Help for Sacramento Families Grieving the Wrongful Death of a Loved One
Empowering Sacramento Families: Taking Legal Action After a Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one unexpectedly is devastating. At Curtis Legal Group, our experienced injury lawyers understand the heartbreak and confusion you’re experiencing right now.
But here’s the thing: You don’t have to face this alone.
Families like yours often feel lost and unsure of how to hold the responsible party accountable.
Our experienced attorneys can help by taking the burden off grieving families by:
- Handling the investigation. We dive deep into the details, collecting crucial evidence, interviewing witnesses, and working with experts to uncover the truth about your loved one’s passing.
- Building a strong case. We meticulously prepare every aspect of your claim, ensuring it’s backed by solid evidence and legal strategy.
- Fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve. Whether it’s through negotiation or litigation, we are relentless in pursuing justice on your behalf.
Imagine the relief of knowing that every legal detail is being handled with care and precision, giving you the time and space to focus on healing.
Table of Contents
- How We Help Grieving Families
- The Difference between Wrongful Death Civil Lawsuit and Criminal Suit
- What Qualifies as Wrongful Death
- Requirements for Filing a Wrongful Death
- California Wrongful Death Damages
- Get a Free Case Evaluation
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyers: How We Help Grieving Families
We conduct thorough investigations, leaving no stone unturned to uncover the facts surrounding your loved one’s passing. This includes gathering evidence, consulting with experts, and building a timeline of events to establish fault.
We identify all responsible parties, ensuring that anyone who contributed to the wrongful death is held accountable. This could include individuals, corporations, or multiple entities involved.
We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to secure the compensation you deserve, standing firm against tactics designed to minimize your claim.
And if necessary, we’ll take your case to court, leveraging our experience to fight for justice.
Here’s why that matters.
From filing a claim to negotiating settlements, we handle every step so you can focus on what matters most—healing.
With Curtis Legal Group, justice is within reach. We’ve seen family members develop a sense of closure, knowing that their loved one’s memory has been honored through justice.
The legal process can provide answers and accountability, and peace of mind that the responsible party has been held accountable, ensuring that their negligence or misconduct does not harm another family.
That’s the future we want to help you create—because your loved one’s legacy deserves nothing less.
What’s the Difference Between a Civil Wrongful Death Lawsuit and Criminal Case?
Wrongful death describes the “death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another” under the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Wrongful death occurs when someone is killed due to the misconduct or negligence of a person or entity. Wrongful death is a cause of action under civil law. When someone files a wrongful death lawsuit, they are seeking to collect financial compensation for the loss of their loved one.
Depending on the cause of death, criminal charges could be filed against the responsible parties, but those legal proceedings are conducted independently of a civil wrongful death case.
A favorable result in a wrongful death civil lawsuit results in financial compensation to the victim’s survivors and cannot not send a responsible party to jail for their actions.
A criminal case would be initiated by a government entity and only that type of case could involve criminal penalties.
What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death occurs when the deceased person loses their life due to the negligence or misconduct of another party. While not all activities people engage in carry the same amount of risk, some inherently dangerous activities are often part of everyday life.
When these activities result in a fatal accident, surviving family members may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. Common causes of wrongful death include:
- Car accidents
- Big truck accidents
- Unsafe work conditions
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
In these cases, the at-fault party may have violated their duty of care by failing to act responsibly or address hazards that could have prevented the tragedy.
For example, in car and truck accidents, reckless or impaired driving often plays a significant role. Similarly, unsafe work conditions may stem from employers neglecting safety protocols.
Filing a wrongful death claim with the help of our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys can help you and your family recover compensation for their losses.
These losses often include medical bills, burial expenses, loss of income, and emotional suffering.
Our experienced injury attorneys are committed to seeking justice for grieving families by holding the responsible party accountable and helping survivors secure the financial stability they need to move forward.
Requirements for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in California
By law, California only allows certain individuals to file a wrongful death suit. These individuals include:
- surviving spouses,
- qualified domestic partners,
- children, and;
- grandchildren.
Parents may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim for an adult child if they were financially dependent on them. In certain other situations, parents may also qualify to seek justice for their child’s untimely death.
Others may also be eligible to file a wrongful death claim if they stand to inherit from the deceased individual through intestate succession—meaning the person passed away without leaving a will or trust.
Additionally, individuals who were financially dependent on the deceased before their death may also qualify to file a claim. This can include those who relied on the deceased for essential support, such as housing, food, or other financial assistance.
In California, a wrongful death action can be initiated by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate or any of the following people:
- Surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Children
- Grandchildren (of deceased children)
- Parents (if the deceased had no children)
- Legal guardian (if parents are deceased)
- Persons economically dependent on the decedent
California law recognizes the importance of ensuring that all individuals who suffered financial or familial losses have a chance to seek justice. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, our legal team can help clarify your rights.
California Wrongful Death Damages
For a wrongful death case to be valid in the State of California, your personal injury lawyers must present evidence of the types of damages that resulted from your loved one’s passing.
These damages can include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the easiest to quantify and often include medical expenses, funeral expenses, and the loss of the deceased’s future earnings. Losing a loved one who provided income to the household can create a significant financial burden for surviving family members.
Non-economic damages, such as the loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and emotional suffering, are equally important components of a wrongful death claim. These damages recognize the emotional toll and loss of love and support experienced by the surviving family.
In cases of extreme negligent actions , recklessness, or misconduct, punitive damages may also be pursued to hold the responsible party accountable and deter similar behavior in the future.
As your wrongful death lawyers, we will leave no stone unturned, fighting to recover the maximum compensation for your family’s financial and emotional losses. Our team will ensure every loss is acknowledged and valued in your claim.
When You Contact Curtis Legal Group, You’ll Receive a Free Consultation: Here’s What to Expect
During the case evaluation, our law firm will carefully review all the details surrounding your loved one’s passing to determine the best path forward for your family. Then, we’ll provide tailored legal advice to help you understand your options. You’ll gain clarity on the legal process and the steps necessary to pursue justice against the negligent party responsible for your loss.
Establishing an attorney-client relationship with our team means you’ll have dedicated advocates by your side every step of the way.
And here’s our promise—there are no upfront fees.
Our team operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t pay a dime unless we win your case. This ensures that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, has access to the legal representation they deserve.
However, time is of the essence.
California law imposes strict deadlines on wrongful death claims. The Statute of Limitations for filing is 2 years.
The longer you wait, the less time our attorneys have to conduct a thorough investigation and build a strong case. If you don’t act quickly, you could lose your chance to file a claim.
Don’t let legal deadlines jeopardize your family’s future. Take the first step toward justice and financial security.
Call Curtis Legal Group at 1-800-LAW-3080 or click below to schedule your free consultation.
With no upfront costs, no risk, and a team of proven lawyers ready to fight for you, there’s no reason to wait.