A wrongful death lawsuit is a special type of personal injury claim that is filed by the survivors of a deceased person who met his or her death through the negligence of another party. This special type of lawsuit can only be filed by certain people under certain conditions in California, unlike other types of civil suits. If you believe you may have a wrongful death claim against a negligent party, it is very important to understand the limitations of these types of cases before taking action.
Under California law, a limited number of people are allowed to file wrongful death lawsuits. Only the legal representative of the deceased person’s estate or certain relatives can bring this type of lawsuit. A wrongful death suit may be brought whether or not there is a criminal case pending regarding the person’s death.
Specifically, the people who are permitted by California law to file a wrongful death lawsuit include:
There are several types of damages available to those who win a wrongful death lawsuit. These include:
Most wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of the death of the victim. If you have experienced the loss of a family member, it is important to act quickly to file a wrongful death claim. Contact Daniel M. Gilleon in San Diego today for more information on how you may be able to recover compensation for the loss of your loved one.