Wrongful Death ATTORNEYS
Nothing can prepare you for losing a loved one, nor can you be fully prepared to shoulder the emotional and economic burden of the sudden wrongful death of a family member.
The wrongful death lawyers at Penney & Associates understand the emotional and day-to-day challenges such losses bring to a family. Our firm has successfully represented families in wrongful death lawsuits all across California for more than 25 years. We can help you hold those responsible for the loss of your loved one accountable for their actions, and win the financial compensation you need
YOU CAN AFFORD OUR LEGAL SERVICES
We handle every wrongful death case on a contingency basis. This means we are paid a percentage of the damages you recover. If you don’t win, we don’t get paid.
There are no out-of-pocket costs. Let Penney & Associates fight for you, so you can focus on moving forward from this unexpected tragedy.
You may be under intense financial pressure, but you can afford our services.
Most people are not prepared for the unexpected passing of a loved one. If you relied on that person’s income, bills that were once easily affordable may suddenly become unpayable. And then there are immediate, additional costs, such as funeral arrangements, and replacing a lost car or other property.
Despite these challenges, you can afford to work with us. Penney & Associates’ wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we offer a free consultation to every prospective client, and we are paid out of any financial compensation we help you win.
If you need help navigation a wrongful death of a loved one, contact Penney & Associates today and we'll help you get the support you need.
HOW WE HELP YOU WIN YOUR WRONGFUL DEATH CASE
We take a detail-oriented approach with every case to show how negligence or deliberate malpractice may have caused the wrongful death of your loved one.
We accept cases based on just the facts. When you walk through our doors, we will evaluate the particulars of your case, and review any information or documentation you have. If, after this free review, we determine that you might have a good case, we will lay out your options, allowing you to make the best most informed decision possible.
Once you have decided to retain our services, Penney & Associates will gather as much information as possible about your case. We have experience in tracking down police reports, corporate accident reports, eyewitness accounts, and other types of records which can prove critical in making a case. We also work with independent experts to corroborate claims made by witnesses, and to challenge counter-claims made by defendants.
Most importantly, we work quickly. In the state of California, families of a wrongful death victim have two years from the date of the decedent’s passing to file their claims. Many clients come to us months after the passing of their loved ones, and we work to accommodate them to the best of our ability within this limited time frame.
WHAT CONSTITUTES WRONGFUL DEATH
In California, state law defines wrongful death as a death resulting from the negligence or misconduct of another person. Wrongful death can occur in a variety of ways, including:
WHAT YOU CAN RECOVER IN A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT
The loss of a loved one can result in a variety of unforeseen financial, physical, and emotional consequences for those left behind. The law recognizes this and provides the means for survivors to file claims and recover financial damages based on these consequences:
- Medical & Funeral Costs: Not everyone is fortunate enough to have medical coverage, and even excellent health insurance can have deductibles of thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, and not fully cover costly health interventions. Funerals can add thousands of dollars more in costs to be dealt with.
- Physical damages: The loss of your loved one may also have resulted in serious damage to your home, a vehicle you depended upon to get to work, or other property.
- Retirement: In some cases, death before retirement age may result in the diminishment or negation of retirement and pension plans.
- Future Earnings: Even in households with two incomes, the loss of income from one person can seriously compromise a family’s financial security.
- Loss of companionship: In some instances, the law provides for financial compensation for a spouse’s or partner’s loss of companionship.
- Inheritance: The surviving partner of the deceased may not be entitled to what would have been a shared inheritance.
- Pain and suffering: In some cases, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the pain and suffering endured both by you and your deceased family member.
Depending on the circumstances, a negotiated settlement or jury award may compensate you to some degree for any or all the above. You may also be eligible for punitive damages in instances where the other party acted intentionally, or in a particularly negligent manner.
Contact Penney & Associates today to learn how we can help you win compensation for your wrongful death claim, and provide for your family.
WHO CAN FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT?
In California, there are limitations on who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. According to the state Code of Civil Procedure, section 337.60, this includes the spouse, domestic partner, and surviving children of the deceased. When the deceased has no living direct descendants, it is possible for anyone who could have been entitled to the property of the deceased, such as a parent or sibling, to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Additionally, when a stepchild or putative spouse or child can show they were financially dependent on the deceased, they may also be able to file a claim.
Because California law requires wrongful death claims to be filed within two years after a death, it is important to work quickly to gather necessary information and retain a wrongful death attorney. If you are uncertain about filing a wrongful death claim, or are seeking legal consultation before proceeding with a claim, we can help. With offices located throughout California, Penney & Associates is ready to help you bring this difficult chapter in your life to a close, so you can move forward into a brighter, more secure future.
Penney & Associates are the leading wrongful death attorneys in the region, dedicated to helping you care for your family and loved ones.
The Penney and Associates® firm has offices in Sacramento, Roseville, Santa Clara, Chico, Rocklin and Irvine with satellite offices in Fairfield, Sunnyvale, San Francisco, San Diego and Southern California.