Wrongful Death Lawyer in Riverside, CA

Contact Us

Losing a loved one is never easy, but it is even worse when their death was caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. When you work with a wrongful death lawyer in Riverside, CA, you need an experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate advocate to be on your side.

At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we understand the grief, confusion, and anger you may be experiencing during this painful time. Our bilingual team is dedicated to supporting you with care. Consult with a fatal injury lawyer from our offices to learn more about how we can help you pursue compensation to ease the financial burdens you have during your time of grief. Do not delay and miss out on your opportunity to pursue justice.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

When a loved one dies due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, their surviving family members and dependents may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the person or entity responsible. While money cannot soothe the grief of losing a loved one, pursuing compensation may help those left behind by removing the financial burden left by the medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and lost income that occurs after a death. They also may get a sense of closure by pursuing justice against those who caused this tragedy.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Riverside, CA?

Under California law, only certain people connected to the deceased may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim and receive compensation for their losses. The following individuals are generally eligible under the Code of Civil Procedure Article 6, Wrongful Death 377.60:

  • Surviving spouse or domestic partner
  • Surviving children
  • Parents of the deceased
  • Dependent stepchildren or other minors living with the deceased
  • Legal heirs or next of kin
  • The personal representative of the deceased’s estate

If you are unsure whether you can file a claim or if someone else should do it on behalf of the family, our legal team can review your situation and relationship to the deceased and help you determine your eligibility. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

In California, the statute of limitations (the time you have to file for a wrongful death claim) is generally two years from the date of your loved one’s death. Some exceptions may apply depending on the unique details of your case, such as deaths involving government entities or delayed discovery of details. If you miss the deadline to file your claim, you could be permanently barred from receiving any compensation for your losses.

As with the general rule for any claims after a personal injury, you should get started working on your wrongful death claim as soon as possible. The longer you have before the statute of limitations kicks in, the better chances you may have at building the strongest possible case of evidence to receive the maximum amount of compensation. Evidence does not stick around forever, and factors like witness testimony can degrade with time, losing details that may be vital to supporting your claim of negligence.

If you have further questions about your eligibility to file a claim, check out our frequently asked questions that our wrongful death attorneys have compiled from our extensive experience with past clients. If your question is not fully answered there, contact our team for a free case review, and we can evaluate your specific situation for individually tailored advice.

Wrongful Death Claims for Missing Persons in Riverside County

If you are filing a wrongful death claim for a missing person, you may have to wait longer, since there is a mandatory five-year waiting period that families must go through before a presumptive death certificate is granted.

However, you can consult with a wrongful death lawyer at any time to discuss your options and the timeline. Taking proactive steps as soon as you are able may help in compiling evidence and beginning the process of strategically documenting your claim.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas?

Founded in 1995, our firm has built a strong reputation throughout Riverside County and the surrounding areas for delivering results with empathy and professionalism. Our team of legal advocates is dedicated to supporting clients through the challenges of pursuing justice after the traumatic loss of a loved one and will work tirelessly to pursue the maximum compensation possible for your claim.

We Understand How Insurance Companies Operate

Founding attorney Fernando D. Vargas began his legal career in 1987, working as a defense attorney for insurance companies, and uses that insider knowledge to outmaneuver their tactics and maximize client compensation.

We Focus on Client Success and Care

Our team works to be available 24/7 to answer your questions and offer individualized guidance and advice. Read through our past cases to see how we have supported clients in situations just like yours. Our success rate is seen not just in our large settlement amounts, but also through our client testimonials.

We Offer Legal Services in English and Spanish

Our team also proudly serves the Hispanic population throughout Riverside County. We believe that everyone deserves legal representation and clear communication of what is happening throughout their claim. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas is fluent in Spanish, along with many of our bilingual team members, to ensure that communication remains easily understood, no matter the language barrier.

No Upfront Costs So You Can Pursue Compensation Without Worry

Our wrongful death lawyers offer free, no-obligation case consultations so you can determine if you have the makings of a claim. After consulting with us, we will lay out our fee structure, which is based on a contingency fee structure. This means you do not pay anything upfront, and you owe nothing unless we successfully settle your claim or win your lawsuit. 

We attempt to make this process easy for you by eliminating any of our up-front costs, giving you less risk and less worry while you pursue financial support during this tenuous time. Our Riverside County wrongful death attorneys want to make sure you understand all your legal options so you can make the best possible choices for your family.

Common Causes of Fatal Injuries Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Handle

Our law firm represents families and loved ones in all types of fatal accidents stemming from negligence, including:

  • Fatal Car Accidents: From crashes on dangerous California State Highways to unusual car accidents, we help you hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions.
  • Semi-Truck and Commercial Driver Crashes: When commercial trucking or delivery companies fail in their duty of care, we pursue justice on behalf of those left behind.
  • Deadly Motorcycle Accidents: Riverside County ranks in the top five counties in California for motorcycle fatalities, with the last reporting year having 30 deaths associated with this accident type. Our wrongful death attorneys fight for maximum compensation for these types of collisions with the goal of lowering these statistics and helping families recover.
  • Pedestrian Deaths in Vehicle Crashes: Pedestrians and bicyclists are often the most vulnerable, leading to serious injuries and traffic accident deaths. Our team stands with victims and their families.
  • Train and Mass Transit Fatalities: We handle complex wrongful death claims involving local transit agencies, such as Amtrak and Metrolink.
  • Premises Liability Deaths: When unsafe conditions in a business, home, or public place contribute to someone’s death, we can help surviving dependents and family members file a claim against the property owner. These claims can include situations such as slip-and-fall accidents, fatal drowning and swimming pool accidents, and fire and electrical accidents.
  • Fatal Workplace and Construction Accidents: We represent both workers and bystanders who are harmed by unsafe job-site conditions and employer negligence.
  • Deadly Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: If someone dies due to injuries caused by a negligent pet owner, their loved ones may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. Dog bites and animal attacks are particularly dangerous in cases involving vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens and children.

Whatever the situation your loved one was in when they died, we can help you understand your legal rights and whether you are able to file a claim. We will investigate the circumstances of the fatal accident thoroughly to determine liability and build a strong case of evidence against those at fault. Contact a wrongful death attorney at our office today to discuss your specific situation.

Calculating the Comprehensive Value of Your Wrongful Death Claim

The value of a wrongful death claim can vary greatly depending on the facts of your unique case. Speaking with a wrongful death lawyer may help you gain a better understanding of your potential recovery. Compensation may be recoverable for factors such as:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • End-of-life care and medical costs prior to death
  • Loss of financial support
  • Loss of future earnings and benefits
  • Emotional turmoil and mental anguish
  • Loss of companionship and consortium
  • Property damage

These types differ from survival actions, which pursue compensation for the losses suffered by the deceased while they were living. Speak with our wrongful death attorney to determine your legal rights and the best possible timeline for pursuing these methods of compensation for your and your family’s losses.

Survival Actions vs. Wrongful Death Lawsuits

There are multiple ways that survivors of the deceased can pursue compensation after a tragic accident claims a life. It may be possible for you to pursue both types of claims at the same time. Wrongful death lawsuits provide compensation to family members for personal losses after a death, such as the loss of income for a dependant, end-of-life hospital bills, burial expenses, and the pain of lost companionship. 

Survival actions seek compensation on behalf ot the deceased’s estate for any losses occurring before death. These can include medical bills for the extent of the attempted recovery, pain and suffering on behalf of the accident victim, and potentially punitive damages. The payout from survival actions will go directly to the deceased’s estate to be portioned out according to their will or the state, depending on the existence of an estate plan.

Can I File a Wrongful Death Claim If the Deceased Was Partially At Fault?

Some states bar injury victims from recovering compensation if they share any amount of fault for the accident. However, California law follows the pure comparative negligence rule, meaning that you can still recover damages if your loved one was partially responsible for their deadly accident. Then, whatever percentage of fault the court finds will be used to reduce the final payout.

Because the percentage of found fault can dramatically affect your payout, working with a strong, experienced legal team is recommended to best support your side of the story. An example of this is if a loved one died in a car accident with a drunk driver. If your loved one had a taillight out, causing the drunk driver a small amount of difficulty seeing your vehicle, their legal team may attempt to overemphasize the importance of this, shifting the negligence from their client and onto the deceased.

With his experience working for insurance companies, attorney Fernando D. Vargas is familiar with the tactics used to minimize payouts and will work to make sure you get the maximum amount you and your family deserve.

Contact an Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyer in Riverside, CA

At the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, our wrongful death lawyers are dedicated to helping you find closure and justice during this difficult time in your life. We handle all the legal details and make sure you understand what is happening so you can focus on healing and processing your grief. 

Contact us online for a free case consultation with an experienced, compassionate wrongful death lawyer to get your questions answered today. With our fee structures and free initial consultation, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by speaking with one of our team members. Do not delay in getting started and miss out on your opportunity for fair compensation.