Moreno Valley Wrongful Death Lawyer
Moreno Valley Wrongful Death Attorney
If someone is injured because another person or group acted negligently, recklessly, or with intentional misconduct, they can file a personal injury claim against that party in civil court. When the injured party dies from their injuries, the at-fault party can still be held responsible. Surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim in place of a personal injury claim. A Moreno Valley wrongful death lawyer can support families during the claims process.
It is never easy to handle the death of a loved one, particularly when someone else is to blame for their death. You can hold that party accountable and retain some financial stability. You have the right to that compensation, and working with the right personal injury attorney can help you secure it.
Effective Legal Support in a Wrongful Death Claim
At Easton & Easton, LLP, we can help you navigate a wrongful death claim. We know that this situation is often frustrating and overwhelming, and we want to make it easier. With decades of experience in personal injury and wrongful death claims, we can work to get the most from a civil claim in Moreno Valley.
Holding an At-Fault Party Liable for a Wrongful Death in Moreno Valley
Proving that another party is at fault and therefore liable for the death of a loved one requires proving some of the same elements as a personal injury liability, with the addition of proving that the individual is dead. These elements include:
- Showing that a reasonable duty of care was owed by the party to the deceased
- Proving that this duty of care was breached by the actions or inaction of the party
- Demonstrating that there is a direct causal connection between the breach of duty and the accident or injury that led to the individual’s death
- Showing the actual compensable damages that the surviving family has suffered as a result of the death
A party can breach their duty of care by acts of negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
Potential Causes of Wrongful Deaths
There are many types of accidents in Moreno Valley that can result in personal injury and wrongful death. Some of the common causes of wrongful death claims include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car accidents can result in minor injuries, but certain types of accidents can cause catastrophes and fatal injuries. This is especially true in truck accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and motorcycle accidents. When another party is responsible for the accident and the death of your loved one, you can hold them liable, either through an insurance policy or a civil claim.
- Premises Liability: The negligence of property owners can result in severe injuries and even death. Property owners could be liable for the death of someone on their property if they failed to address the hazard.
- Product Liability: Unreasonably dangerous products, like defective car components or prescription drugs, can result in wrongful deaths. The product designer or manufacturer may be strictly liable for the harm caused by the product.
- Medical Malpractice: When medical providers do not take appropriate care, they can cause injury and death to their patients. Medical professionals could be negligent when they fail to diagnose someone despite clear symptoms or make mistakes during surgery.
- Interpersonal Violence: Violent crimes, like assault, robbery, battery, or other crimes, can result in someone’s death. The responsible person can be held criminally culpable as well as civilly liable for a family’s damages.
A skilled attorney can help you find the specific cause of an accident, determine if a party can be held at fault, and gather evidence for a wrongful death claim. Not every death allows for a wrongful death claim but, when parties are negligent, they can be held accountable.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A: The average settlement for a wrongful death claim in California does not help individuals determine the likely outcome of their own wrongful death claim, as every wrongful death settlement differs based on the unique damages suffered. The settlement that a surviving family receives after the death of a loved one will rely on the specific economic and noneconomic losses they sustained, including the loss of financial support and the cost of a funeral. An attorney can provide a more accurate idea of a likely settlement outcome.
Q: What Are the Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A: The damages in a wrongful death claim in California will depend on the damages suffered, which could include:
- Reasonable funeral costs
- The costs of burial or cremation
- Medical costs incurred by the deceased prior to their death
- The lost financial support that the family would have earned from the deceased’s income, potential inheritance, and benefits
- Repair or replacement costs for property damage
- The deceased’s pain and suffering prior to their death
- The emotional trauma and distress that the family has suffered
- Loss of consortium or companionship
Q: How Can You Prove a Wrongful Death in California?
A: To prove a wrongful death in California, you must prove that a party is at fault for your loved one’s death and can, therefore, be held liable in the claim. To prove fault, you must prove the following:
- The party owed a duty of care to the deceased.
- The party breached this duty of care, typically by acting negligently.
- The breach of duty was a direct cause of the accident or injury that led to the death.
- The surviving family members suffered legally recognized damages as a result of the death.
Q: Who Are the Beneficiaries of a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
A: The beneficiaries of wrongful death claims in California are the surviving family members. These claims can be filed either by these family members or by a personal representative of the deceased’s estate. Some of the surviving family members listed under state law include:
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Children or the descendants of deceased children
- Relatives entitled to the estate under intestate law
- Legal guardian of the deceased if the deceased’s parents would have inherited but are also deceased
- Family members who are dependent on the deceased, including putative spouse, their children, stepchildren, parents, or legal guardians
Compassionate Representation With Easton & Easton, LLP
A wrongful death claim will never make up for the loss of a loved one. However, it can give you and your family some closure. Easton & Easton, LLP, can determine if you have a claim and work for the most successful outcome. Contact our team today.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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 is 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.
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.
“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
What Our Clients Say
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!!
-Allee
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.
They are the BEST!
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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