Are you struggling with the sudden and tragic death of a spouse, child, or close family member after a fatal accident in Pasadena, California? Reach out to the award-winning legal team at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers today. Our Pasadena wrongful death lawyers can help you seek maximum compensation from those responsible for your devastating loss.
Since 2013, M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers has been a leader in personal injury and wrongful death litigation in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles metro area. Our nationally-acclaimed California trial attorneys have 100+ years of combined experience and have won over $400 million in compensation for deserving clients like you.
Call our law office in Pasadena, CA, at (877) 300-4535 to learn about the considerable benefits of working with our law firm. We can help you achieve top results in your wrongful death case. Contact us to set up a free consultation now.
How M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Get Maximum Compensation After a Fatal Accident in Pasadena, CA
Your family member isn’t around to tell their side of the story. They’re not around to defend themselves. You can be sure that the person responsible for their death (and whatever insurance company you’re dealing with) will fight tooth and nail to limit your financial recovery.
You can put yourself in the position to get top results by enlisting the help of our experienced Pasadena personal injury lawyers.
We’re fierce legal advocates who aren’t afraid to take powerful insurers, corporations, and defendants head-on. Our team knows that this is your one shot at getting the financial justice your family deserves, and we’ll do everything in our power to make the most of it.
Take this time to grieve and focus on moving forward.
Our personal injury law firm in Pasadena will handle everything else:
- Coordinate a thorough investigation into the accident or criminal act that caused your family member’s wrongful death
- Carefully gather and analyze critical pieces of evidence
- Enlist the guidance of respected experts and specialists
- Review the results of investigations conducted by state and/or federal government agencies
- Seek a top-dollar settlement during negotiations
- File a lawsuit and advocate to get a life-changing jury verdict at trial if you aren’t offered a reasonable settlement
Losing a family member unexpectedly – especially one that supports you – can have huge and long-lasting financial consequences. We don’t want the cost of legal representation to add to your financial stress right now. So, our wrongful death attorneys work on contingency. You only pay if we win your case.
Contact our Pasadena, CA, law office to get started by setting up a free consultation now.
How Does California Define Wrongful Death?
In California, wrongful death is defined under Section 377.60 of the Code of Civil Procedure to mean the death of a person caused by the “wrongful act or neglect” of another.
Under state law, the right to file a lawsuit shifts from the victim to their surviving family member (and/or estate).
So, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit if you’ve recently lost a close family member as a result of a(n):
- Car accident
- Truck accident
- Bicycle accident
- Pedestrian accident
- E-scooter accident
- Bus accident
- Train accident
- Slip and fall accident
- Dog bite
- Defective product
- Construction accident
- Workplace accident
- Catastrophic injury, such as a brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, or amputation
- Boating accident
- Maritime accident
At M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience representing families in all types of wrongful death actions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us so that you can benefit from our insight, knowledge, and resources. We’re here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?
Not just anyone can file a wrongful death lawsuit after a fatal accident in Pasadena.
This right is typically reserved for:
- Surviving spouses or domestic partners
- Children (biological and adoptive), and
- Parents.
Other parties, including step-children, financially-dependent minors, and other heirs, can also be entitled to recover damages through a wrongful death action.
If no family members survive, or if the victim survived their injuries for a period of time after their fatal accident, the estate can also initiate a legal claim for damages.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded in a Pasadena Wrongful Death Case?
Surviving family members are entitled to file a wrongful death action seeking compensation for their economic losses and non-economic losses.
However, damages in a wrongful death action are more limited in scope than in other types of personal injury cases.
Under California law, plaintiffs in a wrongful death action can recover:
- Financial support that the decedent would have provided if they survived (e.g., lost wages and income)
- Benefits or gifts that surviving family members would have expected to receive
- Costs related to the victim’s funeral and burial
- Damages for the value of the household services the victim provided
- Damages for the family’s loss of companionship, love, affection, comfort, care, protection, and moral support
- Compensation for a spouse’s loss of enjoyment of a sexual relationship
- Compensation for a child’s loss of training and guidance
A jury will not consider a plaintiff’s mental anguish or the victim’s pain and suffering when deciding on damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
However, if the decedent survived their injuries for a period of time after their fatal accident, their estate may seek damages for their pain and suffering, as well as costs incurred by the victim during the time they survived.
Punitive damages can also be awarded in wrongful death lawsuits that go to trial. However, a jury must determine that there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s conduct was malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent.
Our Pasadena wrongful death attorneys will fight to ensure that your payout reflects what your case is worth.
How Could the Decedent’s Shared Fault Affect a Wrongful Death Claim in Pasadena?
In California, anyone who contributes to an accident shares responsibility for the resulting damages. This includes accident victims. When a victim dies in an accident, their liability affects related wrongful death actions.
Specifically, damages are reduced in direct proportion to the victim’s share of the blame.
Let’s say your spouse was killed in a fatal car accident at an intersection in Pasadena. Your wrongful death claim is valued to be worth $500,000. However, it’s determined that your spouse’s negligence contributed to their fatal crash. They are deemed to be 10 percent at fault. As a direct result, the maximum payout in your wrongful death case is $450,000 ($500,000 less 10 percent).
It’s important to defend against potential victim-blaming tactics. Insurance companies and negligent parties won’t hesitate to point fingers to limit their liability. When you hire M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, our wrongful death attorneys in Pasadena will fight back for you and your family. Not only will we demand proof to back up claims of shared fault, but we’ll work hard to gather evidence of our own to counter these allegations.
The less liability the victim shares for their fatal accident, the more money you can potentially recover in a related wrongful death action.
We will do everything in our power to maximize your recovery.
Is There a Deadline To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?
Yes. California law provides a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits. This gives you until the second anniversary of your loved one’s death to formally pursue compensation from a negligent or otherwise liable party.
Keep in mind that the statute of limitations is tolled until their date of death. This might be after the date of their fatal accident.
Don’t let the deadline come and go without taking action. You’ll lose the right to recover compensation if that happens.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Pasadena Wrongful Death Lawyer
Take this time to remember the good time and grieve your loss. Let our experienced Pasadena wrongful death attorneys take on negligent parties and fight to get you the financial accountability your family deserves.
We know that money won’t turn back the clock or bring your family member back, but it can make a huge difference in the months and years ahead.
Our experienced California trial attorneys have over 100 years of experience handling complex legal matters like yours. We’ve helped our clients achieve over $400 million in compensation. Put your case in our hands, and we’ll do the rest.
Your first consultation with M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers is free, so call our law office in Pasadena, CA, today. A member of our compassionate legal team is always here to answer – 24/7/365.
