Wrongful Death: Losing a Loved One Because of Negligence
It is never easy to lose a loved on, but when that loved one is lost as the result of someone else’s negligence, it is especially devastating. To make matters worse, while you are mourning your loss and trying to make sense of how this could happen, you may also be struggling with huge medical bills and funeral expenses, which is the last thing you need to be dealing with. You and your family members may be so overwhelmed that you can’t even think about seeking compensation for the wrongful death of your loved one. While it is obviously difficult, this is exactly the time to be thinking of compensation. It is in your best interest and the best interest of your family to hire a personal injury attorney who specifically handles these types of cases. They can fight for you and help make certain you get the full extent of the compensation that you are entitled to for the untimely death of your loved one.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
Wrongful death lawsuits can be filed by most of the deceased’s family members, including the spouse, child or parent. Common causes of wrongful death lawsuits include:
- Truck accidents – Every year in the U.S., almost 3,500 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks. The majority of these deaths are passenger vehicle occupants.
- Bus accidents – There are nearly 300 fatal bus accidents each year. Although bus accidents may not be that common, they are catastrophic and generally involve serious injuries and fatalities when they do occur.
- Medical malpractice – Medical negligence is among the leading causes of wrongful death.
- Workplace injuries – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that approximately 4,400 workplace fatalities occur every year. The majority of these workplace fatalities occur in the construction industry.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
You only have a certain time period (known as the statute of limitations) to file a wrongful death lawsuit after losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. Each state has its own statute of limitations for wrongful death cases. In California, the statute of limitations varies based on the circumstances and can range from one to three years, so it is imperative that you consult with a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to discuss the specifics of your case. If you fail to file within the appropriate time period, you will be barred from ever filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation for your loss.
If you have suffered the untimely death of a loved one due to the negligent actions of another, you need to hire an experienced attorney to protect your legal rights. We at Vahdat & Aboudi have extensive experience and knowledge to aggressively fight for your rights and make sure you get the full extent of monetary compensation that you deserve.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys, please call us at 1-800-BUT-4-LAW.