Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer

Sacramento wrongful death lawyer

A wrongful death claim is more than just a lawsuit. The sudden and senseless death of a loved one impacts the family in countless ways, and no wrongful death suit, settlement or jury verdict can ever replace the loss that family feels every single day.  A Sacramento wrongful death lawyer must be more than legal representation – he or she must be an advocate and counselor, a lion in the courtroom and a lamb with his clients. But above all, he must be a human being who understands every aspect of what it means to lose a loved one or family members.

Your Wrongful Death Case

Justice is not just something that occurs in a legal procedure.  It is a process that involves a lot of questions, answers, guidance and support.  Our Sacramento personal injury attorneys understand this process and we are there for you and your family throughout this process and beyond.  Our mission is to fight for you and with you, and to preserve justice for the one whose memory will remain with you forever.

Why Clients Hire Our Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyers

  • We have secured record-breaking results for our past clients. With hard work, we aim to achieve the best possible results for grieving loved ones.
  • We have seasoned trial lawyers who do not hesitate at the thought of taking a defendant to court. Our expert wrongful death lawyers can go to trial in Sacramento County, if necessary.
  • We take all wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis. We do not charge families legal fees if they do not recover financial compensation.

What Is Wrongful Death in California?

Every death is tragic, but not all are wrongful. For a death to meet the definition of wrongful death under California law, someone else’s neglect or wrongful act must have caused it. An individual or entity must have failed to apply the appropriate level of care to the situation, resulting in a preventable fatal accident. In other words, your loved one’s death would not have happened were it not for the defendant’s negligent actions or omissions.

Who is Accountable for a Family Member’s Death?

All states including California provide legal remedies for wrongful death cases. The negligent party who was the cause of the wrongful death of another can be held accountable for pain and suffering of the survivors, compensation for loss of earnings of the deceased, recovery of present and future financial losses due to the loved one’s death, reimbursement for burial and funeral expenses, reimbursement of medical expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the wrongful death of a loved one.

  • A driver
  • A doctor
  • A criminal
  • An employer
  • A business owner
  • A product manufacturer
  • A property owner
  • Multiple parties

For surviving family members to succeed in obtaining special and general compensatory damages, the plaintiff’s attorney must prove the fault of the defendant. If you file a claim, your lawyer will have the responsibility of presenting enough evidence to prove to an insurance company or courtroom that a defendant caused your loved one’s death. In general, proving fault requires four main elements: duty, breach, causation and damages.

Who May Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Sacramento, California?

It is not enough to have loved or been close to the person who died. To file a wrongful death claim, you must have the legal right to do so under state statute. Only certain family members have the right to seek damages for wrongful death. In the state of California, a wrongful death claim can be brought by, surviving spouse/children, parents or siblings, a domestic partner and anyone who is financially dependent on the deceased person.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death

Under California’s fault laws, it is generally necessary to prove the fault of another person to obtain compensation for damages. You cannot prove fault, however, until you understand the cause of your loved one’s fatal accident. Although there are many causes of wrongful death, the most common reasons include:

Financial Costs of a Wrongful Death Case

Filing a wrongful death claim is about more than just financial recovery. It is a way to honor your loved one by protecting his or her rights. A wrongful death claim gives your loved one a voice. Your relative may not be able to personally hold the at-fault party responsible, but your family can seek compensation on his or her behalf. In California, a family could receive compensation from a defendant for many economic and noneconomic damages connected to the death.

  • Future earnings – Income the deceased would have earned if wrongful death had not occurred.
  • Passing expenses – All costs associated with a passing (medical bills, funeral, burial expenses).
  • Retirement or pension – An untimely wrongful death can cut income from a retirement account.
  • Inheritance – Inheritance benefits can be cut.
  • Pain and Suffering – Your Sacramento wrongful death lawyer will be able to secure you compensation for the victim and their loved ones for the pain and suffering they experienced.
  • Punitive Damages – If the loss was caused from intentional acts or negligence by the responsible party, you will be eligible for financial compensation.
  • Loss of companionship – You might be eligible for monetary compensation for the loss of companionship provided by your family member or friend.

If you are wondering about the value of your family’s wrongful death claim, contact an experienced wrongful death attorney in Sacramento, CA to organize a consultation. We know no settlement or judgment award – no matter what its value – can make up for a death in the family. We hope, however, that a positive case result could provide your family with greater peace of mind with financial stability.

Sacramento wrongful death attorney

Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

Your family cannot wait too long to take legal action for wrongful death. California has a strict statute of limitations on wrongful death claims. If the plaintiff does not file within two years of the date of the deceased person’s death, the courts in California will most likely reject hearing the case. Two years is all you have to collect evidence, build a case and file a cause of action against a defendant in Sacramento County. Speed up the claims process as much as possible by hiring a lawyer right away – the day you suspect misconduct in connection with your loved one’s death.

Experienced Sacramento wrongful death attorney Eric Ratinoff has over thirty years of experience in wrongful death claims in Sacramento and throughout the country which have resulted from many different types of intentional or negligent conduct. He has handled complex cases involving medical malpractice, defective products, construction accidents, birth injuries, motorcycle accidents, and major medical misdiagnosis of diseases such as cancer or HIV.