In Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, family members who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident turn to The Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr. to recover in a wrongful death action for damages and losses caused by another’s negligence.
The main differences between a wrongful death action and a negligence claim for personal injury are the plaintiffs in the case and the types of damages which may be recovered. A wrongful death action is not a lawsuit brought on behalf of the deceased accident victim; that type of case is called a survivor action, and where applicable, it is often brought along with a wrongful death claim. In a wrongful death case, the lawsuit is brought by the aggrieved family member, and the damages sought are those injuries which are suffered personally by the surviving family member.
Contact a wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles today for a free case evaluation.
What May Be Recovered in a Wrongful Death
Economic damages suffered by the surviving family include:
- Burial expenses
- Expenses for a funeral or memorial service
- The loss of financial support that the deceased would have provided over a lifetime
- The value of gifts the deceased would have given throughout life
- The reasonable value of household services provided by the deceased
Non-economic damages are injuries which may not be objectively quantified, yet have a significant impact on the plaintiff nevertheless. Examples include:
- Loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support
- Loss of the enjoyment of sexual relations
- Loss of training and guidance
Who May Sue
Family members who are eligible to bring a wrongful death suit include the following:
- Surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Children
- Grandchildren if children are deceased
- Next of kin
A putative spouse, parents, or a minor living in the household may also file a wrongful death suit if they depended on the deceased for financial support.