At The Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson, we take your grief very seriously. We understand that while you are grieving, you are also worrying about how to survive the financial loss. Wrongful death means a person died because of the negligent, intentional or reckless act of another person or entity. If your family lost someone under these circumstances, you are entitled to monetary compensation.
Our Manteca wrongful death attorney represents the families of fatal accident victims in Manteca and all other cities in Northern California. To learn more about this area of our practice, see:
A wrongful death case can be brought by family members if they were dependent upon the deceased for care. Spouses, children, stepchildren and any minors who have lived with the deceased for a minimum of six months may be eligible. If none of these relatives survive, those next in line include, in order:
In addition to those listed above, a recognized spouse (one who can prove that they had a good faith marriage, even though not legally married) and children of a recognized spouse can file a claim. These individuals must prove that they were dependent upon the deceased at the time of death.
It is important to file your claim as soon as possible, so that evidence can be preserved, witness testimony documented and defendants identified. There is also a statute of limitations on filing a claim, which means you only have a certain amount of time to file and serve documents before you lose your right. The statutes are different for claims filed against government entities versus private parties. Medical malpractice claims have their own requirements and timeframes.
Because the laws are complex and the timing crucial, it is important that you hire a Manteca wrongful death law firm with attorneys who are well versed in the laws pertaining to filing a wrongful death claim.
Don’t settle for attorneys that will settle for less than you deserve. Choose the Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson and give yourself the best chance at securing the best possible outcome in your case.
In addition to funeral and burial expense, California law allows you to recover damages for loss of:
While it is impossible to put a dollar value on someone’s life, economic damages can be determined based on what the deceased was earning prior to injury and death. There are no set amounts for non-economic damages, which are determined on a case-by-case basis.
When your loved one has died from the negligent act of another, you want an experienced wrongful death lawyer who knows how to represent your interests and those of your family. Because of the traumatic nature of wrongful death cases, you also want to choose a wrongful death lawyer with whom you will feel comfortable working.
The Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson is a firm with over 20 years of taking as much stress as possible out of the legal process for the survivors in wrongful death cases. We know the importance of building trust and taking the time to listen. We are here for you every step of the way.
But how do you choose the right lawyer for you? The following tips can help you choose a Manteca wrongful death attorney for your specific situation:
Success rate — You want a law firm or lawyer who has a high success rate in wrongful death cases in general and with cases that have circumstances similar to yours. The Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson has earned the respect of peers and clients for the aggressive representation we provide.
Depth of experience — You want a wrongful death attorney who has experience handling wrongful death cases and knows the law. You don’t want your case to be handled by an associate. The Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson has over 20 years of experience to apply to your case.
Contingency fees — Most wrongful death lawyers work on a contingency basis and that means they do not collect fees from you unless you are awarded compensation. That is how we work.
A good rapport — You want a wrongful death lawyer with whom you feel comfortable communicating. We are sensitive to your needs as we handle all the details of your case. We keep you updated from start to finish. Your focus stays grieving for your loved one.
When you need a personal injury attorney with the ability to get you compensation, call on The Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson. Set up your free consultation today. Evening and weekend appointments are available, and we make home and hospital visits if necessary.
We are steadfast in our mission to obtain the maximum compensation possible for the family members of wrongful death victims. Our methods are straightforward. We gather evidence, talk to witnesses, obtain all necessary reports and paperwork, engage experts and do whatever else is necessary to develop a lawsuit. We are committed to our clients and will not hesitate to go to trial if accepting a settlement is not in your best interest.
We cannot replace your loved one, but we can help you hold those responsible for your loss accountable while obtaining the compensation your family is entitled to. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.
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A wrongful death attorney in Manteca stands with you at each step in the legal process and is ready to answer your important questions, including the following:
When you need a wrongful death attorney in Manteca with the ability to get you compensation, call on The Law Offices of Terrance J. Thompson. We are located in Manteca and can be reached at 209-239-7600 or by visiting our contact page. Set up your free consultation today. Evening and weekend appointments are available, and we make home and hospital visits if necessary.
Figuring the amount of money you can collect for a wrongful death gets complicated. Family members can recover payment for the injured person’s medical bills and burial expenses. But because the idea is that the survivors are injured by the absence of the person who died, you should also consider what probably would have occurred in the future. These damages may include:
Possibly. State law, along with any documents signed by relatives and the type of action filed, would determine what, if any, obligation the relatives filing the lawsuit have in sharing the settlement.
If an injured party files suit but then dies before the case is concluded, the survivors or beneficiaries — for example, the widow — may continue the suit on the behalf of the deceased or the estate of the deceased.
Murder is determined in a criminal lawsuit. Wrongful death is determined in a civil lawsuit. Civil lawsuits for wrongful death are tried for money damages, not to put the defendant in prison. Civil cases are brought in the name of individuals, not in the name of the state. The burden of proof in criminal and civil cases is different. In criminal cases, the standard is “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” There is also a presumption of innocence that stays with the defendant until and unless the jury returns a guilty verdict. In civil cases, the standard of proof is “by a preponderance of the evidence,” which essentially means “more likely than not,” or put another way, proof by 51 percent or more.
Wrongful death is saying that a death was a result of medical malpractice. Malpractice is basically a type of negligence and wrongful death is a type of damage. It is possible to have a medical malpractice wrongful death case, but not every medical malpractice case is a wrongful death case and not every wrongful death case is a medical malpractice case.
Like many types of suits, there is a timeframe that must be observed when filing the lawsuit or the opportunity to file the claim is forever lost. The timeframe for filing is set by state law. The clock begins to run from the time of the incident or, in some states, from the time the party became aware of, or discovered, the injury.
The idea behind a wrongful death lawsuit is that the wrongful death, in addition to injuring the person who died, also injured people who depended upon the deceased for financial or emotional support. The wrongful act may be:
Almost every state has enacted a statute permitting a lawsuit to be brought by the relatives of a person who died as a result of a wrongful act.
The representative allowed to bring a wrongful death suit is defined by state law. In California, it is the spouse or domestic partner and children followed by grandparents and other relatives. Some states have enacted restrictions on filing when one family member would be suing another family member for the wrongful death of a third family member.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at 209-239-7600.
