Santa Monica Wrongful Death Lawyer

Aggressive Representation of Wrongful Death Actions

At McGee, Lerer & Associates, we represent families who have lost a family member due to another person's wrongful actions. If you have lost a family member, we understand that monetary compensation cannot compensate for your loss. Our purpose is to alleviate the financial stress that a loss of life brings to your family.

We understand that you may not want to deal with legal matters in your grief. However, it is essential to see that justice is being done and that the negligent party pays for the damage caused. The sooner you hire an attorney to investigate the circumstances of the accident, the more likely a successful outcome will be achieved. We urge you to contact a Santa Monica personal injury attorney if you have lost a loved one in an accident that was someone else's fault.

Call McGee, Lerer & Associates today at (310) 692-9582 or contact us online to meet with our wrongful death attorney in Santa Monica!

Common Causes of Wrongful Death

Wrongful death can occur under many different circumstances, often when someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions lead to the loss of life. It’s important to recognize the situations that may constitute a wrongful death to better understand your potential claim. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: These include car, bus, truck, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents, often caused by speeding, distracted driving, or reckless behavior.
• Drunk Driving Accidents: If someone operates a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes a fatal accident, they may be held accountable.
• Medical Malpractice: Death resulting from errors in medical treatment or diagnosis.
• Workplace Accidents: Fatal accidents occurring due to unsafe working conditions or employer negligence.
• Defective Products: Fatal injuries caused by defective or dangerous products.
• Premises Liability: Accidents on someone else’s property, such as slips and falls or fatal injuries due to poorly maintained conditions.
• Pedestrian Accidents: Fatal accidents where a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, often resulting from driver negligence.

If any of these situations seem to mirror your circumstances, consulting with a wrongful death attorney may be beneficial. They can provide guidance on whether you have grounds to file a claim and help you navigate the legal process.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Action

Wrongful death actions are two actions in one. The first is to compensate the family for their loss, which includes funeral expenses, burial expenses, and loss of comfort and financial support. The second is a survival action in the name of the estate to compensate for the deceased's loss in the accident. This can be brought up if the deceased survives even for a little while and will cover medical expenses, ambulance costs, property losses, pain and suffering, and sometimes punitive damages.

However, before a family can receive damages for the loss of their loved one, the claim must be made, and the case must be proven. This is where a wrongful death attorney proves to be invaluable. With our team of professionals on your side, we will ensure that your rights are upheld and that you receive justice. Who is allowed to bring a wrongful death case before the court? Every state has slightly different laws regarding this issue, but immediate family members have the right to file a lawsuit in every state. This includes spouses, children, and parents if the victim was unmarried. In other states, life partners and those financially dependent on the deceased can also claim compensation. If you can file a lawsuit, you could file a claim against the drunk driver, the big rig driver, or whoever was the cause of your loved one's death.

Statute of Limitations and Common Causes in Wrongful Death Cases

Each state sets specific time limits for filing wrongful death lawsuits, and California is no exception. Understanding the statute of limitations is essential to ensure your case is filed within the required period. If you miss this deadline, you may forfeit your ability to pursue legal action. Below are important time constraints to be aware of when considering a wrongful death claim:

• In California, the general statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the date of the victim's death.
• If the case involves government entities or employees, the filing time frame may be much shorter, typically six months.
• If the case is not filed within the appropriate time frame, you risk losing the opportunity to seek compensation for your loved one's death.

Contact Our Santa Monica Wrongful Death Attorney Today 

We are a husband and wife team with over 40 years of combined experience handling death cases. Our goal has been to provide personalized, top-quality legal service to individuals and families. Satisfied clients have spread the word and are rewarding us with a thriving practice. We have a reputation for courtroom skills, and as a result, we find that insurance companies would often settle with us for top compensation rather than go to trial against our attorneys. We settle 98% of our cases before trial.

Contact McGee, Lerer & Associates today to schedule a FREE consultation with our wrongful death lawyer in Santa Monica!