How we can assist you with your case is probably one of the first questions you will ask a Riverside, California wrongful death lawyer. Depending on the particulars of your case, there are a number of various sorts of compensation that we might be able to assist you in obtaining. The compensation you might be entitled to is discussed in the following paragraphs. After that, call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
The Two Major Types of Damages You Can Obtain Assistance With
The purpose of wrongful death damages is to make up for the value of the financial support that would have been reasonable to have been expected from the deceased had they lived. Compensatory damages may be used to offset both financial and nonfinancial losses. We discuss each of these monetary losses in more detail below.
The plaintiff’s life expectancy at the time of the unlawful conduct or the life expectancy likely at the time of the death is the shorter of the following periods during which such damages may be claimed. After taking into account all pertinent factors, including health, way of life, and employment, the jury must determine the life expectancy.
Financial Losses
The following are examples of “economic damages,” sometimes known as financial losses, in California: the absence of benefits or gifts that the deceased’s heirs could have anticipated from them during their lifetimes, the absence of the financial support the deceased would have offered the family during their lifetimes, funeral and burial costs, and the fair market value of the deceased’s domestic services.
Although there are other sorts of economic losses, these are the most typical.
Non-economic Losses
Compensation for the loss of the deceased’s care, love, spiritual support, instruction, and sexual interactions might be considered non-economic damages. There are no predetermined standards for calculating noneconomic damages in wrongful death lawsuits in California. Any amount that is reasonable can be awarded by a jury based on the evidence and common sense.
Amounts for the heir’s grief, sadness, or pain and suffering as a result of the loss of a loved one are not considered noneconomic damages.
Punitive Damages
According to California law, an heir cannot seek punitive damages in the majority of wrongful death cases. The sole exception is if the victim was killed in a criminal murder case for which the perpetrator was found guilty. Yet, if the decedent’s estate brings a “survival action,” severe fines may be possible. Contact a wrongful death attorney in Riverside, California right now to learn more about that and other possibilities. Call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
