicle accidents
• Exposure to dangerous substances or environments
• Accidents caused by poor training

In these situations, determining if there is any third-party liability for negligence depends on how the accident occurred. If your loved one passed away due to negligent conduct of a worker from a different company, that worker or that other company can be held liable for damages. But, typically if a death or injury occurs at the workplace or while the worker is "on the clock", the case would fall under workers' compensation.

Wrongful Death Due to Medical Malpractice

Wrongful death because of medical malpractice is among the trickier case types in personal injury law. Given this, you need to be sure you have an experienced lawyer on your side when you're handling medical malpractice of any type.

Medical malpractice that can result in a wrongful death includes:

• Early discharge from hospital
• Wrong medication or dose
• Surgical error
• Incorrect diagnosis or overlooked diagnosis
• Birth injury

If someone you love died because of the negligence of a physician, nurse, or healthcare center, get in touch with one of our medical malpractice lawyers at Tim D. Wright immediately so we can start to investigate and develop your case.

Compensation In a Wrongful Death Claim

Family members may be entitled to recoup for many types of damages and losses from a wrongful death in Pasadena, including:

• The pain, suffering and grief of the surviving family members– There is not a harder time in life than when you lose someone you love. The feelings and pain you may experience can be excruciating. We realize that no amount of money will make you feel whole again. However, the family members have a right to a monetary recovery for the pain of experiencing this tragic experience.
• Funeral costs– Almost immediately after a tragic loss, family members have to incur considerable expense for a funeral. Part of this law firm's job will be to recover expenses due to the funeral.
• Medical bills and costs– In a lot of wrongful death cases, the medical bills prior to passing away can be extremely expensive. Commonly, billing may exceed several hundred thousand dollars. Our law firm will work to recover those expenses from the negligent party.
• Loss of consortium– You have a right to recuperate for the loss of no longer being able to spend and enjoy time with your family member.
• Loss of the future wages of the deceased– Commonly the family member that dies was earning income. Family members were relying on that loved one to support the family. They have a right to recover that loss of future earnings. If needed, our law firm could hire an economist to establish what amount your loved one would have earned during the remainder of their life.
• Punitive damages– During a wrongful death case, attorneys will decide whether it is appropriate to ask for leave of Court to file a punitive damages count in the lawsuit. Punitive damages are meant to penalize the at fault party for intentional and/or outrageous conduct.

Free Wrongful Death Case Consultation

No amount of money can properly compensate an accident victim's family after a death due to negligence or recklessness. However, these family members are entitled to financial relief that is available under local and state laws. After an accident, numerous families decide to consult with a wrongful death attorney in Pasadena to learn whether they have a case.

The kind of accident can affect what options of recovery are provided to a family and how soon those cases need to be pursued. For these reasons, it is a good idea to seek legal counsel immediately after a death.

If you think a negligent party may have caused a wrongful death of a family member in the Pasadena area, Contact us for a free wrongful death claim consultation or call (323) 379-9995 to talk to a wrongful death attorney in Pasadena.

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