San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara County Wrongful Death Attorney – Helping Families for More Than A Decade

• Goodrow Law Office has served the families of wrongful death victims in the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara County since 2007.
• Russell Goodrow is an award-winning attorney with over a decade of experience.
• Our aggressive and honest legal team is committed to recovering as much compensation as possible for families that are grieving the loss of a loved one.
• Read the reviews on our website to find out what it’s like to work with one of the top law firms in the San Francisco Bay Area and greater Santa Barbara County.

There is nothing more devastating than losing a loved one, especially if you find out a negligent person was to blame for the events. If your family member was killed because of another person’s negligence, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim and recover compensation. To discuss your legal options now, contact an attorney at Goodrow Law Office by calling 415-655-9478.

Each state has its own laws in place that regulate who can file a wrongful death claim. In California, the victim’s surviving spouse may file the claim. If the spouse and the victim had children that are under the age of 18, the spouse must represent the children’s best interests in court.

If there is no surviving spouse, the children may file a wrongful death claim on their own. In the absence of a spouse and children, the victim’s parents are able to file a wrongful death claim. Finally, if none of these parties have survived, the victim’s estate may choose to file a wrongful death claim.

Similar to other personal injury cases, wrongful death settlements are typically paid out by the at-fault party’s insurance company. For example, if your loved one was killed by a negligent driver in a car crash, your attorney will negotiate with the driver’s insurance company to reach a fair settlement.

But, what happens if your loved one was killed in a slip and fall disaster on someone else’s property, and that person does not have insurance to cover the accident? You are still able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the negligent property owner, however, it will be difficult to recover the compensation that you are awarded. Chances are if the property owner does not pay for insurance, he probably does not have many assets.

It is very difficult to place a value on someone’s life. There are a number of factors that may be taken into consideration when determining how much a plaintiff should be awarded for lost wages, lost wages, loss of companionship, and other damages. These factors include:

The age of the victim at the time of the death

The victim’s health prior to the disaster

The victim’s income

The victim’s ability to earn income in the future

The dependents’ ages and dependence on the victim

Medical expenses incurred by the victims after the accident but prior to the death

Funeral prices

The value of any lost benefits, including health insurance

What Are the Differences Between Survival Actions vs. Wrongful Death Claims in the USA?

If a negligent person has caused your loved one’s death, there are two separate claims that you should know: survival actions and wrongful death claims. A survival action is filed by the victim’s estate, whereas a wrongful death claim is filed by family members. The goal of the survival action is to recover compensation for financial losses and pain and suffering that the victim experienced after the accident and prior to his death. Basically, a survival action is the claim that would have been filed by the victim if they had survived the accident.

On the other hand, the surviving members of the victim’s family can file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for any losses that they have suffered. This can include loss of companionship, lost wages, and lost benefits.

There are countless different attorneys that can help you file a wrongful death claim, so which should you choose? First, ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations. Even if they have not personally been involved in a wrongful death case, they may know of an attorney who is highly respected in this field.

You can also contact your local bar association to ask for a recommendation. They will be able to provide you with a list of attorneys near you. Once you have a short list of attorneys, it’s recommended that you schedule consultations with them so you can ask them specific questions.

Ask each attorney about their experience handling wrongful death cases. If an attorney typically works with cases involving minor injuries, you shouldn’t let him handle your wrongful death case. Also, ask each attorney whether they will feel comfortable taking your case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached during pre-trial negotiations. Some attorneys will refer you to another law office if the case goes to trial, but getting new legal representation midway through your case is never a good idea. That’s why it’s important to find an attorney who is comfortable—and experienced—in both pre-trial negotiations and trial cases.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person, you don’t have to suffer through this tragedy alone. Get in touch with our wrongful death attorneys to schedule a free consultation to review your case. We represent clients in various locations, including every zip code within the San Francisco Bay Area and greater Santa Barbara County. Our team has experience in various personal injury and wrongful death practice areas, including car crashes, truck collisions, motorcycle wrecks, premises liability, medical malpractice, and brain injuries.

You only have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a claim, so it’s never too early to seek representation, even if the accident just happened yesterday. Contact us today—our phone number is 415-655-9478. You can also reach our wrongful death lawyer after business hours by sending an email to russ@goodrowlaw.com.

To learn what it’s like to work with our attorneys, please read reviews left by our former clients on our website. To see a map of our office locations, visit the “Contact Us” page on our site. You can also learn more about wrongful death by reading our blog.