The death of a loved one is devastating and disorienting, especially when it’s someone else’s fault. If you lost a loved one due to another person’s neglect or misconduct, we extend our condolences. We also want you to know you have a legal right to hold the at-fault party accountable with a wrongful death lawsuit.
You might be wondering, What kind of lawyer handles wrongful death cases in California? The quick answer is that any California-licensed attorney can represent you in a wrongful death case, but many don’t have the skill or the experience to win the results you deserve. In such a tragic time, the better question to ask is, What kind of lawyer handles wrongful death cases well? The answer to this question is an attorney with significant wrongful death experience and a high success rate. Like most areas of law, wrongful death cases call for a lawyer who focuses their practice on that area. At The Larsen Firm, our award-winning attorneys have a near-perfect record with wrongful death cases, and we’re here to help you through a difficult time.
Why Hire an Attorney for Your Wrongful Death Case?
Aside from the fact that your general chances at success in court or settlement negotiations increase when an experienced attorney represents you, there are specific reasons why hiring an experienced wrongful death attorney is your best option.
Proving Your Right to Recover Damages Is Complex
This may sound harsh, but you have a lot to prove in a wrongful death case. And unfortunately, the defendant’s insurance will likely fight you every step of the way. Not only must you prove that the defendant was neglectful or engaged in misconduct when your loved one suffered a fatal injury, but you must also prove the neglect or misconduct was the direct cause of your loved one’s death. This is when insurance companies throw their extensive financial resources behind medical and other experts to argue that some other circumstance was the cause of death.
You will likely need to hire your own experts to have a fighting chance at justice. If you don’t have an attorney, it’s hard to know where to find a good expert and how to properly use them under complex court rules. If you have an experienced lawyer for your wrongful death case, they can hire the right experts and appropriately use them to defeat the insurance and win your case.
Properly Calculating Your Damages Is Difficult
We recognize that the most difficult part of calculating your financial damages in a wrongful death case is that money cannot replace someone you love. Though money damages can’t fix your loss, they might be the only way to hold those at fault legally accountable. Also, losing a loved one can put a financial strain on you and your family. An at-fault party should compensate you for this strain.
California law is vague about how to calculate your damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. Without elaborating further, the law allows you to recover whatever may be “just” in your wrongful death case. What’s “just” is hard to define. An experienced and attentive wrongful death lawyer knows how to calculate the amount that best represents what you’re due legally.
The Deadline to File a Lawsuit Passes Quickly
You have only two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California. This might sound like a lot of time, but it isn’t, especially if you’re dealing with the emotional impact of mourning your loved one. And if you miss this window of time, you could lose your right to recover in civil court. While you give yourself time to grieve, make funeral arrangements, handle inheritance issues, and address the various matters your departed loved one left behind, two years can pass before you know. A skilled wrongful death lawyer can meet your case deadlines while you handle the stresses of moving forward with life.
Don’t Suffer Alone—Speak to an Attorney Who Can Champion Your Rights
Our Oakland, California legal team at The Larsen Firm is award-winning. Our wrongful death case success rate is 99%, and we’ve recovered almost $1 billion for victims of tragic loss. This lets you know that we’re ready to help and can successfully defend your rights in difficult times. When coping with tragedy, it’s essential to have a compassionate, knowledgeable, and confident team on your side. We can be that team for you. Call us at 855-508-9695 or contact us online for a free consultation. We’re here for you, day and night.