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Murder is a criminal term used to describe an unjustified killing. But we work in the realm of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Accidental Child Death?
Sure, the criminal faces jail time or capital punishment. But who pays grieving families to cover the wrongdoing for loss of love and financial income? How much compensation will they get? Who will assist the survivors in taking civil legal action to get their lives back on track financially? The most traumatic loss a person may have in life is losing a loved one. Wrongful death cases are promoted as a means of obtaining justice after the death of a loved one.
To better understand your rights as a victim of a Los Angeles wrongful death claim, our law firm will examine this fascinating but terrible area of law. The surviving family members of a child who dies due to negligence will suffer grief and mourning after losing such a dear loved one (deceased person.) However, surviving families must act quickly to bring the murderer to justice while suffering emotional and financial harm to recover wrongful death damages from the person responsible.
Convicted or not, they are still legally liable. And our best Los Angeles wrongful death attorney can help once you establish an attorney-client relationship.
To file wrongful death lawsuits, survivors in Los Angeles must first know who to accuse of causing the fatal accident in Los Angeles. “Plaintiffs” are those who have the legal right to file a wrongful death claim against those held responsible for deadly accidents. But it must be a loved one or a close relative of the deceased person to recover money for fatal injuries under the wrongful death law. Furthermore, plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits include parents and other close relatives connected to the deceased person’s estate.
LGBTQ couples who lose a spouse may file a lawsuit in the Golden State under California law. Adopted or natural parents are, therefore, referred to as presumed plaintiffs, and the defendants in a wrongful death suit are those who are sued. They are “parties” to the lawsuit. To our experienced lawyers, they are the defendants who must pay maximum compensation for medical expenses, pain, suffering, up to the victim’s life expectancy, etc.
Are Damages for a Parent’s Death Easier to Calculate Than a Child’s Death?
What happens if a California adult dies due to someone else’s gross negligence? Who can recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses for a deceased family member? Additionally, what if the adult was a parent or other financial supporter? First off, calculating the economic loss suffered by the claimant’s family is easier for your Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers than if a young child dies. Even with reasonable diligence, financial losses from losing a fetus or a child who died are almost impossible for most clients without superior legal representation and moral support in Los Angeles, CA.
Therefore, if bad behavior results in a parent’s passing, their child will have an easier time seeking compensation after car accidents and other mishaps in Los Angeles, CA. This financial compensation is for losing financial support, love, guidance, and care.
The Contrast in Calculating Income Damages for the Death of an Adult with That of a Child or Newborn
A non-lawyer may initially find the death of an adult strange in comparison to the death of a child. Now, allow us to describe how the law seems from the viewpoint of a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer.
Let’s examine the law of death and evidence and see what a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer can achieve. First, some children in Los Angeles are born without the ability to breathe oxygen. As a result, it is difficult to predict whether the youngster would have become a brain surgeon or a bum.
Thus, given the potential financial rewards for winning a wrongful death case involving the death of an adult, your Los Angeles wrongful death attorney might not be as eager to sign a wrongful death claim involving the death of a child.
Even if your departed child had been accepted to USC, it isn’t easy to estimate or even speculate on the value of the contributions. It’s challenging to see what value your child may have added to your life regarding economic damages. Therefore, estimating the lost future income you would have received from a child is difficult.
While it’s true that it will be easier for a law firm to demonstrate a loss of love and sense of community if the deceased was a well-known, successful trial lawyer or entertainer like Michael Jackson, your damages award would typically be more considerable.
In that instance, the adult’s surviving family members could probably demonstrate his income and the benefits they would have received during their lifetime. You will always need an experienced wrongful death lawyer to select the best experts. The facts supporting your case in wrongful deaths can then be expanded upon.
Above all, various developmental phases can affect how much damage there will be in the future. Thus, a pregnancy-related car accident may have contributed to a birth injury. It could also result from medical malpractice.
All documentation pertaining to the health of the mother or the infant, dating back to the emergency room, should be gathered.
Ask friends or family members to record their testimonies. Gather the testimony of friends or family members and document it. Many of them might have seen something strange going on with the child. In many cases, trusted individuals appear to be the main suspects.
Their claims might be valid. However, if these witnesses don’t record their statements, they might leave the scene, forget, or perhaps pass away in a fatal accident. The most challenging element of obtaining economic damages in a wrongful death action is laying the groundwork.
Wrongful Death Claim of a Child Damages – Less Than for a Wage Earning Adult?
For example, most people consider funeral expenses when covering a family member’s death in Southern California to be a significant expense. Burying a body here is expensive. Surviving families experience lost wages, emotional distress, and other non-economic damages after the victim’s death. The damages for losing a baby or young child are pretty low compared to the costs of killing an adult. The lack of a foundation leads to restrictions for parents. In other words, knowing how much the child would have contributed or loved would be impossible.
Multiple factors at play would necessitate expert or jury guesswork. Loss of love or affection is still more straightforward to demonstrate. As we all know, every child shows love and affection. Either way, the deplorable insurance company won’t pay the estate’s representative unless you have a lawyer experienced in civil court claims to pursue the liable defendant on behalf of the injured plaintiff.
Even then, the adult who usually survives only recovers from losing love and affection. Potential economic costs are still included in the reward, including potentially lost household services. What if the youngster earned a Harvard scholarship and was a genius? What would a reasonable person on a jury award heirs like the wife or spouse of the deceased parent who perished with the child?
Think about the Kobe Bryant case and the legal rights of his wife. A skilled attorney at our firm can help unwind everything so the survivors, including the putative spouse, can recover the damages they deserve against the liable parties after a loved one’s death. (Drunk driver in a car crash, medical professional, or another at-fault party.)
The parents would have an easier time pleading for financial support. However, even then, most children don’t contribute financially to their parents.
The Contrast in Wrongful Birth Damages
Essentially, the central issue in a wrongful birth case is the death of a child before birth due to someone else’s negligence. The burden of raising a disabled or mentally challenged child rests on the parents or surviving spouse. They usually suffer excessive burial costs and medical bills after a car accident.
They’ll file medical malpractice cases against doctors, hospitals, and other parties to reach the wealthy. To prove harm, they would also need documentation of the child’s infancy behavior.
The argument is supported by videos and audio of sluggishness, loud sobbing, refusal to eat, etc. Unfortunately, gathering this proof is still tricky. Many parents live in denial.
As a result, they don’t record it in their journals. They still don’t want to record these things. Sadly, parents wish to forget these things. However, this supporting evidence can help an experienced wrongful death attorney win the case.
Potential Damages for Wrongful Death Cases
Damage recovery would include what the child had expected to provide to the households of the survivors or claimants. Victims can go after that potential financial reward. However, typically, it only changes slightly. According to most attorneys, proving that the child would have been the principal income source can be challenging.
Receiving a significant award usually indicates that the kid did well. Parents can try to demonstrate that their baby would have made a good doctor, lawyer, or professional.
The Older the Child Wage Earner, the Greater the Potential Future
The survivors would have been better off if the child had grown up and become a successful businessperson. Cases involving young, talented athletes and performers come to mind.
These victims now have a claim for more money. However, it all boils down to this for juries. No fault of the decedent(s) caused their death. Thus, due to the wrongful death claims made in your Los Angeles lawsuit by your wrongful death attorney, this becomes a compensable loss for those alive.
Wrongful Death Rules of Court and Evidence
The evidence and the Rules of the Court prohibit speculation and do not imply that the parents’ recovery will be minimal. However, California courts usually approve smaller compensation amounts when a child is lost due to wrongful accidents. The result is the issuance of a remittitur. Below is a non-exhaustive list of potential legal damages a parent can pursue.
Payments to survivors may consist of:
- Loss of potential earnings—Future earnings that could be lost include the potential earnings the child might have made throughout their lifetime.
- Direct costs include funeral fees, hospital bills, and medical expenses.
- Loss of companionship – After people have lost their sense of community and society, they experience a loss of consortium (companionship). Furthermore, a wrongful death lawyer will pursue the monetary support that the child gave if necessary.
Additionally, it makes up for the loss of benefits. Therefore, they apply if they would have been qualified at some point. Retirement, a pension, or any trust are a few examples (if the child had attained gainful employment before death).
It is also important to note that the California wrongful death statute of limitations is two years, and it begins on the date of the deceased person’s death.
A Few Factors to Consider in a Child Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The Degree to Which the Parent Was Dependent on the Child
This refers to situations in which the parent was receiving support. Essentially, financial professionals can examine this. Courts consider several variables when determining the level of dependency. Therefore, after death, some family members may seek compensation for damages. The circumstances of the survivor are among these items. Additionally, this includes information about their age and general health.
Typically, the nature of the parent-child connection will be simple to document. Relationships are still crucial if the child’s parent files a wrongful death lawsuit. However, some states are different. In California, however, the child’s prior regular support is fully applicable.
Do Wrongful Death, Emotional-Type Support Claims Matter a Lot?
Yes, they contribute significantly to your monetary recovery. Therefore, lost support goes beyond financial loss. It has both tangible and intangible aspects. Additionally, this condition aids in preventing absent parents from trying to recoup the necessary funds for both tangible and non-economic losses. They only receive what they deserve throughout their lives, whether short—or long-term.
As a result, they cannot profit financially from the child’s passing. In other words, it protects against unjust enrichment. Our investigators offer compassionate assistance for all devastating child fatalities in CA.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Child Wrongful Death Lawyer in Los Angeles County To Obtain Justice
The distinctions between siblings, adult, and child wrongful death claims were covered in this article. Moreover, we gained knowledge about the legal process of wrongful death. Did you or a loved one lose a child in California due to an unexpected death or wrongful death claim? To file a wrongful death claim, contact our skilled Los Angeles personal injury attorneys and personal injury law firm staff today.
Call (213) 596-9642 about all death instances that you and your family have experienced for a free consultation if you want to receive compensation for the negligent killing, disease, handicap, or deformity of your child. You can also use our online contact us form 24/7.
