Sunnyvale Wrongful Death Damages Attorneys
Northern California Wrongful Death Damages
In a wrongful death case, an individual dies as a direct result of someone else's negligence. The individual might die because of another motorist's reckless driving, for instance, or because of a workplace supervisor's failure to take reasonable precautions to protect his workers. Only those who were very close to the deceased may seek California wrongful death damages. Generally, parties eligible to seek damages include the following:
- Spouses
- Partners
- Children
- Stepchildren
- Other minor dependents
- Dependent parents
Wrongful death cases are somewhat unique in that parties can seek only a few types of damages. Here are the five types of damages awarded in Northern California wrongful death lawsuits:
- Loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, protection, care and consortium
Human beings need relationships with others to live full and happy lives. Benefits of these interactions include love, companionship and the others listed above. In a wrongful death case, a Northern California wrongful death lawyer will attempt to convince the court to compensate the surviving family member or other dependent for the loss of these benefits. - Loss of services
This is a very specific situation in which the victim performed domestic services for the person bringing the claim prior to death. Northern California wrongful death attorneys can try to convince the court to determine the value of these services and compensate the survivor accordingly. - Loss of financial contributions
If the deceased individual contributed financially to a household prior to death, a court might compensate the surviving spouse or children for this financial loss. Job earnings, benefits or support payments can all be part of this when determining the amount of the award. - Loss of training and advice
Children who have lost a parent most often seek this. The court may decide to compensate the child financially for the advice, instruction and moral support the child has lost as a result of a parent's death. - Funeral and burial expenses
A court will award reasonable expenses to cover the deceased individual's final costs.
Determining appropriate damages in a Northern California wrongful death damages lawsuit is not a straightforward process. For instance, it is almost impossible to put a price tag on losing a spouse's love or missing years of moral support from a parent. Courts can consider a variety of factors from the closeness of the relationship between the deceased individual and the survivor to the age of the deceased individual at the time of death.
For survivors seeking compensation, enlisting the help of a Northern California personal injury lawyer should be the top priority. The Northern California wrongful death attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates have experience handling wrongful death claims. With the help of their paralegals and other legal professionals, they can assist you in determining the types of damages for which you are eligible. They will then work diligently to ensure you receive them. Contact them to get more information or to arrange a free initial consultation.
