Losing a loved one is difficult, but it can be even more devastating when your loved one’s death was caused by the negligent or wrongful actions of another person or entity. When you have lost your loved one because of the negligence of someone else, you may have legal rights to recover compensation to pay for your losses. When you get help from a wrongful death lawyer San Mateo at the San Jose Personal Injury Attorneys, you might increase the likelihood that you will prevail on your claim.
What is Wrongful Death
Wrongful death is a legal term that refers to when someone is killed because of the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of others. Under the common law, the family members of people who were killed were not able to recover damages from the responsible parties. This was because the victim’s rights to recover for his or her injuries were considered to be extinguished when he or she died. California and other states recognized that this rule was unconscionable and passed a law that gives certain people the right to file lawsuits for wrongful death when their loved ones are killed under CCP § 377.60. Some of the damages that might be recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit include the following:
- The victim’s medical expenses after the injury until he or she died
- The victim’s lost income
- The victim’s lost rights to inheritance
- The victim’s physical pain and suffering
- Reasonable funeral and burial costs
- Emotional trauma and grief
- Loss of consortium and guidance
While money cannot replace your loved one, a lawsuit can help you to hold him or her accountable for his or her actions and can compensate you for your losses.
Dealing with insurance companies in a wrongful death case
When someone is killed because of the actions of a person or entity, the defendants’ insurance companies may try to settle as quickly as possible. They might extend offers that are unreasonably low in the hope that the family members will accept them. You should not accept a settlement offer in your loved one’s wrongful death case without having it reviewed by an experienced wrongful death lawyer San Mateo. An attorney can analyze your claim and determine its value so that you can evaluate whether the offer is something that you should accept.
Once you agree to accept a settlement offer and sign the agreement, you will not be able to try to recover more compensation for your losses in the future. This makes it important for you to have your offer analyzed by an attorney. In general, you should avoid signing anything from the insurance company without discussing it with your lawyer. Your attorney can handle the communications and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf.
Why it is important to get help from a wrongful death lawyer San Mateo
Losing a loved one because of the negligent or wrongful actions of others can be devastating. You should get help from an experienced wrongful death attorney from the San Jose Personal Injury Attorneys instead of trying to deal with the insurance company on your own. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation by calling us at (408) 217-1778.
You Can Recover Financial Compensation
Contact a personal injury attorney in San Mateo as soon as possible after an accident. An experienced attorney can look at your case to see whether or not the settlement is fair. The attorney can also determine what your best next steps may be. In some cases, the attorney may suggest that you pursue a personal injury case in civil court.
Reasons to Contact a San Mateo Personal Injury Lawyer
Depending on the severity of a person’s injury, it is possible to receive a settlement that is over $1 million. However, for the best results, it is important to have a trusted San Mateo personal injury lawyer by your side. Many times, you will be trying to recover from injuries. To shoulder your burdens, a skilled attorney will go to work and fight insurance companies so that you receive adequate compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of wages. Insurance companies may try to minimize the value of your claim and offer an unjust settlement. Our team will make sure that an insurance adjuster fairly assesses your case and provides the correct amount of financial compensation. Also, it is essential to contact a lawyer immediately following an accident. In California, there is a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. You have two years to come forward. We will waste no time with your case.
When you want top representation for your personal injury claim, call us for a consultation. We will carefully review all of your accident’s details, uncover the guilty party, and address all your questions and concerns. Do not wait until it is too late. Let us start working on your case today.