When a loved one is killed, whether accidentally or intentionally, surviving family members can often bring a wrongful death lawsuit. But what are the reasons for filing this lawsuit?
As Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers, we meet with many grieving people who are unsure about what steps they should take legally to protect their rights. Below, we explain why filing a wrongful death lawsuit often makes sense.
What’s the primary reason to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
After a loved one’s death, you will probably feel financial distress, especially if you did not have a life insurance policy that will pay out benefits. Imagine if the family breadwinner were to die. Suddenly, you have no more income coming into the house. Even if both parents work, your income can drop by 50% or more, which is dramatic. It suddenly becomes much more difficult to stay in your home or to pay for your children’s education.
If you win a wrongful death lawsuit, you can receive compensation to make up for this loss of income. You can also receive money for other expenses, such as the loss of services. If your wife cooked all the meals, then you might need to hire someone to cook for you. To fully understand the compensation available, meet with a wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles for more information.
Are there other reasons to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Yes. Another reason is to hold the defendant accountable, which can act as a deterrent in the future. Someone who drives carelessly and ends up striking and killing a person needs to change their behavior in the future. Getting prosecuted for a crime is one way to change this behavior. Forcing them to pay compensation to the victim’s family is another effective way.
Many of our clients also feel a sense of justice. Not all wrongful death cases result in criminal charges. Yet, our clients want to hear a court of law say that the defendant’s actions were wrong, and hiring a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer to bring a lawsuit can accomplish that.
What is a survival action? Why should the estate file one?
There are some expenses that will be charged to your loved one’s estate after death. For example, if he or she needed medical care to treat their final injury, then the estate will have to pay for that. Also, the estate usually picks up the costs of a funeral and burial.
When someone else is to blame for the death, then they should have to pay these expenses. The estate can file a survival action to recover these sums, which makes the estate bigger for heirs to inherit. Talk to a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney for more information.
A Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney is Available to Meet with You
The surprising death of a loved one is a traumatic experience, and few people want to discuss legal issues in the immediate aftermath of the death. However, it is important to protect your rights and the rights of your children to compensation.
At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our lawyers provide compassionate legal guidance to grieving family members during this sensitive time. For more information about how we can help, please reach out to one of our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers by calling 888-543-9414. We offer a free, confidential consultation.