Wrongful Death Lawyer
San Bernardino Accidents

"Wrongful death" is a legal term, used to describe a situation in which someone is killed, without provocation, by the intentional or even accidental act of another. A wrongful death can occur when a motorist on a San Bernardino roadway runs a red light and hits an innocent victim. A wrongful death can happen when a jealous boyfriend stabs his rival at a party. And a wrongful death can result from a surgeon's failure to use sanitary methods to perform an operation at a San Bernardino County hospital.

No matter what causes the wrongful death, it is a tragedy with far-reaching consequences. The victim of a wrongful death accident often leaves behind a family or other loved ones who counted on him or her for companionship, emotional guidance and financial support. When this is the case, California's wrongful death laws are there to help the victim's loved ones recover the damages that may help them get on with their lives.

If one of your close loved ones has been killed through the fault of another, you may have a valid wrongful death claim. You owe it to yourself and to those who count on you to consult with an experienced San Bernardino wrongful death attorney.


For Immediate Consultation Call  -  (909) 657-0576



Wrongful Death Claimants Under California Law

Naturally, only certain people are entitled to bring a wrongful death claim. First, they must be relatives. Second, those with the closest family relationship to the wrongful death victim may preclude more distant relatives from getting any recovery.

California's wrongful death law carefully defines just who may recover, and when. For example, the wrongful death victim's spouse and children each have rights to recover. If there are no children and there is no spouse, other, more distant relatives may be able to make a wrongful death claim. A competent San Bernardino wrongful death lawyer will be able to tell you if you or other family members are entitled to lodge a claim for wrongful death damages.

Convenience

  • For your convenience we offer:
  1. Home and hospital visits.
  2. Night and weekend appointments.
  3. No charge unless we win your case.
  4. Help with medical attention.
  5. Transportation arrangements.
  6. We will also treat you with courtesy, compassion and respect.

Survivor's Actions

Wrongful death claimants are barred from seeking damages for injuries the deceased could have made claims for if he or she had survived. So are those claims lost forever? Not necessarily.

In some situations, a decedent's estate may bring something called a "survivor action." Any money recovered through such a suit will go to the estate, to be distributed according to the wrongful death victim's will. If there is no will, it will be distributed according to California law.

A survivor action is possible when the wrongful death victim lived, for at least a short time, after the event that caused the death. For example, a man might be struck by a speeding car while crossing a San Bernardino street at a well-marked crosswalk. If he survived for two weeks in a hospital's intensive care unit before succumbing to death, his estate could bring a survivor's action. That lawsuit might seek damages for the wrongful death victim's pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages, among other claims.


What Types of Damages Are Available to California Wrongful Death Claimants?

By law, wrongful death claimants, in San Bernardino or other parts of California, may recover only those damages that are personal to them. What does this mean? It means that the types of damages the victim might have recovered if he or she had survived the injury, such as damages for pain and suffering, may not be awarded to the wrongful death claimant.

Instead, wrongful death claimants can receive damages to compensate for what they personally have lost due to the accidental death of their loved one. These might include damages to compensate for:

  • The financial support the deceased would have provided;
  • The loss of the deceased's love, guidance and companionship;
  • The expenses the claimant paid to make the deceased's funeral arrangements; and
  • The costs entailed in hiring housekeepers, gardeners or others to do the household work the deceased would have done.

In some cases, a San Bernardino area wrongful death claimant may also recover damages for infliction of emotional distress. Only certain relatives may seek these damages, and only under particular conditions. Ask your San Bernardino wrongful death attorney if you might qualify.

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Be Sure You Hire the Right San Bernardino Wrongful Death Lawyer

If your loved one was the victim of a wrongful death, you or someone close to you may be entitled to recover damages. A San Bernardino lawyer who is well acquainted with the intricacies of wrongful death law can tell you what your rights are.

The Reeves Law Group has more than 20 years of experience in handling personal injury claims of all types, including wrongful death claims. Our attorneys are here to advise you of your rights and make sure that you or your loved ones receive the compensation they are entitled to after a wrongful death. For a free consultation concerning a San Bernardino wrongful death claim, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or e-mail us.

198 N. Arrowhead Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 370-2400
Contact@RobertReevesLaw.com

San Bernardino Regional Page


10 Reasons to ChooseThe Reeves Law Group

  1. Our Winning Record

    Our case results on the left of this page are only a few in the $100,000.00 to Multi-Million dollar range. We have actually won hundreds of cases in that range.

    Every year we win many significant cases, and every year we win many millions of dollars for our clients.

  2. Our Financial Resources

    Personal injury cases often require large sums of money. As an example, a brain injury case can cost in excess of $100,000.00 to prosecute.

    In a recent trial we invested $250,000.00. That was for just one case!

    Few lawyers have these resources. Lawyers who do not have the same finances may be pressed to settle cases too early, or for less than they are worth.

  3. Our Size

    Because of our firm’s size we can assign multiple lawyers to cases. These lawyers are also backed by a large support staff of paralegals, legal assistants, administrators and investigators.

    We believe that working harder on cases results in better representation and greater results.

  4. Our Concentration On Personal Injury Cases

    Personal injury cases are best handled by lawyers with specialized expertise in the personal injury legal field. Unlike other law firms, we handle accident and personal injury cases only. By concentrating in one area, we have developed a high level of expertise and capability in our field. This has lead to better service and better results for our clients.

  5. Our Technology and State-of-the-Art Infrastructure

    We use top technologies and tools to maximize the efficiency of our work. We have direct access to the top legal databases, specialized software and online resources to perform sophisticated yet quick investigations and technical research. We also use state-of-the-art equipment to conduct highly effective presentations at mediations, arbitrations and trials. All of our cases are also computerized in order to expedite our litigation and case handling functions.

  6. Our Commitment to Our Clients

    Our commitment to our clients is complete. We are passionate about rectifying the wrongdoings that cause our clients’ injuries. Our firm’s operations are designed with various levels of quality controls to ensure that our legal representation is superior and that our clients’ needs and concerns are addressed in a prompt and satisfactory manner. We believe in zealous and aggressive work on behalf of our clients. We are also committed to a positive relationship with our clients and rendering caring and compassionate services.

  7. Our Lawyers and Our Experience

    Our firm has been fighting for the rights of injured victims for over two decades. The combined experience of our legal team spans many more decades. Our lawyers have litigated to successful conclusion thousands of personal injury claims.

    As lawyers, we hold ourselves to the top standards of quality and service and are recognized in the community of lawyers, claims representatives and judges for our professionalism and competence. Our lawyers are backed by a large, well-trained and skilled support staff. We also have at our disposal a large group of superb and trial-tested experts with whom we work to enhance the prosecution of our clients’ cases.

  8. Our Caring and Compassion

    Our gratification derives from providing services that make a difference in the lives of individuals. Throughout the representation of thousands of clients we have seen up-close the adverse impact that serious injuries bring to individuals’ lives and their families. We achieve satisfaction when we produce results that lead to improvements in their lives. Our large staff of legal professionals works actively on helping our clients with their difficulties. We have maintained relationships with some of our clients even after we have resolved their claims, for years in some cases.

  9. Our Home and Hospital Consultations

    We understand the difficulties that many of our clients face due to their injuries. Many cannot travel to our offices due to their serious conditions. When you call us for legal representation, we will offer to visit you personally at your convenience. We will travel to your home, hospital or any other appropriate location to meet with you and commence your representation immediately. We will ensure that your case will not be affected by any delays in representation. For our clients’ convenience, we also have twenty-three satellite office locations to facilitate meetings, depositions, and conferences with our clients. We will also arrange for transportation, if ever needed, to any of our satellite offices or our central office in Santa Ana, California.

  10. Our "No Fee Unless We Win" Policy

    We provide our legal services on a contingency basis. This means that we will not charge a fee or seek reimbursement for costs advanced unless your case is won. We also provide our clients with a written explanation of the settlement or verdict amounts recovered and their distribution for the clients’ approval prior to their cases being closed.

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Some Results

$32,500,000

Brain Injury

$980,000

Job Accident

$11,000,000

Premises Fatality

$750,000

Motorcycle Accident

$2,750,000

Wrongful Death

$740,000

Truck / Neck Injury

$615,000

Truck / Back Injury

$3,750,000

DUI Accident

$650,000

Product Liability

$2,200,000

Child Fatality

$1,000,000

Motorcycle Accident

$600,000

Auto Accident

$1,250,000

Pedestrian Accident

$500,000

Boating Accident

$2,000,000

Motorcycle Accident

$495,000

Defective Product

$1,100,000

Premises Accident

$535,000

Nursing Home / Burns

$1,600,000

Traffic Injuries

$550,000

Negligent Care

$1,000,000

Negligent Care

$560,000

ATV Accident

$635,000

APT Complex Injury

$750,000

Head Trauma

$600,000

Parking Lot Injury

$885,000

Gun Shooting