Anaheim Wrongful Death Lawyer
Anaheim Wrongful Death Attorney
The laws of California allow individuals who have suffered injuries and other losses due to the negligent actions of others to secure compensation for these losses. A personal injury claim is the standard method of securing compensatory damages after another party has injured you due to their failure to act with reasonable care. Unfortunately, victims of personal injuries do not always survive these experiences.
When a personal injury victim dies, their surviving loved ones can pursue a wrongful death action in lieu of the personal injury claim the deceased could have filed had they survived. While a wrongful death claim is very similar to a personal injury claim in several ways, a few key differences are essential to understand these legal matters. An experienced Anaheim wrongful death attorney is a valuable resource when your family has just experienced a sudden death of a loved one caused by another party’s negligence.
Why Do I Need an Anaheim Wrongful Death Attorney?
No matter how simple and straightforward a wrongful death claim might be, there are countless ways for any legal matter to escalate into a highly complicated situation. Professional legal guidance on your side can ensure more streamlined legal proceedings and a clearer understanding of one’s legal options. Attempting to navigate any civil claim without legal representation, especially one as sensitive as a wrongful death claim, is a very risky decision.
A claimant with no legal training or professional experience may miss court filing deadlines, make procedural errors, or submit inaccurate or incomplete court paperwork that delays or even jeopardizes their claim. The Anaheim wrongful death lawyers at Easton & Easton can provide reliable and compassionate legal counsel when your family needs it most.
Why Hire Easton & Easton?
When you need a wrongful death attorney in Anaheim, CA to assist you in your claim, it is essential to choose a legal representative with solid experience handling cases like yours. The attorneys at Easton & Easton have more than 100 years of combined legal experience practicing civil law in California. We are confident in our ability to successfully represent the most complicated wrongful death claims on behalf of our clients.
Should you choose Easton & Easton as your Anaheim wrongful death lawyers, you can rest assured our team will leverage the full weight of our resources and experience to assist in your claim. We know how devastating a wrongful death can be for any family and provide compassionate, individualized legal representation to every client we accept. Our team can review your wrongful death claim and help you approach the situation with greater confidence.
Proven Case Results
We recently settled a wrongful death case for $2.75 million where the decedent was 55 years old with no wife or children, just two surviving parents in their 80s. The defendants’ insurance carrier initially expected to pay no more than $250,000 to settle the case of these 80-year-old parents who had no economic losses as a result of their son’s death. But because we demonstrated the unique bond these parents shared with their son by persuasively telling their family story, we were able to significantly increase the value of their case. After seeing how we would present this elderly couple’s case before a jury, the insurance company knew that taking the matter to trial could result in a substantially higher verdict based on our advocacy. Consequently, we were able to settle the case for an amount far in excess of our clients’ wildest dreams without them having to go through the pain and ordeal of a lengthy trial.
California’s Wrongful Death Laws
The California Code of Civil Procedure includes clear rules pertaining to the rights of personal injury victims in Anaheim, CA. Whenever a party causes a personal injury to another, the liable party is responsible for the injured party’s damages. In a typical personal injury case, the injured plaintiff files a Complaint with the help of an attorney, and the defendant has the opportunity to respond.
Wrongful death claims effectively replace personal injury claims when victims do not survive their injuries.
California upholds specific rules for wrongful death claims, including who may file them and the types of damages they can secure should they succeed with their claims. California state law allows the surviving spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, or sibling to file a wrongful death claim. If the deceased does not have any close relatives, an extended family member who would have a claim on the deceased’s estate through intestate succession laws may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim instead. It is also possible for anyone with a valid claim on the contents of the deceased’s estate and/or financial dependency on the deceased to file a wrongful death claim.
The damages in a wrongful death claim typically exist in three forms: damages that would have been paid to the deceased had they survived, damages incurred by the deceased’s estate as the results of the death, and damages incurred by the deceased’s surviving loved ones. A successful wrongful death claim could potentially yield:
- Compensation for medical expenses the deceased incurred during their final injury or illness.
- Compensation for the funeral and burial expenses paid out of the deceased’s estate.
- Survivor benefits, which compensate surviving family members’ loss of affection, companionship, and love.
- Economic damages for losses incurred by the deceased’s estate due to the wrongful death.
In some cases, a wrongful death claim may also yield additional compensation in the form of restitution, punitive damages, or exemplary damages. California judges award such damages at their own discretion when a defendant’s behavior was intentionally harmful or beyond the scope of general negligence.
Proving Fault for a Wrongful Death and Winning Your Case in Anaheim, CA
A wrongful death claim will follow a similar framework to a personal injury claim. The plaintiff of a wrongful death claim must prove that the defendant was responsible for the death in question. This typically requires proving negligence, or that the defendant failed to use reasonable care in a way that contributed to or directly caused the death. Some wrongful death claims filed by victims’ surviving loved ones run in tandem with criminal proceedings filed by the state against the defendant.
Wrongful death claims can be the best method for families to secure the compensation they need to recover from the financial losses resulting from a loved one’s unexpected death. While financial compensation cannot replace a lost loved one, holding the party responsible for the death legally accountable and providing additional economic relief to the family can allow them to mourn with security and peace of mind.
The Anaheim wrongful death attorneys at Easton & Easton understand how difficult it is to try and handle complex legal proceedings while you are also emotionally processing the loss of your loved one. We provide the compassionate legal counsel you need to handle the matter as swiftly and effectively as possible. Contact Easton & Easton today to schedule a case evaluation with an experienced Anaheim wrongful death lawyer and learn more about your family’s legal options.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.
Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.
Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!
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