West Covina Wrongful Death Lawyer

West Covina Wrongful Death Attorney

If you’ve recently lost a loved one in an accident, it’s important to understand your legal options. The good news is that a West Covina wrongful death lawyer from Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, A Professional Corporation, can help. It’s not enough for someone you love to die to be able to file a wrongful death claim; you must be able to prove that another party was at fault for the death.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Wrongful death cases can stem from any number of incidents. For example, motor vehicle accidents are a large source of accidental fatal injuries recorded in California. There are many things that can factor into the risk for accidents on the road, including bad driving conditions, poorly maintained roads, and vehicle malfunctions.

Amongst everything else, however, driver behavior often has the biggest impact on car crashes in California. In 2022, the state reported 6,291 alcohol-related crashes alone. Speeding is another huge issue that plays into the high volume of motor vehicle accidents reported in California. In fact, approximately 34 percent of traffic fatalities recorded in the state each year are related to speeding or other aggressive driving behaviors.

Other common types of wrongful death cases that our legal team has handled have involved premises liability incidents and workplace injuries.

Premises liability law encompasses a wide array of situations that result in one party being seriously harmed or injured on another party’s property. California property owners have a responsibility to maintain their property to a reasonable standard, and they’re responsible for things on said property, too.

Workplace injuries are another common cause of personal injury and wrongful death claims in California. There were a total of 439 fatal incidents in California workplaces reported in 2023 alone. Typically, these types of cases are handled through the victim’s employer. They typically offer workers’ compensation benefits that cover vital expenses in extraneous circumstances.

In many cases, wrongful deaths from workplace incidents are settled using the employees’ compensation benefits. That said, it’s possible for situations to arise wherein you may wish to seek further legal action.

If you lose a loved one in a construction accident, you have to navigate some unique laws when filing a claim. For example, the statute of limitations for construction defects can extend all the way to 10 years from an incident.

Medical malpractice cases can also result in wrongful death claims. You usually have up to three years from the date of the incident to file a medical malpractice claim in California. Otherwise, the statute of limitations for most wrongful death claims is two years.

Your Local West Covina Wrongful Death Attorney

Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, A Professional Corporation, has been settling personal injury and wrongful death claims throughout Los Angeles County for more than 40 years. Our West Covina wrongful death attorneys are familiar with negotiations and litigation alike, so we’re confident we can see your case through to the end.

You can count on our team to offer quality services that are tailored to your needs and to have the tools and resources to see your case through until the end. With our legal experience and skills, we’re confident we can come up with a personalized strategy that addresses your losses and secures you the settlement you deserve.

FAQs

Do I Have to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer to File a Claim in West Covina?

You’re not legally required to hire a wrongful death lawyer to file a claim in West Covina, but it can be highly beneficial to your case to consult with a legal professional instead of trying to do everything by yourself. A West Covina wrongful death attorney can assess your claim and identify ways to strengthen it, so you secure the maximum amount of compensation for your losses.

What Are the Odds of Winning a Wrongful Death Case in West Covina?

The odds of winning a wrongful death case in West Covina depend on the details of the case. Being successful in a wrongful death case involves presenting a strong case backed by evidence. Your goal is to prove that, more likely than not, the opposing party caused the death of your loved one and to demonstrate the extent of the damages you’ve suffered from the loss.

What Is the Average Settlement for Wrongful Death Claims in West Covina?

There isn’t an exact amount for the average settlement for a wrongful death claim in West Covina because settlements vary. The amount you can recover in a wrongful death settlement ultimately depends on the strength of your case and your ability to establish the other party’s fault. You can recover both economic and non-economic damages from a wrongful death claim in California.

This includes burial and funeral costs, loss of companionship or consortium, loss of the victim’s future income, medical bills, the victim’s pain and suffering, and any other related losses associated with the incident.

What Are the Most Recent Updates to California Wrongful Death Laws?

The most recent updates to California wrongful death laws were changes to the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) of 1975. Assembly Bill 35 was signed into law in 2022 and made significant changes to MICRA.

Among those changes was an increase in the cap for non-economic damages and a two percent annual increase for every year the settlement goes unpaid to adjust for inflation. The updates also increased the percentage amount lawyers are allowed to collect as their contingency fee.

Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer to Help With Your Case in West Covina

It can be overwhelming to take care of everything on your own in the wake of a wrongful death. The good news is you can let a West Covina wrongful death attorney guide you through the process.

Our team at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, A Professional Corporation, can use our decades of experience to help build your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Call our office to set up an appointment with a trusted West Covina wrongful death attorney today.