San Bernardino Wrongful Death Lawyer
San Bernardino Wrongful Death Attorney
Whenever a person suffers harm from the actions of another party, it can form the foundation of a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim is a type of civil suit that aims to make the plaintiff as whole as possible again following the actions of the defendant in the claim. However, not every personal injury plaintiff survives their experience, and fatal personal injuries can lead to very complex and emotionally stressful wrongful death cases in California.
Compassionate Legal Counsel for San Bernardino, CA, Wrongful Death Cases
A wrongful death claim effectively replaces the personal injury case that a victim could have filed if they survived. When you have lost a family member due to the intentional misconduct or negligence of another party, a San Bernardino wrongful death attorney is the ideal asset to have on your side as you seek accountability and compensation. Your case award will not bring back your lost family member, but it can provide peace of mind when you know the at-fault party has been held accountable for their actions, and the case award you obtain can help your family adjust to your new circumstances a bit more easily.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton provide compassionate and responsive wrongful death counsel to clients in San Bernardino and surrounding communities. We have successfully represented many personal injury cases in San Bernardino in the past and know the challenges you and your family are likely to face as you pursue a wrongful death suit against the party responsible for your loved one’s death. You face a time limit and other procedural requirements if you wish to succeed with your case, and the sooner you reach out to a San Bernardino wrongful death attorney you can trust, the more likely you are to succeed with the claim.
Proving Liability for a Wrongful Death in San Bernardino
Before you and your family will be able to recover any compensation for a wrongful death, you must be prepared to prove exactly how the death occurred and identify the party or parties responsible for causing the death. Most of the wrongful deaths reported each year are the results of negligence, or failure to use reasonable care in specific situations. Distracted driving, premises liability, and medical malpractice are a few examples of negligence that can potentially result in fatal injuries.
It is also possible for a wrongful death to result from some type of illegal misconduct. Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is one of the most common examples of this seen. Whenever anyone causes a fatal injury by breaking the law, they face severe criminal charges along with their civil liability for wrongful death.
The evidence you will need to prove fault for a wrongful death will depend on how the death occurred. Your San Bernardino wrongful death attorney can secure witness statements if anyone saw the fatal injury happen firsthand. Physical evidence from the scene of the incident and many forms of digital evidence could come into play as well. Expert witnesses could also come into play when a case involves complex or very technical details. Success with your wrongful death claim will require accurate identification of the defendant and solid proof that they directly caused the death.
Compensation for a Wrongful Death
While the goal of a personal injury claim is for the victim to secure compensation for their damages, the objective of a wrongful death suit is to compensate the family of the victim for the loss of their loved one. Under California’s wrongful death statutes, the plaintiff in a wrongful death case has the right to seek various types of compensation, including:
- Lost financial support provided by the deceased. If your loved one was a breadwinner for the family, you have the right to hold the defendant accountable for the income and other financial support the victim can no longer provide to you and your family. Your San Bernardino wrongful death attorney can assist you in accurately calculating the full amount of lost financial support you can seek from the defendant.
- Lost value of household services. When the deceased provided child care and other household services to their family, the survivors may face additional household expenses they cannot afford on their own. If this applies to your case, the defendant is liable for the value of these lost household services.
- The family’s pain and suffering. The surviving family of the deceased has the right to seek compensation for the emotional distress they experienced from losing their loved one. The surviving spouse of the deceased can claim compensation for loss of affection and consortium, and their surviving children can recover compensation for lost parental guidance and companionship.
You may be surprised to learn that your case is worth more than you initially anticipated, and other variables could influence your final recovery. For example, you could have grounds to seek compensation for the damages incurred by the deceased’s estate, and if they did not die immediately from the defendant’s actions, it could be possible to recover compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced prior to their death.
Ultimately, building a wrongful death suit can be very challenging without legal counsel you can trust on your side. When you choose Easton & Easton to assist you with your family’s wrongful death suit, we can guide you through every step of the process and handle all your procedural obligations for you, allowing you to approach the case with peace of mind. It can take time to resolve a civil suit, but our goal in every case we take for clients in San Bernardino is maximum recovery in the shortest time possible. The sooner you connect with our team, the more time we will have to build a compelling wrongful death suit for you.
FAQs
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for Wrongful Death in San Bernardino?
A: The purpose of a wrongful death suit is for the victim’s family to recover compensation for the loss of the victim. Money cannot replace a lost relative, but a successful wrongful death suit can provide the family with a sense of closure and peace of mind from knowing the at-fault party has been held appropriately accountable for their actions. Your San Bernardino wrongful death attorney can estimate your case’s total potential value if you win.
Q: Will the Defendant Go to Jail for Causing a Wrongful Death?
A: It is possible for the party responsible for causing a wrongful death to face jail time, depending on how they caused the death. Whenever a wrongful death results from illegal misconduct or a negligent act that is particularly egregious, the defendant may face criminal charges along with civil liability. For example, if they caused the death through DUI, they will face your wrongful death suit in civil court as well as criminal prosecution from the state. Your San Bernardino wrongful death attorney can advise you as to how the nature of the defendant’s actions could impact your civil suit.
Q: How Much Time Is There for Me to File a Wrongful Death Case?
A: If you believe another party is liable for your loved one’s death, you must file your wrongful death suit against them within two years of the date of the death. This sounds like plenty of time, but the reality is that building any civil claim is a time-consuming process, and you have the greatest chance of success with any civil claim for damages when you start the claim filing process as soon as possible after your loved one’s death.
Q: Do I Need to Hire Legal Representation for a Wrongful Death Suit?
A: California law does not strictly require you to hire an attorney for a wrongful death claim, but you will have a much greater chance of success with your claim with an attorney advising you. Your attorney can guide you through each step of your case and assist you in compiling the evidence required to firmly prove fault for your loved one’s death. They are also likely to secure far more compensation for you than you could have managed on your own.
Q: What Are Attorneys’ Fees for a San Bernardino Wrongful Death Attorney?
A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton take wrongful death cases and other civil suits on a contingency fee basis. With this billing arrangement, you pay no upfront or ongoing legal fees to our firm. You only pay a percentage of the total compensation we secure for you at the end of your case, and you owe nothing if we are unable to win your case. This billing arrangement removes any financial risk you might face in terms of the cost of legal representation you need for your impending wrongful death suit.
Losing a loved one unexpectedly is a tragic and life-changing experience for the surviving family, and when you know another party is directly responsible for your loved one’s death, it can make it even harder to confront the situation. An experienced San Bernardino wrongful death attorney is the ideal resource to consult after losing a loved one to the negligence or misconduct of others, and the team at Easton & Easton can provide the legal representation you need. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our firm and learn what services a San Bernardino wrongful death attorney can provide to you and your family.
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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.
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 2025 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve.
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® 2025. 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, John Oney, 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 2027. 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 2027. 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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