Wrongful Death Cases

Dilligent, Effective representation for Wrongful Death Victims

If a loved one has passed away due to the fault of someone else, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

At the Southern California Personal Injury Law Offices of Doan Law Firm, our attorneys know how to maximize financial recoveries for survivors, and we are sensitive to the unique issues raised in fatality cases.

Wrongful Death survivors

The first issue is to determine the identities of the rightful claimants. Not everyone can recover in a wrongful death situation. California wrongful death law only gives standing to bring a wrongful death action to certain people.

In California wrongful death cases, the surviving spouse, putative spouse, domestic partner, children, children of deceased children, financial dependents of the decedent, or those people who would be entitled to the property of the decedent under the rules of intestate succession (in other words, the people who would inherit the decedent's property if there was no will), will qualify for a personal injury claim.

The next issue is to determine the appropriate damages recoverable in the case. Under the law, a wrongful death claimant might be entitled to economic damages for lost support, medical expenses, anticipated gifts, funeral and burial expenses, as well as non-economic damages for the loss of the care, comfort, society, training, advice, protection, and companionship of their lost loved one.

To properly document wrongful death cases, and to achieve the largest recovery possible, we employ economists, vocational counselors and other experts as needed.