Riverside Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing a loved one is one of the most painful experiences anyone will ever go through. When that death was the result of another person’s negligence or malice, your loss can be even harder to come to terms with. Under California state law, surviving family members can hold another person accountable for the death of a loved one. Wrongful death claims have strict limitations, which is why it’s important to work with a wrongful death attorney with experience in this type of claim.

If you’ve lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence, it’s time to talk to the team of seasoned California wrongful death lawyers at Knez Law Group, LLP.

Knez Law Group, LLP is located at 3890 Tenth St Riverside, CA 92501 and is located near Market St & Tenth St just a half mile away from the Mission Inn (open in Google Maps). We’ve been serving Southern California for over 30 years and can help you pursue the maximum available compensation for wrongful death claims. Call us now at 951-742-7681 to schedule a FREE consultation with an attorney or submit a contact form an will contact you right away.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death Cases

Wrongful death can occur in many different situations. Most wrongful death claims arise out of:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace accidents
• Defective products
• Criminal acts

Elements of a Wrongful Death Claim

Before you can recover any compensation for a loved one’s wrongful death, you must prove these four elements exist:

• Duty of care: The person who caused your loved one’s death must have owed them a duty of care. This looks different for each type of claim. For example, in a defective product claim, a manufacturer has a duty of care to consumers. They are legally obligated to take reasonable steps to ensure their products’ safety.
• Breach of duty: The party in question must have breached that duty. Continuing with the defective product example, you might show that the manufacturer skipped required safety testing or knew about the defect and chose to move forward with selling the product anyway.
• Causation: The other party’s negligence must have played a direct role in your loved one’s death.
• Measurable damages: Your loved one’s death must have resulted in measurable damages. Your damages may include burial expenses, loss of emotional support, loss of financial support, and mental anguish.

Who Can File in California?

Each state has specific laws regarding who can file a wrongful death claim. In California, the decedent’s surviving spouse or domestic partner may file a claim against the liable party. Their surviving children may also pursue a wrongful death claim. If the decedent did not have a spouse, domestic partner, or children, those who would be entitled to their property under intestate succession laws may file a wrongful death lawsuit.

In addition to those listed above, people who were financially dependent on the deceased party can take legal action. This group includes the decedent’s stepchildren, parents, putative spouse, and the children of the putative spouse. A putative spouse is one who believes they are or were married to someone but was not actually legally married.

There are also time limits on wrongful death claims. The statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in California is two years from the date of the decedent’s death.

Compensation You May Receive

A wrongful death claim aims to make surviving loved ones whole after a death. Unfortunately, no amount of money can truly make you whole after the loss of someone close to you. This is the only option in a civil suit, though, so your losses must be measured financially. Potential compensation available to surviving loved ones includes:

• Financial support the deceased party would have provided had they lived
• The decedent’s funeral and burial expenses
• Household services the decedent provided
• Benefits the decedent would have provided
• Loss of love, companionship, comfort, and assistance
• Loss of moral support
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of guidance

Why You Should Choose Knez Law Group, LLP

You are going through so much right now—your grief and shock are likely making it hard to even think about taking legal action. After a traumatizing loss, it can be even more painful for surviving loved ones to discuss a wrongful death claim and try to put a dollar amount on their friend’s or family member’s death.

That’s why it’s important to work with a wrongful death attorney from the beginning, such as Knez Law in Riverside. Because we are not personally involved in your case, we can approach it objectively and handle the challenging legal aspects of your loss. Not only does this protect you from difficult conversations about the value of your loss, it gives you more space to grieve and process what you have gone through.

We understand how devastating a loved one’s death can be, and we know firsthand how it can turn your life upside down. We’re committed to advocating for you during this time.

Start Your Claim by Reaching Out Today

Are you ready to start your wrongful death claim? The team of experienced Riverside wrongful death lawyers at Knez Law Group is here to support you. Claim your free consultation by reaching out online or calling us at 951-742-7681.