Mendez & Sanchez - Wrongful Death Attorney in San Gabriel, California

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Has a Loved One Suffered a Wrongful Death in San Gabriel?

Some of the injury cases our law firm takes on involve a death caused by a negligent party. If an individual has passed away in an accident, the loved ones of the deceased are likely entitled to compensation for their terrible loss. You will need the help of a knowledgeable San Gabriel wrongful death lawyer. The lawyers at Mendez & Sanchez defend accident and injury victims and their loved ones regularly. They might be able to help you receive compensation for your loss.

A wrongful death is where the negligence or recklessness of an individual or company are responsible for a fatal accident. The law in California recognizes that when someone's actions cost another their life, the responsible individual needs to be legally liable to pay damages to the victim's family. This means that when a loved one dies in an accident, the surviving family members may be entitled to bring a civil claim against those responsible for the accident.

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Common Types of Cases that Lead to Wrongful Death

A few of the most common types of cases that result in wrongful death are automobile accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.

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When a Car Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Losing a family member to a car accident is devastating. And it can be emotionally challenging to consider what you need to do next when you are so early in the mourning process. However, some individuals report that filing a claim helped to give them peace of mind because they had one less thing to worry about. A wrongful death claim means that something is being done to get justice for a deceased relative.

An automobile accident that leads to a wrongful death can leave a family with major stress about paying back medical expenses, handling funeral costs, and losing earnings from a primary provider. Mendez & Sanchez can help to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve for medical bills, lost income, loss of consortium, as well as pain and suffering.

Wrongful death because of a motor vehicle accident can happen at the scene of the accident or later on when the victim succumbs to their injuries. Although fatal motor vehicle accidents are commonly caused by intoxicated drivers, distracted motorists, and speeding, almost any kind of automobile accident can result in a fatal crash. A few of the most common injuries from motor vehicle accidents that later result in wrongful death are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. If your loved one passes away from complications because of their injury, it still falls under the umbrella of wrongful death. As such, the at-fault party can still be sued for their negligence.

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Wrongful Death Because Of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are rarely considered a deadly type of accident. However, this is just not accurate. Slips and falls can be fatal, especially if the head strikes the ground or another hard surface.

Slips and falls can happen almost anywhere. However, some of the most prevalent places that slip and falls happen that qualify as wrongful deaths are grocery stores, commercial businesses, apartment complexes, parking lots, and places of work. The way your wrongful death case will be pursued is different depending on where the accident happened. For instance, cases against large commercial companies differ in their parameters and insurance policies compared to slip and fall deaths that take place at a private residence.

Slips and falls can also be fatal when they occur to a senior citizen. A slip and fall can place major pressure on an older person that they may never recover from. When you are in the later stages of life and all of a sudden you have to be bedridden for a long period of time, your odds of recovering fully are much slimmer. In fact, falls are the leading source of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older. And this number appears to be increasing.

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Workplace Wrongful Death

Workplace accidents that most commonly cause deaths include:

• Falls from heights
• Fire and explosions
• Malfunctions or errors with equipment
• Vehicle accidents
• Exposure to dangerous substances or environments
• Accidents caused by improper training

In these situations, identifying if there is any third-party liability for negligence depends on how the accident happened. If your loved one died due to negligent conduct of an employee from a different company, that employee or that other company can be held liable for damages. However, typically if a death or injury occurs at the workplace or while the employee is "on the clock", the case would fall under workers' compensation.

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Wrongful Death Due To Medical Malpractice

Wrongful death due to medical malpractice is among the trickier case types in personal injury law. Because of this, you need to be sure you have a qualified lawyer on your side when you're handling medical malpractice of any type.

Medical malpractice that can cause a wrongful death includes:

• Early discharge from hospital
• Incorrect medication or dosage
• Surgical error
• Improper diagnosis or overlooked diagnosis
• Birth injury

If somebody you love passed away as a result of the negligence of a physician, nurse, or healthcare center, get in touch with one of our medical malpractice lawyers at Mendez & Sanchez immediately so we can begin to investigate and build your case.

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Compensation in a Wrongful Death Claim

Family members may be entitled to recover for many types of damages and losses from a wrongful death in San Gabriel, including:

• The pain, suffering and grief of the surviving family members-- There is not a more difficult time in life than when you lose someone you love. The feelings and pain you might experience can be excruciating. We understand that no amount of money will make you feel whole again. However, the family members have a right to a financial recovery for the pain of going through this tragic experience.
• Funeral expenses-- Almost immediately after a tragic loss, family members have to incur substantial cost for a funeral. Part of this law firm's role will be to recover expenses because of the funeral.
• Medical bills and costs-- In many wrongful death cases, the medical costs prior to passing away can be incredibly expensive. Commonly, billing might exceed several hundred thousand dollars. Our law firm will work to recuperate those expenses from the negligent party.
• Loss of consortium-- You have a right to recuperate for the loss of no longer being able to spend and enjoy time with your loved one.
• Loss of the future wages of the deceased-- Often the family member that dies was earning income. Family members were depending on that loved one to support the family. They have a right to recover that loss of future earnings. If necessary, our law firm could employ an economist to establish what amount your loved one would have made during the remainder of his or her life.
• Punitive damages-- During a wrongful death claim, lawyers will decide whether it is appropriate to ask for leave of Court to file a punitive damages count in the claim. Punitive damages are meant to penalize the at fault party for intentional and/or outrageous conduct.

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Free Wrongful Death Claim Consultation

No amount of money can appropriately compensate an accident victim's loved ones after a death caused by negligence or recklessness. However, these family members deserve financial relief that is provided under local and state laws. After an accident, lots of families decide to speak with a wrongful death lawyer in San Gabriel to figure out whether they have a case. The type of accident can impact what means of recovery are provided to a family and how soon those cases need to be sought. For these reasons, it is a good idea to seek legal counsel as soon as possible after a fatality.

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If you believe a negligent party might have caused a wrongful death of a family member in the San Gabriel area, Reach out to us for a free wrongful death case consultation or call (323 ) 838-1444 to speak to a wrongful death lawyer in San Gabriel.