Riverside Wrongful Death Lawyer
Riverside Wrongful Death Attorney
The sudden death of a family member is never an easy thing to accept, especially when you know the death was the result of someone else’s actions. When negligence or illegal misconduct of any kind causes the death of a loved one, a Riverside wrongful death attorney is an essential resource to consult. You likely have grounds for legal recourse against the party responsible for causing the death, but you will need help to succeed with your legal efforts.
Compassionate Legal Representation for Wrongful Death Claims in Riverside, CA
An experienced Riverside wrongful death attorney can handle your legal proceedings on your behalf so you and your family can focus on adjusting to your new circumstances. A successful wrongful death suit will not bring back your loved one, but it can yield compensation that makes this adjustment period easier, and it can provide closure when you know the at-fault party has been held accountable for their actions.
Easton & Easton has a team of experienced personal injury attorneys in Riverside who can offer the legal counsel you and your family need to approach a wrongful death suit with confidence. Throughout our firm’s years of operation, we have successfully handled a wide range of personal injury suits and wrongful death claims on behalf of our clients, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you. The faster you reach out to our team, the more likely you are to maximize your family’s total compensation.
Constructing a Wrongful Death Suit in Riverside
A wrongful death claim effectively replaces the personal injury claim that a victim could have filed if they survived. When another party’s negligence or intentional misconduct results in a fatal injury, the surviving family has the right to pursue a wrongful death suit. While this may appear to replace the personal injury claim that the victim could have filed, a wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the surviving family, whereas a personal injury suit focuses on compensation for the victim’s losses.
The state grants the right to start a wrongful death claim following the state’s intestate succession laws. This means the deceased’s closest beneficiaries are first with the right to start a wrongful death suit. Typically, this means the surviving spouse, their surviving children, or their surviving parents have the primary right to start a wrongful death claim. However, if the deceased had an estate plan, their personal representative named in the estate plan will have the primary right to file the wrongful death claim.
To proceed with a wrongful death suit in Riverside, the plaintiff must identify the defendant they believe to be responsible for causing their loved one’s death and then prove the defendant’s actions directly caused the death. For example, if your loved one died in a car accident, you must prove that the at-fault driver directly caused the accident through some negligence or intentional misconduct to hold them accountable for wrongful death.
An experienced Riverside wrongful death attorney can help their client prove that the death occurred because of the defendant’s negligence or intentional misconduct. You must prove the defendant owed the deceased some duty of care that they breached in a manner that directly resulted in the wrongful death or that the defendant broke some law that caused the death.
Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths in Riverside
Before you and your family can recover compensation for a family member’s wrongful death, you must prove how the death happened and identify the party responsible for causing it. Wrongful deaths typically occur due to the same causes of personal injuries:
- Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of accidental deaths throughout the United States each year. If a driver’s negligence or misconduct behind the wheel caused a fatal injury to a family member, you would have the right to start a claim against their auto insurance policy for some initial compensation, and then you could proceed with a civil suit for wrongful death. Distracted driving, speeding, and driving under the influence (DUI) are just a few of the most common causes of fatal vehicle accidents.
- Interpersonal violence. Unfortunately, the state has a relatively high rate of violent crime. If your loved one died because of an assault, armed robbery, or any other criminal act of violence, the defendant faces criminal prosecution along with civil liability for the wrongful death. Any criminal act that causes death is likely to qualify as a felony, and the defendant could face many years in prison along with their liability for a wrongful death claim from the victim’s family.
- Premises liability. Property owners must ensure that their properties pose no extraordinary hazards to lawful guests and visitors. When a property owner notices a safety hazard on their property, they are required to fix the problem immediately or at least warn lawful visitors about it. A slip and fall or other fatal accident on the property could lead to the property owner’s liability for wrongful death. It is important to note that property owners do not have a duty of care to unlawful visitors like intruders or trespassers. If an unlawful visitor suffers a fatal accident on private property, the property owner would not be liable for the wrongful death.
These are just a few examples of how wrongful deaths might occur in Riverside. Ultimately, if you believe any other party is responsible for causing a family member’s death, you could have grounds to start a wrongful death suit. You have a limited time in which to file your claim, so it is imperative that you consult an experienced Riverside wrongful death attorney as fast as possible if you want to ensure the greatest chance of success with your claim.
Claimable Damages in a Wrongful Death Suit in Riverside
A successful wrongful death claim can yield many types of compensation for the family of the victim. Under the state’s wrongful death statutes, the plaintiff in a wrongful death suit has the right to claim both economic and non-economic damages associated with the death:
- The family may claim compensation for funeral and burial expenses for the deceased.
- The family has the right to seek recompense for losses incurred by the deceased’s estate, such as the victim’s final medical costs and property damage that the defendant caused.
- A wrongful death suit can yield compensation for the lost value of household services that the deceased provided.
- The deceased’s family can recover compensation for lost financial support that the deceased can no longer provide. Your Riverside wrongful death attorney can assist you and your family in calculating the future income the deceased could have reasonably expected to earn if they survived.
- The family has the right to seek recompense for their pain and suffering. The surviving spouse may claim compensation for loss of consortium, and the deceased’s close surviving relatives may seek compensation for loss of affection, care, and guidance offered by the deceased.
Many variables can influence the family’s total compensation in a wrongful death claim. For example, if the defendant caused the death through any illegal action, the judge overseeing the wrongful death suit may award punitive damages to punish the defendant. Similarly, if the defendant is charged in criminal court, the judge who handles their sentencing may add restitution to the family as part of their penalties. If the deceased was partially responsible for the fatal incident, California’s pure comparative negligence rule would apply, and the plaintiffs’ case award would diminish by a percentage equal to the deceased’s percentage of fault for causing the incident.
Ultimately, your family’s wrongful death suit may be worth much more than you initially expected, and hiring the right Riverside wrongful death attorney can significantly increase your chances of not only winning the case but also of holding the defendant fully accountable for the maximum amount of compensation you can claim under state law.
When you select Easton & Easton to represent you and your family in a wrongful death suit in Riverside, you will have a dedicated legal advocate readily available to assist you with every phase of your case. As your proceedings unfold, your attorney can provide you with updates on your case’s progress. Most wrongful death claims and other civil suits in the state settle outside of court. The private settlement negotiation process allows all parties involved to resolve their case more quickly than litigation allows, and they will have more influence over the final outcome.
However, settlement is not always possible in every wrongful death suit. If, for any reason, you are unable to reach a settlement with the defendant, you will need to resolve your wrongful death claim in the courtroom. Litigation will take much longer, and the final outcome of the case rests in the hands of the judge. If you choose Easton & Easton as your legal counsel, we will do everything possible to settle your case quickly, but if settlement is not an option for any reason, we are prepared to represent you in court.
Wrongful Death Attorney FAQs
Q: How Do You Prove Fault for Wrongful Death?
A: Wrongful deaths primarily occur for the same reasons that personal injuries occur, but victims do not survive their experiences. Success with your impending wrongful death claim will require clear proof that the death occurred because of someone else’s negligence or illegal misconduct. You must show evidence that proves the death solely resulted from the defendant’s actions and not some other cause.
Q: How Long Do You Have to Start a Wrongful Death Claim in Riverside?
A: Time is an important consideration for any civil suit, and there is a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death cases. You must file your claim within two years, or you lose the chance to seek compensation from the defendant. Two years might sound like adequate time but remember that it will take time to gather the materials needed to build the foundation of your case. It’s vital to connect with a Riverside wrongful death attorney as fast as possible after your family member’s death to have the greatest chance of success with your claim.
Q: What Is My Wrongful Death Claim Worth in Riverside?
A: The objective of a wrongful death suit is to secure compensation for the surviving family’s losses associated with an untimely death caused by negligence or misconduct. After proving fault for the death, the family may claim various damages, including compensation for the lost financial support that the deceased provided and pain and suffering compensation for their grief. Your Riverside wrongful death attorney can offer an estimate of your case’s total potential value.
Q: How Long Will It Take to Complete a Wrongful Death Case in Riverside?
A: The defendant’s willingness to accept liability for the death is arguably the most important factor when it comes to the time your case could take to complete. If the defendant’s fault is readily apparent and you have substantial supporting evidence for your case, a good Riverside wrongful death attorney should be able to help you settle the case within a few weeks. However, if a defendant refuses to accept fault, the case might need to go to court, and this will take quite a bit longer to complete.
Q: What Are Attorneys’ Fees for Wrongful Death Lawyers?
A: Easton & Easton can provide the legal counsel you need for your impending wrongful death suit without making your financial situation harder. We take personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. This means our client only pays legal fees if and when we win their case. If we cannot obtain compensation for your damages for any reason, you pay nothing for our legal counsel.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of professional experience resolving wrongful death claims and other civil suits filed in Riverside. We know the various legal challenges you could face as you seek compensation for the death of a family member. The faster you connect with our team, the quicker you can have a Riverside wrongful death attorney resolving your case on your behalf. Contact Easton & Easton today to set up a meeting with a Riverside wrongful death lawyer.
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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.
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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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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