It is hard to imagine anything more painful than the loss of a loved one. However, knowing that your loved one's death was caused by a preventable accident means that even more pain and grief can be expected than might occur with a "natural" death of an elderly relative, for example. There is little to compare with the pain a wrongful death leaves with the family and friends of the victim.

Wrongful death means that someone is responsible for the death of your loved one. It may be an individual who chose to drive when drinking, or a company that allowed unsafe conditions in its workplaces. No matter what the circumstances, someone is liable for what happened to your loved one, and that person or organization should be held responsible. More

“Wrongful death” is a term used to describe a fatality caused by someone else’s negligence.  Wrongful death occurs when someone operates a vehicle in an unsafe manner or when a company refuses to implement safety measures and someone is killed as a result.  Wrongful deaths occur every day, but not all negligent parties are held accountable.  California wrongful death lawyers work hard to ensure that victims’ families are compensated in wrongful death cases.

There are a variety of circumstances that lead to the filing of wrongful death suits.  Many are car accidents; there are also wrongful death suits for pedestrian and bicyclist accidents, motorcycle accidents, and work-related injuries.  There have even been wrongful death suits filed against hospitals and nursing homes for withholding necessary care or administering the wrong medication.  In each case, an innocent victim loses his or her life due to the negligence of someone else.

California wrongful death attorneys work with victim’s families to obtain justice in these cases.  By filing a wrongful death suit, the family of the deceased victim can obtain damages to pay for pain and suffering, medical bills, and loss of life of the victim.  Perhaps the victim was a breadwinner; in that case, the wrongful death suit might include damages for salaries or wages that the victim would have earned had he or she lived.  In some cases, wrongful death suits are based on criminal or other actions that, for some reason, the courts cannot prosecute.  In many cases, a wrongful death suit may be the only justice a victim’s family can obtain.

Some people feel that wrongful death suits are simply an attempt to make money from a tragedy.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  If one of your loved ones has been killed as a result of someone else’s negligence, it is only right that you should be compensated for this loss. California wrongful death lawyersare experts in filing claims and pursuing them to get you the best possible settlement for your suit.

By talking to a California wrongful death attorney, you are taking pro-active steps to ensure that your loved one’s death does not result in loss without any compensation.  Insurance companies and defendants will work hard to be sure you do not get a fair settlement; a California wrongful death lawyer will work hard to make sure you do.

If your loved one has suffered wrongful death from a car accident, work-related accident, or due to any type of negligent action, be sure that you talk to a California wrongful death lawyer before you sign any papers or agree to any type of settlement.  You will not know what your case is worth until you talk to a professional attorney.  Visit a California wrongful death attorney immediately; there are limits to the amount of time in which you can file a valid claim for damages, so time is of the essence in pursuing a wrongful death claim.  You should meet with a California wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible after your loss.  You owe it to yourself and your family to investigage damages for your wrongful death case.

The three U.S. Marines who were killed in an Orange County car accident, early morning on February 14, 2012, have been identified as Cpl. Jason Chleborad, 22, of Rapid City, South Dakota, Cpl. Christopher Arzola, 21, of Westfield Massachusetts, and Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Chadron, Nebraska. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred when the driver of a Dodge Stratus carrying the Camp Pendleton Marines lost control of the car and hit a tree on Golden Lantern Street in Dana Point. Officials state that the driver had been drinking before the accident. They say alcohol and high speed are the main causes of this crash. The driver remains hospitalized in critical condition.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of Cpl. Jason Chleborad, Cpl. Christopher Arzola, and Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan – all decorated Marines who have served their country well. What tragedy for their families, for the community and their fellow Marines! Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.

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Donna Joyce Clark, 50, was killed in a Victorville car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the roadway. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the evening of February 10, 2012 at the intersection of Sixth and D streets. Officials suspect that Clark was not in a crosswalk when a vehicle driven by a 28-year-old man hit her. Clark was transported to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Donna Joyce Clark for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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Margarita Temblador De Lopez, 53, Francisca Temblador De Raymundo, 58, and 51-year-old Oliverio Lopez were killed and three others were injured in a Sacramento car accident, which officials say involved a drunk driver going the wrong way. According to a News 10 report, the fatal car accident occurred early morning on February 6, 2012 on the westbound side of Highway 50 near Folsom Boulevard in Gold River. California Highway Patrol officials said 41-year-old Christopher Rigsby was driving a Honda the wrong way on the highway when he hit a 2001 Pontiac Aztek traveling west.

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Polo club owner, John Goodman, is being sued by the family of a 23-year-old college student who was killed in a fatal DUI accident. It was reported that Goodman, 48, was under the influence of alcohol when he got into an accident with Scott Patrick Wilson who died in the crash. The trial is set to begin on March 27 according to a report from USA Today.

Goodman is very wealthy and in what seems to be a legal maneuver to protect his assets in the upcoming trial he has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend Laruso Hutchins as his daughter. In addition to the civil suit brought up against him he is also facing some major criminal charges including DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, and vehicular homicide—he is facing up to 30 years in prison.

The adoption of his girlfriend occurred in October according to the USA Today report and it is believed that this is a way to shield his assets before the civil trial begins. An earlier ruling from West Palm Beach Judge Glenn Kelley stated that the trusts that are set up for Goodman’s two minor children is not considered to be part of his financial worth if the jury does award damages to the Wilson family. Since he knew that a trust for a child was untouchable in the civil trial it would appear that is the reason he adopted his girlfriend. The law states that since she is over the age of 35 she is entitled to access at least one-third of the trust’s assets. More

Anthony Andrade, 33, and Vincente Santos, 25, were killed in a Solano County car accident involving a drunk driver. According to an article in The Report, the fatal DUI collision occurred on the Interstate 80 in Fairfield, the morning of January 29, 2012. Officials say Michelle Henry, 42, was under the influence when she rear-ended a Ford Explorer with her Buick Lucerne. The impact caused Andrade, the driver of the Explorer, to lose control and the SUV to overturn on the roadway. As Andrade and his front-seat passenger, Floyd Williams, Jr., were attempting to free Santos from the back seat, a 2005 Toyota Corolla driven by 35-year-old Michael Soto of Sacramento struck the Explorer.

Andrade and Santos were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, but it is unclear if Santos suffered fatal injuries in the first or second collision. Williams and Soto suffered minor injuries. Henry faces felony DUI causing injury charges and Soto could face vehicular manslaughter charges depending upon the outcome of the investigation.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Anthony Andrade and Vincente Santos for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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Noah Ferrer, 11, and three brothers, aged 35, 37 and 39, were killed in a San Bernardino County car accident, the night of January 29, 2012. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the fatal car accident occurred at the intersection of Base Line Road and Cherry Avenue in Fontana. Officials say a Chevy Suburban ran through a red light before shearing off the back of a 1998 Honda, striking a Toyota and an utility pole. Noah, who was a passenger in the Honda, suffered fatal injuries and died later in surgery. Of the occupants in the SUV, the three brothers died from their injuries. Officials are looking into what caused this tragic accident.

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The driver of the Muni bus that ran over and killed Emily Dunn in a horrific pedestrian accident at a Castro intersection will face criminal charges. According to a news report in The Bay Citizen, the fatal accident occurred August 11, 2011 at the intersection of Hartford and 18th streets. Police said the 23-year-old Dunn had almost finished crossing Hartford Street when a Muni bus turning from 18th Street hit and crushed her under its wheels. The driver, Wallace Loggins, has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. He could face up to one year in county jail if convicted.

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A 40-year-old pedestrian was killed in a Victorville car accident when a 1998 Chevy sedan struck him, during the early morning hours of January 23, 2012. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the pedestrian accident occurred along Palmdale Road near Monte Vista Road in Victorville. There is no mention in the report if the 31-year-old Phelan man who was driving the Chevy will be cited for the crash. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal collision.

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