Really, there is no such thing as adequate compensation for the premature loss of a close family member due to another’s negligence. Nothing can replace your loved one or fully repair the emotional harm you are going through. Even so, you may need to pursue compensation to keep your family afloat. You may have medical debts for treatment your family member received before passing away. Or, you may need extensive therapy to help you process this loss. You may also - understandably - want to punish the liable party for being so careless with a human life. Our attorneys can guide you through the entire process of filing a wrongful death lawsuit and fighting for compensation. 

Types of Compensation You Can Recover in a Wrongful Death Action

You are likely noticing all the things you used to rely on your family member for. One of the main goals of recovering compensation in a wrongful death action is to make up for these financial losses. Damages you may be able to recover include: 

• Lost earnings - If the family member you lost worked to help support your family, you are likely feeling a financial pinch right now. You should not have to endure financial hardship because someone else was careless with your family member’s life. You can recover compensation to make up for their lost earnings equal to the amount they would have earned in their lifetime.

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Losing a loved one because someone else was careless about their safety can be a devastating blow to any family. Under California state law, certain surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit and demand compensation for the loss of their loved one. Our state statutes place limits on which relatives have standing to file this type of case. Generally, the purpose of this law is to make sure that the family members who were closest to the decedent will be the ones to receive compensation. While more distant relatives may also have cared deeply for the individual who lost their life, they may not be legally entitled to sue over their death. If one of your immediate family members was killed due to the negligence of another, contacting an attorney is the first step toward recovering damages. 

Which Family Members Can Sue for Wrongful Death?

The goal of allowing wrongful death suits is to ensure that those who were most likely to depend on the decedent in some way - whether financially, emotionally, or otherwise - can be made whole to the extent possible. While there is no doubt that others may have suffered as a result of the needless death, the right to compensation is reserved for the closest relatives. 

In California, only the following immediate relatives can file a wrongful death suit: