Orange County Wrongful Death Attorney

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The preventable death of a loved one can be a shattering, traumatic experience. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit may seem selfish or irrelevant – after all, according to conventional wisdom, money won’t bring back your loved one.

Our Orange County wrongful death attorneys understand that to be considered a wrongful death, the death must have been partially or completely preventable. The prosecution must prove the defendant committed reckless, negligent, or intentional action.

Why Choose An Orange County Wrongful Death Attorney From Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP?

Choosing an Orange County wrongful death attorney from Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can provide you with expert legal representation during one of the most challenging times of your life. Here’s why we stand out among the rest:

Proven Track Record of Success

Our firm has secured record-breaking verdicts and settlements, demonstrating their ability to achieve maximum compensation for clients.
Our injury attorneys in Orange County have extensive experience handling wrongful death cases across California.

Compassionate Client Advocacy

We understand the emotional and financial toll of losing a loved one and prioritize compassionate support alongside aggressive legal advocacy.
Our team takes the time to listen and tailor our approach to each client’s unique needs.

Expertise and Resources

Our firm has access to top experts in accident reconstruction, financial analysis, and medical review to strengthen your case.
Our attorneys are recognized leaders in personal injury law, regularly earning industry accolades.

No Fees Unless You Win

We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we secure a favorable outcome for your case.

By choosing Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, you gain a trusted partner committed to securing justice for your family.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Orange County

In large, metropolitan areas like Orange County, negligent actions that lead to wrongful death – tragically – happen very often. Some of the most common causes include:

Motor Vehicle Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of wrongful death. Distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence are frequent contributors to fatal collisions. Speak to an accident attorney in Orange County today.
Truck Accidents: Due to their size and weight, trucks can cause devastating accidents. Driver fatigue, improper maintenance, or overloaded cargo often play a role in fatal crashes. Trucking companies and drivers may be held liable with the help of an Orange County truck accident lawyer.
Bicycle Accidents: Cyclists are vulnerable on the road, especially when drivers fail to share the road responsibly. Our Orange County bicycle accident attorneys know that fatal bicycle accidents often result from distracted or negligent drivers and can lead to wrongful death lawsuits.
Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians face significant risks, particularly in crosswalks or areas with heavy traffic. Fatal pedestrian accidents often involve reckless driving, failure to yield, or speeding, leaving families to pursue justice for their loss. Call an Orange County pedestrian accident attorney today.
Medical Malpractice: Fatal errors by healthcare providers, such as misdiagnoses, surgical mistakes, or medication errors, can constitute wrongful death due to medical malpractice. Victims’ families can hold healthcare providers accountable for negligence.
Workplace Accidents
Unsafe working conditions, lack of training, or inadequate safety measures can lead to fatal workplace incidents. As mentioned by our work injury lawyers in Orange County, in addition to wrongful death claims, workers’ compensation benefits may be available to surviving family members.
Premises Liability
Property owners who fail to maintain safe premises may be liable for fatalities caused by slip and falls, structural failures, or inadequate security. These cases often lead to wrongful death claims under premises liability laws.
Aviation Accidents
Fatalities in plane crashes or other aviation-related incidents can stem from pilot error, mechanical issues, or maintenance failures. Wrongful death claims may involve airlines, manufacturers, or service providers.

Each of these situations requires a detailed investigation to determine liability and pursue compensation. An experienced wrongful death attorney can guide families through the legal process and help secure justice for their loved ones.

When Should You File An Orange County Wrongful Death Claim?

In California, a wrongful death claim can be filed when someone dies due to another person’s negligence or intentional harm. Common causes include medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and criminal activity. To file a successful wrongful death claim, the following must be proven:

A Death Occurred

The case involves the loss of a person’s life.

Negligence or Intent

The death was caused by someone else’s negligence or deliberate actions.

Monetary Damages

The surviving family members have suffered financial losses because of the death.

Legal Representation

A court-appointed personal representative must file the claim on behalf of the deceased person’s family.

If these criteria are met, the victim’s family can pursue compensation for their loss through a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced attorney can help guide you through this process and build a strong case for justice,

Why File An Orange County Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death lawsuit allows the family of a deceased person to seek compensation from a negligent or intentional wrongdoer. These cases may arise from events like car accidents or even intentional acts such as murder.

Under California law, families can file a lawsuit to recover death-related expenses. Additionally, relatives who were financially or emotionally dependent on the victim may claim their own damages, as the law views harm to the victim as harm to their close family members. Damages often include estimated lifelong earnings, requiring input from expert economists, as well as compensation for the loss of the victim’s care, comfort, and companionship.

How to Prove Liability in an Orange County Wrongful Death Case

Proving liability in a California wrongful death case requires demonstrating four key elements:

Duty of Care
- Establish that the at-fault party had a legal responsibility to act in a reasonably careful and prudent manner to prevent harm to the deceased. This duty varies based on the relationship or situation, such as a professional obligation or general societal expectation.
Breach of Duty
- Show that the at-fault party failed to meet their duty of care through negligent actions, omissions, or intentional misconduct. This involves comparing their actions to what a reasonable person would have done under similar circumstances.
Causation
- Prove that the breach of duty directly caused the death. It must be clear that the at-fault party’s actions were a significant factor in leading to the fatal injury or condition, without which the death would not have occurred.
Damages
- Demonstrate that the death caused specific losses, such as financial burdens, emotional suffering, and other measurable impacts on the surviving family members. These damages must be directly connected to the wrongful act or negligence.

Working with an experienced wrongful death attorney ensures a thorough investigation and the collection of evidence to substantiate these elements, increasing the likelihood of a successful claim.

What Damages Can You Collect in a Wrongful Death Claim?

You can claim a number of damages in wrongful death claims, including many that you can also claim in personal injury lawsuits. The amount of damages you can claim will depend on the circumstances of your case. In wrongful death claims, the damages can compensate the deceased’s estate for the losses associated with his or her death or compensate the family members for the losses that they suffered because of the death.

Estate losses for the deceased can include the following tangible, monetary losses.

Lost income, including the potential income that the deceased could have earned if he or she lived
Funeral and burial expenses, up to a reasonable amount
Medical and hospital expenses for the final illness and injuries associated with the death

Family members can claim different types of damages in wrongful death claims. These damages are usually intangible and related to pain and suffering.

Loss of future financial support
The value of the loss of household services
Loss of love
Loss of affection
Loss of community
Loss of moral support
Loss of guidance

Determining the exact value of your damages in a wrongful death claim can be a challenge without an attorney on your side. Your Orange County wrongful death attorney from Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can assist you in calculating your damages, collecting proper documentation to argue your claim in court, and connecting you with financial experts to help calculate your ideal settlement amount.

The Statute of Limitations for California Wrongful Death Claims

Under California law, you need to adhere to the statute of limitations to file your wrongful death claim. The statute of limitations sets a time limit on when you can file your wrongful death lawsuit. If you do not file your claim within this time frame, the court can refuse to hear your case. Different types of wrongful death claims involve different statutes of limitations.

In the majority of cases involving wrongful death, you have two years from the date of death to file your claim. If your case involves a government entity, such as a municipal agency or a state government, you may have a shorter statute of limitations. Contact your attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and file your claim as soon as possible.

How Can an Attorney Help Your Wrongful Death Claim?

If you are filing a wrongful death claim in California, hiring an attorney from Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can significantly benefit your case. Your attorney can help launch an investigation into the circumstances of the death, giving you access to experts and resources you may not otherwise be able to use. We know how to litigate wrongful death claims in Irvine and throughout Orange County, and can adapt our strategies to your case, as well as prepare you for the courtroom. With an Orange County wrongful death lawyer, you can reduce your stress and allow our attorneys to handle the lawsuit process for you from consultation to settlement.

Contact An Orange County Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

Our law firm has successfully obtained compensation for several families affected by a wrongful death. Partner Brian Panish won a $25.5 million jury verdict for the relatives of a family of three that were killed by a drunk driver and also recovered $2.8 million for the elderly parents of a 48-year-old man killed in a collision between a freight train and a commuter train.

If you are interested in a consultation about wrongful death or a possible lawsuit, contact our experienced team of wrongful death attorneys in Orange County today. We represent clients in Irvine, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange County, and throughout Southern California.