Garden Grove Wrongful Death Lawyer
Garden Grove Wrongful Death Attorney
When someone causes an injury and/or economic loss to another party, the injured party has the right to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for their damages. However, when a personal injury is fatal, the victim’s surviving family may wonder whether they have any options for legal recourse against the party responsible for their loved one’s death. A wrongful death claim can effectively replace a personal injury claim when a victim of another party’s actions results in fatal injury. If someone’s negligence or intentional action recently caused the death of your loved one, you likely have grounds to file a wrongful death claim.
Wrongful death cases are very similar to personal injury claims in several ways with a few key differences. If you believe you have grounds for a wrongful death action, it’s vital to consult a Garden Grove wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. No matter how straightforward your claim may seem, the legal mechanisms you must handle to hold the at-fault party accountable will be much easier to manage with reliable legal counsel on your side.
Why Do I Need a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Garden Grove, CA?
You might assume you can hold the party responsible for your loved one’s death accountable on your own. Your Garden Grove family may be struggling financially due to the untimely death and the thought of taking on legal fees to pursue a wrongful death claim might seem to make an already challenging situation even more stressful. However, the reality is that you are far more likely to succeed with a wrongful death claim when you have experienced legal representation. The average person with no legal experience would likely struggle to fulfill the procedural requirements necessary for success with a wrongful death claim.
Hiring an experienced Garden Grove wrongful death lawyer will allow you and your family to focus on your everyday lives with greater confidence and peace of mind. Your legal team can handle your case proceedings on your behalf, helping you understand each phase of your case as it unfolds. Ultimately, hiring legal counsel not only improves your chances of success with your claim but is also likely to yield more compensation than you could otherwise obtain on your own.
Proving Fault for Wrongful Death Injury
Similar to a personal injury claim, a wrongful death claim requires the plaintiff to identify the party responsible for the death in question and to prove the at-fault party’s actions directly resulted in the death. It is not necessary to prove the defendant intended to cause the death. However, in the event a wrongful death occurs because of an intentional criminal action, the defendant will not only face a wrongful death claim from the deceased victim’s family but also criminal prosecution from the state.
Your Garden Grove wrongful death attorney can help you determine how the wrongful death occurred and assist you in gathering the evidence you may need to clearly establish fault for the death and the resulting damages to your family. Some of the most commonly cited causes of wrongful deaths in California include:
- Vehicle accidents. Fatal car accidents happen every day in California. Determining fault for a fatal accident may require obtaining traffic camera footage and eyewitness testimony from those who saw the accident occur.
- Workplace accidents. When an individual dies at work from an accident, their family likely has the right to seek workers’ compensation death benefits. However, they may have grounds for further legal action depending on the exact cause of the death and whether any party is directly responsible for causing it.
- Premises liability. Property owners must address foreseeable safety hazards on their properties as soon as they discover them. If your loved one died due to negligent care of private property, the property owner is likely liable for the wrongful death.
- Medical malpractice. Unfortunately, while many people rely on medical professionals every day to provide safe and effective care, medical errors and medical negligence are a leading cause of accidental deaths throughout the country.
Ultimately, success with any wrongful death claim requires identifying the party responsible for the death in question and providing proof of the damages the at-fault party caused to the decedent’s family. It’s important to note that a wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the victim’s family, including their lost financial support, household services, and care and affection provided by the deceased. If you believe you have grounds to seek compensation for damages incurred by the deceased’s estate, you could file a survival action in tandem with your wrongful death claim.
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.
Wrongful Death FAQs
Q: What Qualifies as a “Wrongful” Death?
A: A wrongful death occurs when one party’s negligence, carelessness, intentional misconduct, or reckless disregard for the safety of others results in the death of another person. If the victim would have qualified in filing a personal injury claim had they survived, their family likely has grounds to file a wrongful death claim.
Q: How Do You Determine Fault for a Wrongful Death?
A: Establishing liability for a wrongful death is similar to the process of proving fault for a personal injury. The plaintiff must identify the party or parties they believe to be responsible for the death in question, prove the defendant was negligent in some way that directly caused the death in question, and establish proof of the losses resulting from the death.
Q: Who Can File a Wrongful Death Suit in California?
A: California’s wrongful death law follows the state’s law of intestate succession when it comes to eligibility to file wrongful death claims. The deceased’s spouse or partner is typically first in line for the right to file a claim, followed by their children, parents, and other immediate family members. If they have no family but have named a personal representative, this party may file a wrongful death claim, followed by anyone who can prove financial dependence on the deceased or a valid legal claim to the deceased’s estate.
Q: How Long Will a Wrongful Death Case Take?
A: Wrongful death claims may take several months to resolve depending on the availability of evidence and whether the defendant accepts liability for the death. Some cases can be resolved relatively quickly with compelling evidence. Your Garden Grove wrongful death lawyer can provide a reasonable estimate of the timetable your case is likely to follow.
Easton & Easton have years of experience representing clients in wrongful death claims, and we can provide the meticulous and compassionate representation you need in this difficult situation. If you are ready to discuss your case with an experienced Garden Grove wrongful death lawyer, contact us today to schedule a consultation with our team.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — the fifth time the firm has appeared on a TopVerdict list across nine years, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
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 OC Register Voters as "The Best Law Firm in Orange County” each year since voting began in 2022.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California by the National Trial Lawyers — a membership organization limited to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis and Gabe have each been selected to "Best Lawyers" for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers selects the Top 5% of attorneys based on peer voting and client reviews.
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, Brenda Kocaj, and Alexandro Garza were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California.
Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were once again selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
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, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
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 proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
“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
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