National City Wrongful Death Lawyer

If you’ve lost a loved one in a traumatic accident and you believe someone else was at fault, contact a wrongful death attorney in National City to seek justice by holding the liable party accountable.

Losing a loved one is never an easy experience to go through but when the death is unexpected and caused by someone else’s negligent actions, it can significantly increase your grief. You may feel that your deceased family member deserves some justice for what’s happened, and with the financial burden your family may experience, a settlement could relieve stress and discomfort.

At The Kindley Firm, APC, we want you and your family to feel supported during this difficult time. A National City wrongful death lawyer from our team can guide you through the legal process and help you prove negligence against the liable party in your loved one’s accident. Hopefully, we’ll be able to help you obtain the maximum settlement and get your family on a path to recovery.

Determining When Wrongful Death Has Occurred

Fatal accidents happen all the time but not all fatal accidents result in wrongful death claims. In order for a fatal accident to classify as wrongful death, it must involve negligence.

For example, if someone dies in a car accident because of bad weather, this wouldn’t classify as wrongful death because no one can be to blame. However, if someone dies in a car accident because they’re hit by a drunk driver, then you can file a wrongful lawsuit against the drunk driver because they were negligent.

Eligible Family Members That Can Pursue Wrongful Death Lawsuits

The state of California only allows specific family members to file wrongful death lawsuits because, otherwise, claims would overload the system. A loved one’s death directly affects close family members because the death may cause funeral expenses, a lost source of income, and significant pain and suffering.

The family members who can file wrongful death claims in California include the following:

• Surviving spouse of the deceased
• Domestic partner of the deceased
• Children of the deceased
• Any relative who could inherit the deceased individual’s asset
• Stepchildren of the deceased (depending on the circumstances)

It’s possible for multiple family members to file a wrongful death claim and split the settlement. For example, if the deceased has three children, they could file as one entity. All family members should know that there’s a statute of limitations in California of two years for wrongful death claims. If they don’t file the claim within two years of when the death occurred, then the claim won’t be valid.

Reach Out to a National City Wrongful Death Attorney

No family deserves to lose a loved one because of someone else’s negligence but, if it happens, filing a wrongful death lawsuit can provide a financial award to make recovery easier. If you’re ready to discuss your case with a National City wrongful death lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC, call 619-550-1313 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free consultation.