Moreno Valley Wrongful Death Lawyer
Moreno Valley Wrongful Death Attorney
If someone is injured because another person or group acted negligently, recklessly, or with intentional misconduct, they can file a personal injury claim against that party in civil court. When the injured party dies from their injuries, the at-fault party can still be held responsible. Surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim in place of a personal injury claim. A Moreno Valley wrongful death lawyer can support families during the claims process.
It is never easy to handle the death of a loved one, particularly when someone else is to blame for their death. You can hold that party accountable and retain some financial stability. You have the right to that compensation, and working with the right personal injury attorney can help you secure it.
Effective Legal Support in a Wrongful Death Claim
At Easton & Easton, LLP, we can help you navigate a wrongful death claim. We know that this situation is often frustrating and overwhelming, and we want to make it easier. With decades of experience in personal injury and wrongful death claims, we can work to get the most from a civil claim in Moreno Valley.
Holding an At-Fault Party Liable for a Wrongful Death in Moreno Valley
Proving that another party is at fault and therefore liable for the death of a loved one requires proving some of the same elements as a personal injury liability, with the addition of proving that the individual is dead. These elements include:
- Showing that a reasonable duty of care was owed by the party to the deceased
- Proving that this duty of care was breached by the actions or inaction of the party
- Demonstrating that there is a direct causal connection between the breach of duty and the accident or injury that led to the individual’s death
- Showing the actual compensable damages that the surviving family has suffered as a result of the death
A party can breach their duty of care by acts of negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
Potential Causes of Wrongful Deaths
There are many types of accidents in Moreno Valley that can result in personal injury and wrongful death. Some of the common causes of wrongful death claims include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car accidents can result in minor injuries, but certain types of accidents can cause catastrophes and fatal injuries. This is especially true in truck accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and motorcycle accidents. When another party is responsible for the accident and the death of your loved one, you can hold them liable, either through an insurance policy or a civil claim.
- Premises Liability: The negligence of property owners can result in severe injuries and even death. Property owners could be liable for the death of someone on their property if they failed to address the hazard.
- Product Liability: Unreasonably dangerous products, like defective car components or prescription drugs, can result in wrongful deaths. The product designer or manufacturer may be strictly liable for the harm caused by the product.
- Medical Malpractice: When medical providers do not take appropriate care, they can cause injury and death to their patients. Medical professionals could be negligent when they fail to diagnose someone despite clear symptoms or make mistakes during surgery.
- Interpersonal Violence: Violent crimes, like assault, robbery, battery, or other crimes, can result in someone’s death. The responsible person can be held criminally culpable as well as civilly liable for a family’s damages.
A skilled attorney can help you find the specific cause of an accident, determine if a party can be held at fault, and gather evidence for a wrongful death claim. Not every death allows for a wrongful death claim but, when parties are negligent, they can be held accountable.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A: The average settlement for a wrongful death claim in California does not help individuals determine the likely outcome of their own wrongful death claim, as every wrongful death settlement differs based on the unique damages suffered. The settlement that a surviving family receives after the death of a loved one will rely on the specific economic and noneconomic losses they sustained, including the loss of financial support and the cost of a funeral. An attorney can provide a more accurate idea of a likely settlement outcome.
Q: What Are the Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A: The damages in a wrongful death claim in California will depend on the damages suffered, which could include:
- Reasonable funeral costs
- The costs of burial or cremation
- Medical costs incurred by the deceased prior to their death
- The lost financial support that the family would have earned from the deceased’s income, potential inheritance, and benefits
- Repair or replacement costs for property damage
- The deceased’s pain and suffering prior to their death
- The emotional trauma and distress that the family has suffered
- Loss of consortium or companionship
Q: How Can You Prove a Wrongful Death in California?
A: To prove a wrongful death in California, you must prove that a party is at fault for your loved one’s death and can, therefore, be held liable in the claim. To prove fault, you must prove the following:
- The party owed a duty of care to the deceased.
- The party breached this duty of care, typically by acting negligently.
- The breach of duty was a direct cause of the accident or injury that led to the death.
- The surviving family members suffered legally recognized damages as a result of the death.
Q: Who Are the Beneficiaries of a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A: The beneficiaries of wrongful death claims in California are the surviving family members. These claims can be filed either by these family members or by a personal representative of the deceased’s estate. Some of the surviving family members listed under state law include:
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Children or the descendants of deceased children
- Relatives entitled to the estate under intestate law
- Legal guardian of the deceased if the deceased’s parents would have inherited but are also deceased
- Family members who are dependent on the deceased, including putative spouse, their children, stepchildren, parents, or legal guardians
Compassionate Representation With Easton & Easton, LLP
A wrongful death claim will never make up for the loss of a loved one. However, it can give you and your family some closure. Easton & Easton, LLP, can determine if you have a claim and work for the most successful outcome. Contact our team today.
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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 — recognized more than 75 times by TopVerdict.com over the past 5 years — including fifty-eight #1 recognitions, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.
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 was voted #1 in 2026 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve. Voted #1 in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — four #1 wins, including three years in a row
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.
All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2027. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
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.
Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2026. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.
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, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2026. 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.
20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.
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.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“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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