Santa Ana Wrongful Death Lawyers

Losing a loved one to a tragic accident can leave your family with a significant burden given medical costs and the loss of the financial and other contributions of your loved one to your household. When the accident or incident that caused the death of your loved one was due to another party, that party may be liable for the financial costs associated with your loss. Determining what your rights are during a time of loss can be difficult, and pursuing a wrongful death claim or lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind. This is when your Santa Ana wrongful death attorney can be of particular value, as we take over the claim on your behalf, removing the stress and demands of the claim from your day-to-day life.

To get started on your wrongful death claim and to determine your rights, connect with one of the Santa Ana wrongful death lawyers from the Law Offices of Benjamin Arsenian today.

Wrongful Death Provides Economic Support During Your Time of Loss

The purpose of a wrongful death claim is to cover the costs linked to the loss of your loved one, including but not limited to:

any medical expenses related to the accident, and
the loss of their economic contributions to your household from the time of the accident through what would have been the remainder of their working life
In some instances, damages for pain and suffering and other sources of damages may be available

It is helpful to your Santa Ana wrongful death claim when you have an experienced attorney by our side throughout the process. You’ll be negotiating the outcome of your case with the insurance company of the responsible party in most instances. Insurance companies collect premiums from their customers, and to increase profit margins deny or reduce settlements to injured parties like you whenever possible. To ensure that you and your family receive the full amount you are legally entitled to, it is essential to work with an attorney who can help you measure and prove what that is, and then collect it.

Common Accidents or Incidents that Lead to Wrongful Death Claims

For you and your family to collect monetary compensation to cover damages linked to the death of your loved one, another party must be legally responsible for the accident or incident that led to their passing. This is based upon a legal concept known as negligence, which basically means that for a party to be liable for your damages they must have owed you a duty that was breached, and because of that, you experienced damages from injuries that breach of duty caused.

While this might sound like a somewhat simple explanation, negligence has four elements that must be proven with evidence for you to be able to hold another party liable for your damages. Otherwise, your family’s insurance and any life insurance policies may be the only source of financial support you have in your time of loss. Wrongful death claims are meant to remove any financial burdens that might result from the loss due to medical costs and a loss in income.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of wrongful deaths in the US and California. When drivers violate their duty to others on the road by breaking the law, and then cause a crash that kills another, they can be liable for the damages that result.

Some of the most common causes of at-fault motor vehicle accidents we have helped our clients recover the damages they deserve include:

Distracted driving – as detailed by the California Office of Traffic Safety, distracted driving is illegal, and using a cell phone or other handheld device while driving is a breach of the law. When a driver breaks traffic laws, they are in breach of their duty to others and will be liable for the damages they cause, whether property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death.
Drunk driving – all drivers who make the conscious decision to get behind the wheel while drunk or intoxicated are guilty of drunk driving and will be liable for the damages that they cause.
Drowsy or fatigued driving – when a driver has not had adequate rest before getting behind the wheel, they are unable to adequately perform to safety risks on the road.

Drowsy and fatigued driving is common in commercial truck drivers given the long hours they work, and collisions with 18-wheelers and other large trucks are also one of the leading groups of clients we help our clients with Santa Ana wrongful death claims.

18-Wheeler Crashes and Large Truck Accidents

As detailed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2019 alone there were 5,237 large trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes, as well as 127,000 crashes that resulted in injuries during that time. Fatal crashes on the roads with large trucks are on the rise given the increase in commerce completed through shipping over in-person visits to the store, and while this added convenience might make it easier to get Amazon orders, it has also made the road more dangerous for passenger vehicles.

It is important to note the following facts:

In 91% of fatal truck crashes in 2019, there was only 1 fatality suffered
In 82% of those fatal crashes, the fatalities were not the occupants of the large truck

When passenger vehicles collide with large trucks, there is a significantly greater likelihood of serious injury or death to the occupants of the passenger vehicle. This is because of the greater height and weight of trucks, and the likelihood that they will roll over the passenger vehicle and into the passenger compartment.

Equipment malfunctions that cause accidents with large trucks or other vehicles can also result in the manufacturer or service provider of the vehicle being liable. It is necessary to consider all the facts linked to your claim to determine what the best options are, and a local Santa Ana wrongful death lawyer from the Law Offices of Benjamin Arsenian is here to help.

Your Santa Ana Wrongful Death Attorney Negotiates Your Claim

The experienced Santa Ana wrongful death lawyers from the Law Offices of Benjamin Arsenian have decades of combined experience moving personal injury and wrongful death claims through the local courts on behalf of our clients. According to the American Bar Association, the most important factor to consider when hiring an attorney is their experience. Attorneys who practice other areas of the law, or engage in general practice, lack the depth of experience needed to successfully negotiate with the insurance company. If it goes to trial, being familiar with how the local courts work can make the difference between winning or losing your case.

Before you hire an attorney, you are allowed to ask questions. Questions you are encouraged to ask before deciding upon a law firm for your Santa Ana wrongful death claim include:

How many wrongful death cases have you handled?
Did you win for your clients in those cases?
Do you have any testimonials from happy clients I can look at?
How much do your Santa Ana wrongful death lawyers cost?

The answers to these questions will provide you with important guidance when choosing the attorney that is the best fit for your case or claim. With one of the Santa Ana wrongful death lawyers from our firm by your side, you’ll be able to focus on helping your family manage your time of loss while we take over the claim on your behalf. We gather evidence, draft the claim, file and negotiate it with the insurance company, and take them to court on your behalf if needed.

You Pay Nothing Up-Front and Nothing Out-of-Pocket

Many of our potential new clients worry that they cannot afford the assistance of our law firm. That is simply not the case, as your initial consultation is free. We encourage you to bring as much information as possible with you to your initial consultation concerning the accident or incident, medical bills, and proof of earnings. From there, if we are able to take your case we take it on contingency. That means we only get paid if we win, out of a portion of the earnings that we generate on your case.

Connect with a Santa Ana Wrongful Death Lawyer Now

The sooner you have an attorney helping with your claim, the faster we’ll be able to begin helping your family recover the financial support you need in your time of loss. The insurance company is not going to automatically award you damages, you must gather evidence to prove them, and successfully negotiate a settlement or win a case to collect them.

To begin with your risk-free, cost-free case review, give us a call at 714-400-2000, or contact us to schedule your initial consultation.