When You Need A Wrongful Death Attorney in San Francisco
Any time you lose a loved one, the pain of that loss can be debilitating. The fears about your personal and financial future grow until it seems all you can do is worry. How will you protect your family? How will you put food on the table? How will you keep a roof over your head?
That pain is magnified, however, when that loss was caused by the direct action or inaction of another individual. Knowing that your loved one’s death could have been prevented is like rubbing salt in a wound.
The compassionate wrongful death attorneys at Sally Morin’s San Francisco office have helped victims recover from personal tragedies and get the financial support their families need to survive for over two decades. We know that every loss is unique and that every family is different but we also know that in times of great sadness everyone can use a helping hand.
The Financial Burden of Losing a Loved One
While it’s terrible to think of losing a loved one in terms of the dollars and cents, many people don’t truly understand the financial impact that the unexpected death of a spouse or parent can have on a family until it’s too late. We don’t like to think of these troubling matters before they happen but after the fact it’s often too late.
Research shows that in 66% of American families both individuals are employed. More often than not it’s because one individual doesn’t earn enough to support the family in their current lifestyle. Indeed, that impact is magnified if the victim is a husband or father. Unfortunately women make roughly 78% of what men do in the workplace. That means that an average household in San Francisco could stand to lose $58,000 per year in annual income when a husband or father is lost in an accident.
Could you survive if you lost nearly 2/3 of your annual income?
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit in San Francisco that stems from a traffic accident can help you compensate for that financial loss and help keep your family living as comfortably as possible without worrying about keeping a roof overhead and food on the table.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in San Francisco?
The California Wrongful Death Statute (covered under 377.60 through 377.62 of the Civil Code) states that legal proceedings in response to the death of an individual can be initiated by:
- Surviving spouses
- Surviving domestic partners
- Surviving children
- Surviving dependents
While such wrongful death claims in San Francisco are most often filed by a surviving spouse, any of the parties mentioned above have the legal right to do so. In fact, we had a recent case where a mother filed the wrongful death claim for the loss of her unmarried 40-year old son. (It’s important to note that only one wrongful death action may be pursued in any given case.)
But that right isn’t guaranteed forever.
California’s Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations Forces Families to Fight When They’re Weakest
California law maintains that all wrongful death claims in San Francisco be filed within two years of the victim’s death. This statute of limitations is strictly enforced and puts a significant amount of stress on the victim’s loved ones.
Without the assistance of a wrongful death lawyer in San Francisco, these surviving family members must:
- Successfully navigate a complex legal system and satisfy the burden of proof in their loved one’s tragic death
- Struggle to manage household finances left in disarray by the loss of financial support
- Cope with the emotional gut-punch of an unexpected death
- Maintain their own familial and work-related obligations
It can simply all be too much for grieving family members to handle on their own.
What Can a San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer Do for You?
The legal professionals at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers are, above all else, kind and compassionate human beings. While other wrongful death law firms in San Francisco may promise to help you get your life back to normal, we know that after the tragic death of a loved there is no “normal.” Nothing will ever be the same again.
But life does go on. Survivors, like you, are meant to live on—it’s what your loved ones would have wanted. And we can help.
Let us take at least some of that burden off your shoulders and help you get your feet under yourself during this incredibly trying time.
We can:
- Help recover financial compensation for the loss of support caused by a tragic death.
- Help recover medical and funeral expenses.
- Help ease your pain and suffering by holding the at fault party accountable for their actions.
- Help recover additional damages (like the decedent’s own pain and suffering) through a California survival action, but we need to first determine whether bringing a survival action makes sense in your situation.
We do as much of the work associated with your wrongful death claim as possible to insulate you from the hard facts of your case. We stand for you so you don’t have to deal with paperwork, the parties involved, or bill collectors.
While none of this will return your loved one to you or return your life to normal, it can give you the space and peace of mind you need to grieve, properly remember your loved one, and find a new “normal.”
Certain Conditions Must Be Met to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in San Francisco
As any good wrongful death lawyer in San Francisco knows, there are certain elements that must be present in each case before a wrongful death claim can be filed.
1) The Death Must Have Been Directly Caused by an Individual
That doesn’t mean that the at fault individual had to act with the express intent of taking a life. It simply means that their actions (or inactions) directly contributed to the loss of your loved one. This could be as cut-and-dry as a commercial driver failing to drive safely and follow the California Vehicle Code or as complicated as a mechanic failing to repair an automobile correctly.
2) Surviving Family Members Have Suffered a Quantifiable Loss
As harsh as it seems, losing a loved one simply isn’t enough. It is up to you, the victim, to prove that you or your family lost:
- Financial support
- Love
- Care
- Comfort
- Society
- Moral support
- Household assistance
While these losses should be evident, it’s often necessary for a San Francisco wrongful death attorney to step in and prove your case on your behalf.
3) There Must Be Proof
Because the burden of proof is on the victim in these types of wrongful death cases, building an overwhelming pool of evidence is essential for a successful outcome. That evidence can include:
- Physical evidence (accident site photographs, machine parts, video surveillance)
- Documentation (such as maintenance or inspection records)
- Statements (from eyewitnesses, whistleblowers, or even the at fault party themselves)
Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers has an experienced team of investigators who can gather all of the evidence necessary to back up your wrongful death claim in San Francisco. We’ve been helping the families of accident victims recover after tragedy for two decades.
Remembering Your Loved One…
Many times it’s all too easy for easy for insurance companies, employers, corporations, and even the legal system to forget that the victims in these tragedies aren’t just names on a page. They were real people—people with families, friends, memories, and futures.
As an experienced personal injury traffic accident attorney in the San Francisco Bay area for the last 20 years, I’ve witnessed how these personal losses can devastate surviving family members and bring hardworking folks low with a single blow.
I promise:
- I will never forget that your loved one was an important part of you and your life.
- I will never forget that what happened to them was wrong.
- I will never forget that your grief and the journey you must walk along your recovery are very personal and unique to you.
Because I hand-select each of the cases my San Francisco personal injury firm takes on, I have the ability to dedicate all of my available time and resources to you so nobody else will forget these things either.
Contact a San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorney Today
We know you’re grieving. We know you’re struggling. We know you’re likely overwhelmed. But now is the best time to contact the caring legal professionals at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys in San Francisco can help ease your emotional burdens and help ensure that the person or persons allegedly responsible for your loved one’s death are held accountable.
Don’t wait. California’s 2-year statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits in San Francisco may cause your legal right to compensation may expire.
If you’ve lost a loved one because of the actions (or inactions) or another person, get a FREE online case evaluation now to see if we can help.
