Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.
As wrongful death attorneys, we often see many different types of claims that have tragically ended with a fatality in Orange County. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that there were 218,064 unintentional injury deaths in 2022.
In many cases like these, the accidents occurred because of the negligence of another. Similar to other personal injury claims in Orange County, in a wrongful death case, determining who is at fault is a key component of finding the responsible party. However, these types of claims have a few differences in terms of who can file the case and what kind of damages can be claimed.
If you suspect that one of your loved ones passed due to someone else’s negligent actions, contact the law firm of DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo is comprised of 10 trial attorneys and numerous support staff. We are a bilingual firm, led by partners Jess J. Araujo, John A. Montevideo, and Anthony Modarelli. Our attorneys have been practicing law in this community since 1979, so we feel deeply connected to the people here. We are proud to have built a strong reputation in Orange County, and are proud to be AV Rated – the highest rating attorneys can have for ethical standards and legal ability, voted by other lawyers and judges in the legal community.
“Amazing from start to finish. Always in contact with us, checking in with us, and making sure things were on track. Very straight forward with how things worked, no hidden surprises.” – L.P.
Wrongful death claims can be incredibly stressful, particularly for those who lack much legal experience. You are not expected to know how to handle every facet of these claims. It is crucial to work with a skilled wrongful death attorney in Orange County if you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another. An attorney will handle every aspect of your claim.
First, your attorney will talk to you how you deserve to be communicated with – as someone going through an incredibly challenging time. Your lawyer will use their resources to fully investigate every aspect of the case, digging into every possible avenue of liability against other parties involved. Additionally, your lawyer will work with trusted economic experts to help calculate the total losses you and your family are expected to incur. It is imperative to adequately calculate how much compensation you should receive.
Finally, your lawyer will fully prepare the case for trial if the other side refuses to offer a fair settlement. The process of filing a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court is complex, and trying a case in front of a jury is even more challenging. A skilled wrongful death lawyer who has extensive experience handling these claims will best be able to navigate the process on your behalf so you can focus on grieving the loss of your loved one.
We encourage you to find a wrongful death lawyer who takes these claims on a contingency fee basis so that you and your family will not have to worry about paying legal fees until after the attorney successfully recovers the compensation needed.
Individuals involved in wrongful death lawsuits often wonder how long it will take for their case to be finalized. The reality is that there is no solid answer to this question. There are a few routes that the case may take, namely, either a settlement or a personal injury jury trial.
More often than not, a successful wrongful death claim will end with a settlement from the at-fault party or their insurance carrier. Attorneys often get involved quickly to negotiate a settlement after they determine how much compensation their client should receive. These negotiations can take some time, and the at-fault party will likely push back or offer a lower amount. Settlement negotiations can last anywhere from a few months to a year, but even that is no guarantee. There are times when negotiations are extended longer than this, and sometimes, the two sides cannot come to an agreement.
In the event the at-fault party refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies the claim, it may be necessary to file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court. This puts the whole process into the court system, initiates the discovery process, and allows negotiations to continue between both sides while the lawsuit is ongoing. After a lawsuit is filed, the case could settle at any time if a fair compensation amount is agreed upon. However, if the case goes all the way to trial, this could take years after the initial incident occurred.
Under California wrongful death law, the survivors of a wrongful death victim are entitled to monetary damages as the result of improper conduct, negligence, recklessness, criminal conduct, or inaction of another.
In California, the relatives who can file wrongful death claims include:
As you can see, not just anyone can pursue a wrongful death action. There has to be a significant relationship between the deceased and the claimant.
Family members and the estate of a deceased individual may be able to recover various types of compensation in the event their wrongful death claim is successful in court. This type of compensation is meant to provide closure and financial assistance for the hardships that a family suddenly has to endure and can include a range of economic and non-economic damages, including the following:
Economic damages. Economic damages refer to the more calculable expenses that plaintiffs should be able to receive in these wrongful death claims. This includes expenses that can be easily added up using bills or receipts that come in or by working with financial experts to calculate future expected losses. Some of the main economic damages associated with the California wrongful death claim include:
Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages refer to the more immeasurable losses that plaintiffs are likely to incur as a result of losing their loved one. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
There is no set amount of compensation paid out to family members for a successful wrongful death claim. When working to calculate adequate economic and non-economic damages, an attorney will enlist assistance from economic and medical experts. There are a variety of factors that will be taken into account and presented to the insurance carrier or the personal injury jury when it comes to calculating proper amounts. These factors include the age, occupation, and education level of the deceased.
Families of deceased individuals who lose their lives at a younger age and in their prime of working are more likely to recover greater amounts of compensation than families of individuals who were a bit older and closer to retirement when the death occurred.
Adequately calculating wrongful death compensation is a challenging process because, aside from the calculable expenses mentioned above, the more immeasurable non-economic damages are those irreplaceable losses that are hard to put a dollar value on. The goal is to ensure that family members receive closure for what happened, and compensation can help move that process along.
In order for a wrongful death claim to be successful in Orange County, there are various elements that must be in place. These elements, which we will describe below, all have to be proven in court, and doing so typically takes an extensive investigation into the incident.
Although it’s difficult to put a number on the value of a person and their relationship to those around them, that’s part of what your Orange County wrongful death attorney’s job is. He or she will help calculate your wrongful death damages based on financial and personal losses and will strive to acquire the most compensation possible for you. Although no lawsuit or amount of money can ever bring a loved one back, a wrongful death lawsuit can make a negligent party accountable for their actions as well as compensate the remaining family members moving forward.
When another party’s negligence causes a catastrophic accident that leads to your loved one’s death, he or she can be held responsible. Common circumstances that our Orange County accident attorneys see are:
Most states put a time limit on the amount of time you have before filing a wrongful death claim. This is called the statute of limitations, and under California law, it’s two years from the date of death. You must file a wrongful death case in civil court within this time frame, or you may lose your right to the claim completely. Therefore, it’s important to contact a wrongful death lawyer as soon as you are ready to pursue charges.
There are various exceptions related to the California wrongful death statute of limitations. These exceptions revolve around medical malpractice incidents, minors who file a lawsuit, as well as claims against government entities.
If you believe that an exception applies to you when it comes to your potential wrongful death claim, we encourage you to speak to an attorney who can help you delve through this process. It is crucial to file your claims on time, both with the court system as well as with the insurance carriers.
Obtaining a death certificate after the loss of a loved one is important for a number of legal reasons aside from a potential lawsuit including claiming life insurance and settling estates. When a death happens in Orange County, copies of the certificate are usually available via the Clerk-Recorder Department 30 days after the date of death. Please follow this link to learn more about obtaining a death certificate.
Wrongful death suits and legal implications aside, the mental health of the surviving family members is one of the most important factors of a wrongful death case that often goes overlooked. Losing a loved one can be debilitating and finding someone to speak to and help deal with grief can be a vital part of the healing process. There are many support groups and specialists in Orange County and throughout California who specialize in helping grieving families overcome loss during this difficult time:
At DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, we have fought on behalf of our clients since 1979. We approach wrongful death cases with the compassion and tact you deserve, and we understand just how heartbreaking and emotionally exhausting losing a loved one can be.
You have the right to effective representation and legal action if you lost a loved one due to negligent or intentional acts. Contact an experienced wrongful death attorney in Orange County today at (714) 783-2205 for a free consultation and see how we can help you and your family through this tragedy.
We serve clients all over Southern California, including Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, and Newport Beach.